How Many Lumens Do I Need for a Street Light? | Complete Guide for 2025
Wondering how many lumens a street light needs? Learn how to choose the right brightness based on road type, pole height, and application—residential, commercial, or highway.
1. What is Lumen ?
Lumen (lm) is the unit of measurement for the total visible light emitted by a light source.
In simple terms: More lumens = Brighter light.
This is different from watts (W), which is a unit of energy consumption. Modern LED and solar lights are capable of providing high brightness with low energy consumption, so "brightness" is more accurately measured in lumens rather than watts.
2. Why is Street Light Brightness Important?
- Low lumens → Dim roadways, poor visibility, and higher risk of accidents
- High lumens → Glare, light pollution, and wasted energy
Choosing the right lumen value ensures safer roads, energy savings, and an efficient lighting system.
3. Recommended Luminance for Different Applications
Depending on the use environment, here are the recommended lumen ranges for common lighting applications:
| Application Type | Recommended Luminance (Lumens) |
|---|---|
| Sidewalks / Park Pathways | 1,000 – 3,000 lm |
| Residential Area Roads | 3,000 – 5,000 lm |
| City Access Roads | 5,000 – 7,000 lm |
| Commercial Parking Lots | 7,000 – 10,000 lm |
| City Arterial Roads / Dual Lanes | 10,000 – 15,000 lm |
| Highways / Expressways | 15,000 – 30,000 lm+ |
| Industrial Areas / Sports Grounds | 20,000 – 50,000 lm |
The actual brightness will also depend on factors such as light distribution, pole height, and beam angle.
4. Recommended Luminance Based on Pole Height
The taller the pole, the further the light is from the ground, so a higher lumen output is required to cover the same area:
| Pole Height | Recommended Luminance (Lumens) |
|---|---|
| 3–4 meters | 1,500 – 3,000 lm |
| 5–6 meters | 3,000 – 5,000 lm |
| 7–8 meters | 5,000 – 7,000 lm |
| 9–12 meters | 7,000 – 15,000 lm |
| 12 meters+ | 15,000 – 30,000+ lm |
5. How to Choose the Right Brightness for Your Project?
Consider the following factors:
- Application Type: Residential roads don't need the same brightness as commercial streets or highways.
- Pole Spacing and Installation Height: The further apart the poles, the higher the brightness needed for each light.
- Light Distribution Type: Narrow beams → High intensity, focused lighting; Wide beams → Covers a larger area, but requires higher lumens.
- National/Regional Standards: Refer to international or regional standards like IES (Illuminating Engineering Society), EN13201 (Europe), and GB standards (China).
- Energy Source: For solar lights, prioritize high lumen per watt to reduce battery load.
6. Lumen and Wattage Relationship in LED Street Lights
In LED lights, wattage is no longer the best indicator of brightness; the key is lumens. For example:
- 30W LED street light ≈ 3,600 – 4,200 lumens
- 60W LED street light ≈ 7,000 – 8,400 lumens
- 100W LED street light ≈ 12,000 – 14,000 lumens
High-quality LED chips (like Bridgelux, Cree, Philips) achieve higher luminous efficacy, providing better lighting with less energy consumption.
7. Solar Street Light Luminance Recommendation (Updated)
Thanks to high luminous efficacy LED technology, premium solar street lights can now achieve 180–200 lumens per watt. Thus, for the same power, you get higher brightness and greater energy efficiency. Below is the updated reference:
| Solar Street Light Power | Theoretical Luminance Range (180–200 lm/W) |
|---|---|
| 30W | 5,400 – 6,000 lm |
| 60W | 10,800 – 12,000 lm |
| 100W | 18,000 – 20,000 lm |
| 120W | 21,600 – 24,000 lm |
Note:
- The actual luminous efficacy depends on the LED chip brand (e.g., Philips, Bridgelux, Cree), optical design, power supply efficiency, and working temperature.
- High-efficiency lights should be paired with MPPT controllers, smart dimming systems, and high-quality lithium batteries to extend battery life and improve system performance.
8. Summary of Recommendations
- Choose high-lumen LED chips with professional light distribution lenses
- Match lumen values appropriately according to application and pole height
- For solar lights, consider battery capacity and daylight hours
- Check certifications: CE, RoHS, UL, ISO, etc.
- Work with reliable manufacturers, like Guangdong Queneng Lighting Technology Co., Ltd., to provide customized high-efficiency lighting solutions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is a Lumen? How is it different from Watts?
Answer: Lumen (L) is the unit that measures the total visible light emitted by a light source, representing brightness. Watt (W) is the unit of energy consumption, representing power. Modern LED lights achieve high lumen output with low wattage, so when selecting lights, it’s better to look at lumens rather than wattage.
