A practical guide to wall packs, floods, spots, and everything in between
Introduction
As fall sets in and the days get shorter, outdoor lighting becomes more important than ever. Whether it’s a parking lot, building perimeter, or a residential walkway, good lighting improves safety, enhances security, and makes spaces more usable after dark. Older HID and halogen fixtures have served for decades, but LEDs now dominate the landscape, delivering more light for less energy.
This guide breaks down the main fixture types, design considerations, and technical details so you can make smart decisions for lighting large outdoor spaces.
The Basics of Outdoor Lighting Design
Goals of exterior lighting:
- Safety for pedestrians and vehicles.
- Security deterrence for properties.
- Aesthetic improvement for architecture and landscaping.
- Compliance with codes and dark-sky regulations.
Key technical factors:
- Mounting height: Higher = broader spread, lower = more intensity. Typical ranges: 8–30 ft.
- Beam angle: Narrow for focus, wide for broad coverage.
- Wattage/Lumen output: Match the fixture to the size and purpose of the area.
- Color temperature: Warmer for ambiance, cooler for brightness and visibility.
Lighting tip: Parking areas typically aim for 1–3 foot-candles of average illumination, while walkways may need 0.5–1 foot-candle.
Wall Packs
Wall packs are the backbone of exterior lighting. They mount directly to building exteriors and provide reliable coverage.
Types of wall packs:
- Full Cutoff: Directs light downward only. Dark-sky friendly, minimal glare.
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Semi Cutoff / Non Cutoff: Spreads light outward and upward. Brighter appearance but more light pollution.
- Architectural Wall Packs: Sleeker designs for commercial/residential settings.
- Specialty: Options include turtle-safe amber LEDs, integrated photocells, and vandal-resistant housings featuring tamper-proof screws or impact-rated lenses for high-traffic or at-risk areas.
Mounting and Applications:
Wall packs are some of the most dependable fixtures for outdoor lighting, usually mounted between 8 and 20 feet high. Higher installations provide wide perimeter coverage, while lower placements work best for entryways and walkways. They’re a go-to choice for building exteriors, loading docks, and general site security thanks to their reliability, durability, and broad lumen range. The key is proper selection and placement - the wrong style or output can create glare or unwanted light spill.
Flood Lights
Flood lights cover large areas with wide beams, perfect for outdoor security and activity spaces.
Features:
- Adjustable wattages and CCT (color correlated temperature) for flexibility.
- Yoke or slip fitter mounting for aiming.
- Output: up to 20,000+ lumens depending on size.
Applications and Performance:
Flood lights are built for broad coverage and flexibility, making them ideal for parking lots, pathways, sports courts, and loading zones. Their effectiveness depends largely on mounting height and beam angle - for example, a 115° beam at 12 feet might cover a driveway, while the same fixture mounted at 25 feet can illuminate an entire lot. When properly aimed, flood lights offer wide coverage and easy adjustability, though poor positioning can lead to unwanted light spill or glare beyond the intended area.
Spot Lights & Accent Fixtures
Spots are about focus and highlighting.
Beam angles:
- 15°: Narrow, high intensity, long throw.
- 25°: Balanced for signage or landscaping.
- 40°: Wider accents.
Applications and Security Benefits:
Spotlights and accent fixtures are perfect for more than just highlighting design elements — they’re versatile tools for both form and function. Whether they’re used to illuminate signage, draw attention to architectural details, or bring dimension to landscaping, their focused beams create precision lighting exactly where it’s needed. From a security standpoint, the directional glare of a well-placed spotlight can also help deter trespassers while keeping key features visible and well-defined.
Choosing Color Temperatures for Outdoors
- 3000K (Warm): Residential, decorative, or turtle-safe zones near shorelines.
- 4000K (Neutral): Balanced option, ideal for most commercial and industrial areas.
- 5000K (Daylight): Maximum visibility and security impact.
Note: Dark-sky regulations often require 3000K or below to reduce light pollution.
Energy Savings: LED vs Legacy HID
Example comparison:
- 400W metal halide wall pack → replaced by a 120W LED wall pack.
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Savings: 70% energy reduction. Annual operating costs drop by hund
Lifetime differences:
- LED: 50,000+ hours (10–12 years in typical use).
- HID: ~10,000 hours (2–3 years).
