Sizing
How many shop lights for a 12x22 one-car garage
A 12 x 22 ft garage (264 sq ft) needs about 25,882 lumens of fixture output for general shop work at 50 footcandles, which is 7 fixtures at 4,000 lumens. Detail work at 100 footcandles needs 51,765 lumens, or 13 fixtures. Paint the walls white and general lighting drops to 6.
Fixture counts for this garage
| Case | Lumens needed | Fixtures (4,000 lm) | Fixtures (9,000 lm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General work, average walls | 25,882 | 7 | 3 |
| General work, white walls | 22,185 | 6 | 3 |
| General work, dark walls | 34,510 | 9 | 4 |
| Detail work, average walls | 51,765 | 13 | 6 |
Lumens needed = footcandles x area / (utilization x light loss). We use 0.6 for average walls, 0.7 for white and 0.45 for dark, and 0.85 for light loss as the dirt and age allowance. These are conventions, not code values.
Layout and load
For general work that is about 4 rows of 2 fixtures running across the 12 ft width, about 5.5 ft between rows. At 40 W per fixture the load is 280 W, 2.3 A at 120V, which a single 15 A lighting circuit carries at 80 percent with room for about 36 fixtures. Aim the rows over benches and machines rather than the center of the room, and put a second switch on the bench rows so detail work gets its extra light without lighting the whole bay.
In a one-car bay a parked car shadows the middle rows, so a pair of lights over the back wall bench earns its place.
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Frequently asked questions
Are 4 ft LED shop lights bright enough for a garage workshop?
A typical 4 ft LED strip is rated 4,000 to 5,000 lumens. In this 12x22 one-car garage 7 of them reach the 50 footcandle general-work target; for fine layout work at 100 footcandles you need 13, or task lights at the bench.
This page is researched guidance, not professional electrical, engineering or safety advice. Circuits, loads and clearances depend on your house, your service and your town: have a licensed electrician confirm any wiring, and check local code and each manufacturer's manual before you act.