2. How do I know if a street light is bright enough?
Answer: You can refer to the recommended lumen range based on the application (e.g., sidewalks, rural roads, urban streets). If the light allows clear identification of road conditions, vehicles, and pedestrians without significant dark spots or glare, the brightness is appropriate.
3. Do solar street lights provide enough brightness?
Answer: Yes. High-quality solar street lights use high luminous efficacy LEDs (180–200 lm/W) combined with large capacity lithium batteries and intelligent controllers. They can provide 5,000–20,000 lumens of brightness, suitable for residential areas, industrial zones, roads, etc.
4. How many lumens does a 100W LED street light produce?
Answer: Depending on the LED chip and luminous efficacy, a 100W LED street light typically outputs around 12,000–14,000 lumens; using high-luminous efficacy LEDs (180–200 lm/W), it can reach 18,000–20,000 lumens.
5. Does a higher pole height require higher brightness?
Answer: Yes. The higher the pole, the more the light spreads out. To maintain uniform brightness on the ground, higher lumen output is required. For example, an 8-meter pole requires an LED street light with ≥6,000 lumens.
6. Is there a risk of light pollution? How can it be avoided?
Answer: Overly high brightness, improper light distribution, or poor glare control can lead to light pollution. Choose lights with designed light distribution, anti-glare structures, moderate brightness, and smart dimming features to reduce light pollution.
7. How far can a solar street light illuminate?
Answer: This depends on the lumen value, installation height, and beam angle. Typically, a 30W solar LED light can cover a 10–15 meter range; a 100W high-efficiency light can cover 20–30 meters or more.
8. How do I choose the right solar lights for my project?
Answer: Consider factors like the lighting range, pole height, sunlight hours, weather conditions, and budget. It’s advisable to contact a professional manufacturer (like Guangdong Queneng Lighting) for customized solutions.
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FAQ
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What are the key benefits of using LED lights in Luda solar street lights?
LED lights used in Luda solar street lights are highly energy-efficient, providing bright illumination while using less power compared to traditional lighting solutions. LEDs also have a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent bulb replacements, and they generate less heat, further enhancing their energy efficiency and performance in outdoor conditions.
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How do I choose the right solar lighting solution for my resort or tourist attraction?
When choosing solar lighting, consider factors such as the size of the area to be illuminated, the level of brightness required, the design and aesthetic preferences, and the local climate. Our experts can help you select the best solar lighting solution for your needs.
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What is the warranty on the solar street light?
Queneng offers a warranty of 2-5 years on our solar street lights, covering defects in material and workmanship. The warranty duration may vary based on the model and product components.
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Can Luyan solar street lights function in areas with limited sunlight or cloudy weather?
Yes, Luyan solar street lights are designed to function reliably even in areas with limited sunlight or during cloudy weather. The high-efficiency solar panels can capture and store energy even in low-light conditions, ensuring that the lights will still provide illumination during cloudy or rainy days. The system is equipped with a battery that stores enough energy to keep the lights running throughout the night, regardless of weather conditions, making it suitable for diverse climates.
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What is the environmental impact of installing Luhua solar street lights?
Installing Luhua solar street lights significantly reduces the environmental impact by decreasing reliance on fossil-fuel-powered electricity. By harnessing solar energy, these lights help cut down on carbon emissions, contributing to a greener, more sustainable environment. Additionally, the use of energy-efficient LED lights reduces electricity consumption, further supporting environmental goals.
Battery Performance and Testing
What is a vibration experiment?
After the battery is discharged to 1.0V at 0.2C, charge it at 0.1C for 16 hours. After leaving it aside for 24 hours, it vibrates according to the following conditions:
Amplitude: 0.8mm
Make the battery vibrate between 10HZ-55HZ, increasing or decreasing at a vibration rate of 1HZ every minute.
The battery voltage change should be within ±0.02V, and the internal resistance change should be within ±5mΩ. (Vibration time is 90min)
The lithium battery vibration experiment method is:
After the battery is discharged to 3.0V at 0.2C, charge it to 4.2V with 1C constant current and constant voltage, with a cut-off current of 10mA. After leaving it aside for 24 hours, it vibrates according to the following conditions:
The vibration experiment was carried out with the vibration frequency from 10 Hz to 60 Hz and then to 10 Hz within 5 minutes as a cycle with an amplitude of 0.06 inches. The battery vibrates in three axes, each axis vibrating for half an hour.
The battery voltage change should be within ±0.02V, and the internal resistance change should be within ±5mΩ.
Queneng's Lufa high-efficiency solar LED street lights illuminate urban and commercial spaces brilliantly. These commercial solar LED street lights offer superior energy savings and reliable performance, making them an ideal sustainable lighting solution.
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