Good lighting for warehouse racking is not only about enough light on the floor, but above all about visibility on rack fronts, labels, location numbers, and any product damage. The right solution depends on mounting height, aisle width, rack height, operations, and conditions such as dust, moisture, or cold. In practice, LED high bays, light lines, and smart controls often ensure safer work, fewer errors, and lower energy and maintenance costs.
What makes good rack lighting different from regular warehouse lighting
For warehouse racking lighting, vertical illumination counts more heavily than in an open hall. Employees must not only be able to walk, but also quickly read labels, recognize locations, and see damage. Uniform basic lighting on the floor is therefore often not enough, especially in high racks or narrow aisles.Good racking lighting is assessed per aisle and per task, ensuring that safety, picking accuracy, and working pace complement each other.
Smart starting points for lux levels and standards
Use EN 12464-1 as a functional starting point and always verify the design against the actual workplace, relevant occupational health and safety requirements, and installation requirements.
| Zone | Practical guideline value | Point of attention |
|---|---|---|
| General storage | approx. 100 lux | Often usable as a minimum, but frequently too low for small labels on racks |
| Racking aisles | approx. 150-200 lux | Often needs to be higher in high racks, narrow aisles, or with finer codings |
| Order picking | approx.300 lux | Reduce glare in work zones |
| Packaging | approx. 300 lux | Choose uniform light on the work surface |
| Finer control | approx. 500 lux | Useful where detailed control or error detection is important |
Which fixtures suit your height and aisle width
The higher the mounting, the more important the choice between high bay or trunking system, beam angle selection, and light distribution becomes. Are you in doubt between solutions? Read: High bay or trunking system: how to choose the right solution.
| Situation | Frequently suitable fixture | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| High racking from approx.8 m | LED high bay | Generally around 100-200W or more, with a narrower beam for depth in the aisle |
| Warehouse zones of 4-8 m | High bay, continuous row lighting, or linear fixture | Generally around 40-150W; pay close attention to uniformity |
| Humid or dusty areas | Waterproof linear fixture | Typically minimum IP65 makes sense |
| Extra emphasis on rack fronts | Fixture with asymmetric optics | Directs more light onto the fronts than a standard symmetric beam |
Illuminate per zone, not with a single standard setting
A warehouse functions better with lighting tailored to specific functions rather than using the same fixture and light level everywhere. Height, traffic intensity, task type, and environmental conditions vary across different sections of the facility.Therefore, it is smarter to assess warehouse aisles, pick locations, loading zones, and cold storage areas individually.
High racks and narrow aisles
From a mounting height of approximately 8 meters, you will often end up with LED high bay lights that provide sufficient light penetration into the aisle. A narrower beam helps direct light deeper between the racks instead of losing it outside of them. For quick readability of labels, an asymmetric distribution can be extra useful.
Standard warehouse zones from 4 to 8 meters
At medium heights, multiple fixture types can be used, depending on the aisle layout and the desired light distribution. Think of high bays, Industrial LED trunking systems or waterproof linear fixtures. In this zone, uniformity is often just as important as pure light intensity, preventing dark strips between racks.Voor gangpaden tussen stellingen zijn LED batten armaturen een betaalbare, snelle retrofit.
Orderpick- en pakzones
Orderpicken en verpakken vragen meestal meer licht dan algemene opslag, omdat hier sneller gelezen, gecontroleerd en verwerkt wordt. Rond 300 lux is vaak een praktisch uitgangspunt. Let daarnaast op verblindingsbeperking, zodat medewerkers aan werktafels niet steeds in fel of storend licht kijken.
Laad- en loszones
Laad- en losplekken krijgen te maken met vuil, vocht, tocht en de overgang tussen binnen en buiten. Daarom is minimaal IP65 hier vaak een logische ondergrens voor armaturen. Juist in deze zone werkt aanwezigheidsdetectie vaak goed, omdat de bezetting meestal wisselend is.