Maintenance and ROI:
One of the biggest advantages of switching to LED lighting is the long-term savings on maintenance and labour. With far fewer re-lamps and reduced downtime, facilities spend less time on ladders and more time operating efficiently. When you factor in the lower energy consumption and minimal upkeep, most LED retrofit projects pay for themselves within just one to three years.
Security & Safety Benefits
• Uniform coverage reduces shadows and blind spots.
• Brightness perception: Cooler color temps (4000–5000K) feel brighter and deter theft.
• Integrated controls: Photocells and motion sensors extend lifespan and reduce costs.
Special Considerations
• Dark-Sky Compliance: Requires full-cutoff optics and warmer CCTs (typically 3000 K or below) to minimize glare and light pollution.
• Turtle-Safe Lighting: Amber LEDs protect wildlife near shorelines and are required in certain coastal zones.
• Emergency Egress Codes: Commercial buildings must maintain minimum illumination at exits and along escape routes.
• Durability: For harsh environments, look for fixtures rated IP65+ for water and dust resistance.
• Vandal-Resistant Fixtures: Built with thick polycarbonate or tempered glass lenses, die-cast housings, and tamper-proof screws to withstand impact or prying in high-traffic or exposed areas.
• Security Wall Packs: Often overlap with vandal-resistant models but add gasketed housings to block moisture and contaminants.
• IK-Rated Fixtures: The IK rating measures impact resistance — IK08 or higher is considered robust enough for public or industrial spaces.
• Corrosion Protection: In coastal or chemical-exposure environments, use powder-coated aluminum or marine-grade finishes to prevent deterioration.
• Controls and Automation: Consider photocells, motion sensors, or smart network controls to reduce energy use and extend fixture life.
Modern LED wall packs and floods are available in a wide range of specialized builds, so it’s worth matching the fixture not only to the lighting task but also to the environment it’s installed in. From impact resistance to corrosion protection, the right specification ensures performance and longevity no matter where it’s mounted.
Putting It All Together: Sample Layouts
• Warehouse Perimeter: Full-cutoff wall packs spaced roughly 30 feet apart provide consistent, downward-directed illumination that minimizes glare and keeps light where it’s needed — along loading docks, access doors, and walkways. The full-cutoff design ensures compliance with dark-sky requirements while maintaining high visibility for nighttime operations.
• Parking Lot: Flood lights mounted 20–25 feet high with overlapping beams create broad, even coverage across parking areas. Mounting height is key here — higher poles increase reach and reduce shadows, while lower poles can cause uneven lighting. Using 4000K–5000K LEDs offers excellent visibility and color rendering for vehicles and pedestrians alike.
• Residential Walkway: Small wall packs or bollards placed 8–10 feet apart offer safe, comfortable lighting without harsh glare. A 3000K warm white tone provides an inviting look while maintaining enough illumination for navigation. Pathway fixtures with shielded optics help focus light downward and reduce spill into adjacent areas.
• Building Entrance or Facade: Architectural wall packs or spotlights positioned near entryways highlight signage and create a welcoming, professional first impression. Adjustable heads can be aimed to accent building features while maintaining visibility at the door.
• Recreational or Sports Areas: High-mount floods or pole fixtures (25–35 ft) with medium beam angles (70°–90°) are ideal for courts, fields, and multi-use spaces. Fixtures should be aimed to minimize glare and avoid spilling light onto neighboring properties.
• Security Perimeters or Alleys: For narrow or high-risk areas, vandal-resistant wall packs or strip-style fixtures provide reliable, tamper-proof illumination. Pairing them with motion sensors or photocells helps reduce energy costs while ensuring light is available when needed most.
When designing a layout, think in terms of coverage, consistency, and control — overlapping beams reduce dark zones, uniform color temperature improves visibility, and smart controls ensure efficiency without sacrificing safety.
Conclusion
Lighting large outdoor spaces is all about balance - power, efficiency, and smart design. Modern LEDs make it possible to get the brightness you need, the color you prefer, and the performance you want, all while meeting today’s safety and energy standards.
Whether you’re upgrading an old HID setup, designing a new layout, or just trying to make sense of mounting heights, beam angles, and color temps, the right choices make all the difference. And if you ever want to talk through what to use, when to use it, or what options fit your space best — give us a call, send an email, or stop by the shop. We live and breathe this stuff, and we’re always happy to help you get your lighting just right.
Thanks for reading,
Andrew Buchanan