Outdoor area and site lighting covers parking, walkways, entrances, and grounds. The goals are safe, uniform light with minimal glare and light trespass beyond the property.
| Area | Target |
|---|---|
| General parking / site | 1 to 5 fc |
| Walkways | 1 to 3 fc |
| Building entrances | 5 to 10 fc |
| Local roadway | 0.4 to 0.9 fc |
| Security perimeter | 0.5 to 2 fc |
Uniformity, glare, and trespass
Aim for a max-to-min uniformity of about 4:1 or better so there are no dark gaps. Full-cutoff fixtures and the BUG rating (backlight, uplight, glare) keep light on the site and off neighbors and the sky.
Pole height and spacing set the coverage; taller poles cover more area but need higher output to hold the level.
See the Parking Lot Lighting Guide and the Pole Height Calculator.
Planning outdoor area lighting
Outdoor lighting balances safety, uniformity, and avoiding waste. Aim for even coverage rather than bright pools with dark gaps — uniformity (the ratio of average to minimum light) matters more for safety than peak brightness. Typical targets run from about 5–20 lux for parking areas, with higher levels at entrances and walkways for visibility. Use full-cutoff or shielded fixtures to direct light downward, which cuts glare and light pollution and is often required by dark-sky ordinances. Mounting height and spacing work together — taller poles cover more area but need careful optics to hold uniformity. Warmer color temperatures (3000K or below) are increasingly preferred outdoors to reduce glare and ecological impact.