Koel- en vriesruimtes
Lage temperaturen en condens stellen extra eisen aan armaturen en drivers. Hogere IP-bescherming is hier vaak nodig door vocht en reiniging.Always check the specified operating temperature, reliable performance in the cold and, where relevant, resistance to used cleaning agents or other chemical exposure.
How to roughly calculate the number of fixtures
Make a first estimate using: surface area × desired lux, divided by the usable lumens per fixture. Don't forget the maintenance factor, so that dirt accumulation and light depreciation are taken into account. Example: 600 m² × 200 lux = 120,000 lumens. If a fixture effectively delivers 20,000 lumens and you use a maintenance factor of 0.8, you get 120,000/(20,000 × 0.8) = 7.5, so approximately 8 fixtures. For high racking and narrow aisles, a proper lighting calculation remains important. Want certainty per aisle and zone? Request a Free lighting calculation .
Which control pays off in empty storage aisles
Permanently illuminating aisles that are often empty at full power is unnecessarily expensive.Control is especially interesting in areas with varying occupancy and where daylight plays a noticeable role. In warehouses, three routes are usually the most logical: presence detection, addressable control per fixture, and daylight control per zone. You can find more background information in Lighting with sensors in the industrial hall.
PIR: simple switching based on presence
PIR is the simple and often cost-effective way to illuminate standard aisles only when there is activity. This solution is especially suited for predictable aisles without complex scenarios. How much you save depends mainly on how often the aisles are actually empty in practice.
DALI: more control per fixture
With DALI, you can control fixtures individually or per group. This enables finer regulation per zone and is particularly interesting in larger logistics environments or when integration with building management systems is desired.The added value lies primarily in flexibility, monitoring, and more targeted control per aisle.
Daylight control: make the most of what is already coming in
Daylight control automatically reduces artificial lighting when skylights or light tubes contribute sufficiently. This is especially useful in parts of the warehouse with noticeable daylight entry. This control system only works truly well when these zones can be controlled separately.
Technical aspects to keep in mind
- Always check for the correct IP rating for dust, moisture, cleaning demands, and potential outdoor influences.
- Have installation and inspection carried out in accordance with relevant electrical standards and by qualified installers.
- For storage facilities containing paint, chemicals, or other explosion-hazardous substances, separate ATEX requirements may apply.
- Specifications only have value when they match the actual operating conditions of the warehouse.
Why L80 and B10 mean more than just 'long lifespan'
L80 indicates how much light a fixture must still deliver after a specified operating time. The B-value indicates what percentage of the fixtures is allowed to fall below that level. This helps when comparing quotations and planning maintenance, especially in high-bay warehouses where replacement at height incurs extra time, equipment, and downtime.
What often makes the business case compelling
Older warehouse lighting typically consumes more energy, emits more unnecessary heat, and requires replacement more frequently than a well-chosen LED solution. In high rack aisles, maintenance weighs heavily because malfunctions are more difficult and costly to resolve.With control and daylight harvesting, savings can increase further, especially in corridors that are not in continuous use. Subsidies or tax schemes can help, but operating hours and usage patterns determine the outcome. View our Warehouse Lighting Solutions for practical examples and suitable products.
How we practically approach LEDLoket racking lighting
At LEDLoket , we don't start with the highest wattage, but with visibility on rack fronts, mounting height, aisle width, and task type. Since 2016, we have been working with LED solutions daily, allowing us to think along practically for business projects regarding lighting calculations. In doing so, we look at LED high bays, industrial LED trunking systems, waterproof fixtures, and appropriate connection materials, always in combination with beam angle, IP rating, and control. General task lighting is separate from emergency or escape route lighting, for which different requirements apply.
What data to prepare for a useful lighting plan
- The basic dimensions: hall surface area, mounting height, rack height, aisle width, and number of aisles.
- The activities per zone: storage, order picking, packaging, loading and unloading, or cooling, plus the desired readability of labels and locations.
- Environmental factors such as dust, moisture, temperature, cleaning, and available daylight.
- The current situation: existing fixtures, operating hours, power points, and areas where lighting currently falls short.
