The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Wholesale outdoor lights

Lumens are a measure of the light output — or the brightness of the light. The more lumens there are, the brighter the bulb will appear. Lumens differ from wattage in that watts measure the amount of power the bulb consumes — or the energy in the light.

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The number of lumens you need for outdoor lighting depends on the area you want to illuminate. When you’re shopping for outdoor light bulbs and looking for brightness, compare the lumens instead of the watts. Standard 100-watt bulbs produce about 1,600 lumens.

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Outside lighting serves multifaceted purposes, ranging from functional to purely aesthetic. It illuminates pathways, enhances security, and adds charm to patios and balconies. Whether you're a homeowner eager to adopt the Norwegian concept of friluftsliv, translating to 'free air life' and emphasizing a connection with nature, or simply looking to safely light up an entrance, this guide delves into the world of outside lighting. We cover popular styles, installation tips, and key buying considerations to help you make an informed decision.

Outside LED Lights vs. Indoor Lights

Outside and indoor LED lights have distinct characteristics, benefits, and potential hazards. Here’s what sets outside lights apart:• Durability: Outside lights are built to endure harsh weather conditions, using non-corrosive materials like stainless steel, marine glass, or robust plastics.• Safety: With approximately 1,000 electrocution fatalities in the U.S. annually, outside lights are designed with safety as a priority. Look for UL or ETL safety ratings, and ensure the fixture is watertight to protect the electrical components.• Mounting: These lights come with specialized mounting devices, allowing for secure installation on walls, fences, and into the ground.• Versatility of LED Bulbs: Most LED bulbs are suitable for both indoor and outside settings. To ensure compatibility and safety for outdoor use, check the bulb’s UL rating, which indicates if it can be used in wet and damp locations.

Types of Outside Lighting

When it comes to outside lighting, there are four basic types: ambient, task, accent, and security. Under these broad categories sit a wide range of style and mounting options.

Outside Wall Lighting

Lighting designers typically mount outside lights on the wall to make a commercial or residential area safer for nighttime use or create a more comfortable setting.Install sconces or porch lights on a patio wall to provide light for balmy summer BBQ parties. Wall packs can help you illuminate a large section of the wall in a commercial warehouse. Use upward-directed outdoor LED flood lights to draw attention to an advertising billboard.Manufacturers design wall-mounted outdoor lights to sit flush against a wall, so they’re often sealed with silicone caulk to help them stay watertight.Actual 80 watt wall pack light installation

Outside Ground or Landscape Lighting

In homes, people use outside ground lights to highlight specific areas of a garden or define a driveway’s perimeter. Commercially, ground lights can help a freight truck driver know where to pull up to unload or illuminate a restaurant’s alfresco dining area.Like the recessed lights you see in ceilings, electricians usually sink ground lights into pavers, concrete, or decking. These discreet lighting systems need to sit flush with the surrounding surface. That way, they don’t become a trip hazard.

Outside Area Lighting

With area lighting design, you’re only limited by your imagination.Trendy outdoor LED string lights look great around a pool area or outside a tiny home. LED street lights and led parking lot lights keep you safe when walking, hiking, or driving at night. Illuminate an outdoor tennis court or baseball field light with high-lumen area lights to extend the hours of play.When installing area lights in natural areas like nature reserves or forested residential properties, consider using dark sky compliant lighting. Manufactured to DLC (Design Light Consortium) standards, these lights help reduce light pollution.

Outside Solar Lighting

What could be better than solar lighting? It’s easy to install, low-maintenance, and cuts down on your energy bills. Today, there’s a solar equal for almost any outside lighting you might need: street lights, wall lights, floodlights, and   even garden lights.This lighting system is perfect for less accessible areas of a home or commercial space or a client trying to reduce their carbon footprint.

What to Consider When Buying LED Outside Lights

Outside lights are lights that are installed in the exterior of your house or building to provide lighting for various outdoor purposes, such as safety, security, aesthetics, or functionality. Outside lights can come in different types, such as wall lights, flood lights, landscape lights, or sensor lights. When purchasing and installing outside lights, you need to consider some important factors, such as:

The lumens and light Brightness For Outside Lighting

The lumens and light brightness: The lumens is the amount of light that the light produces; the light brightness is the perception of how bright the light is. You need to choose outside lights that have enough lumens and brightness to suit your needs and preferences. For example, for outside lighting, you can use bulbs within these lumen ranges:•  Path and step lighting: 12 to 200 lumens•  Wall lights: 50 to lumens•  Landscape (garden and shrubbery) lighting: 50 to 300 lumens•  Swimming pool lighting: 200 to 400 lumens•  Security lighting (including sensor lights): 300 to lumens•  Outdoor LED flood lights: 700 to lumensIt is also essential to buy high-quality bulbs and fixtures that can maintain their lumens and brightness over time and avoid any losses due to heating or lensing

Kelvins and Light Color

•  The kelvins and light color: The kelvins is the measure of how warm or cool the light appears, ranging from yellowish to bluish tones; the light color is the hue or shade of the light, ranging from red to violet in the visible spectrum. You need to choose outside lights that have a suitable Kelvins (K) and color temperature for your space and mood. For example:•  Warm white: This is a color temperature between K and K, which is warm and yellow. It provides a cozy and friendly atmosphere for your space. It is suitable for homes, restaurants, or other places where you want to create a relaxing and inviting mood.•  Neutral white: This is a color temperature between K and K, which is neither too warm nor too cool. It provides a bright and clear light that resembles natural daylight. It is suitable for work areas, meeting rooms, or other places where you want to enhance the visibility and contrast of your space. •  Cool white: This is a color temperature between K and K, which is very cool and blue. It provides a crisp and sharp light that can highlight the details and colors of your space. It is suitable for large spaces, outside spaces, or other places where you want to create a dramatic and stunning effect for your space. This image shows different Kelvin options vs HPS

Mounting Your Outside Lights

•  The mount type and size of your outside lights: The mount type is the way the light is attached to the surface or the structure; the mount size is the dimension of the base or the bracket of the light. You need to choose outside lights that have a compatible mount type and size with your existing light or your desired location. For example:•  Wall mount: This is a mount type that attaches the light to the wall or other vertical surfaces. It can provide directional and focused lighting for walls or other features. It can also have different mount sizes, such as arm mounts, yoke mounts, or flood mounts. •  Pole mount: This is a mount type that attaches the light to a pole or other vertical structures. It can provide wide and uniform lighting for large outside areas, such as parking lots, streets, parks, or stadiums. It can also have different mount sizes, such as slip fit mounts or yoke mounts. •  Ground mount: This is a mount type that attaches the light to the ground or other horizontal surfaces. It can provide upward and downward lighting for gardens, patios, driveways, or pools. It can also have different mount sizes,such as spike mounts or spike mounts. 

Outside Lights Options

You need to choose outside lights that have a high efficiency and useful features to suit your needs and preferences. For example:•  Photocells: These are devices that can detect the amount of ambient light and turn the outside light on or off automatically according to the preset level. This feature can save energy and money by avoiding unnecessary lighting during the day or night.•  Motion sensors: These are devices that can detect the presence or movement of people or objects and turn the outside light on or off accordingly. This feature can save energy and money by avoiding wasteful lighting when no one is around or by providing lighting when someone is approaching.•  Dimmers: These are devices that can adjust the brightness or intensity of the outside light according to the user's preference or the occasion. This feature can create different effects and moods for the space by using different levels of light.

Photometrics and Professional Lighting Designers

If you need professional advice on purchasing and installing outside lights, you can consult with a lighting expert who can help you with a photometric study and find the best products and solutions for your project.