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Rows of LED high-bay lights switching on down the centre aisle of a large warehouse with tall pallet racking

Calculator · E-506

Warehouse & high-bay lighting layout calculator

How many high-bay fixtures a warehouse, shop or gym needs to reach the light level you choose, the grid they sit on, whether the spacing works for the mounting height, and the lighting power density.

Warehouse lighting layout · E-506Metric · SI
m
m
m
Height of the fixture above the floor (or above the work plane).
lux
Your design choice, not a code value. The lighting designer sets it from the task (bulk storage, picking, assembly) using the applicable recommended practice.
lm
Delivered lumens from the fixture’s photometric data sheet, not the LED chip rating.
W
CU
An assumption: the share of fixture light reaching the work plane. It falls with tall racking, dark surfaces and narrow rooms; the fixture’s CU table gives the real value.
LLF
An assumption for lumen depreciation and dirt over time. Use the manufacturer’s maintained-lumen data.
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Planning estimate only. The inputs start with example values: replace them with your room and the fixture’s photometric data.

CCT 01How it works

This is the lumen method in its simplest form:

  • Fixtures = target lux × floor area ÷ (lumens per fixture × CU × LLF), rounded up.
  • The fixtures are then laid out as a grid whose rows and columns follow the room’s proportions, so the spacing is as even as possible. The grid can hold a few more fixtures than the minimum.
  • The spacing-to-mounting-height ratio is the larger spacing divided by the mounting height. Every high-bay optic has a maximum ratio on its data sheet; above it, the floor between fixtures goes dark. Narrow aisle optics allow less spacing than wide ones.
  • Lighting power density is the connected fixture wattage divided by the floor area, in W/m².

Lux is lumens per square metre: 1 foot-candle is about 10.76 lux.

CCT 02Assumptions and limits

  • An open floor. Rack aisles, mezzanines and obstructions change the answer, and aisle lighting is laid out along the aisles, not on a square grid. A point-by-point photometric calculation from the fixture’s IES file is what a lighting designer uses for the final layout.
  • Alberta applies the National Energy Code for Buildings, which limits lighting power in new buildings and many lighting alterations. Compare the W/m² result with the limit your designer applies; this calculator does not check compliance.
  • Emergency lighting and exit signs are separate systems with their own rules; see fire alarm and emergency lighting rules.

Questions people ask

How many high-bay lights do I need for a warehouse?

Multiply the floor area by the light level you want, then divide by the lumens each fixture actually delivers after utilization and light loss. Enter your room and fixture above. Racking changes the result more than anything else, so treat an open-floor answer as the starting point.

How far apart should high-bay lights be?

Spacing is limited by mounting height and the fixture’s optic. Divide spacing by mounting height and compare it with the maximum spacing criterion on the fixture’s data sheet. Taller ceilings allow wider spacing; narrow aisle optics need tighter rows.

What light level does a warehouse need?

It depends on the task: bulk storage needs far less light than picking small labels or assembly. The level is set by the lighting designer from recommended practice and the owner’s needs, not by the electrical code. The energy code then limits the watts used to deliver it.

Should an LED retrofit use the same fixture count?

Not necessarily. One-for-one replacement is fast to price, but a new layout often uses fewer, better-placed fixtures, especially with controls. See LED lighting retrofits and the payback calculator.