Outdoor LED Floodlights

Outdoor LED floodlights: how many lumens and what beam angle you need

An outdoor LED floodlight is a wide-beam luminaire designed to wash surfaces: facades, courtyards, gardens, car parks and loading areas. It does not pick out an object, it spreads light over an area. Here we bring together the FactorLED family of outdoor LED flood lights, organised into our own ranges: ACTION, AVANT, EVOLUTION, RGB and Motion Sensor, plus the Outdoor LED Floodlight Accessories for brackets and mountings.

Floodlight or narrow-beam spotlight

The difference is the angle. The outdoor LED flood light or projector opens the beam wide and covers surface area: that is what you want to light a whole facade, a courtyard or a manoeuvring area. The narrow-beam spotlight concentrates the light and works to highlight a tree or an architectural detail. Combining the two gives you an even base with accents; choose wrong and you end up with one bright circle and the rest in the dark.

How many lumens and what angle you need

Start with the surface to be covered and the mounting height, not with the watts. The higher you mount the floodlight, the more area the same beam takes in, but the less light it puts on each square metre. The rule is simple: a large surface and a high mounting call for more total lumens; a narrow surface and a low mounting are solved with fewer lumens and a tighter angle.

The beam angle decides the spread. A very wide beam at low height lights what is close and loses reach; a tighter one from height travels further but leaves dark strips at the sides. Two or three floodlights with overlapping beams cover a courtyard better than a single very powerful one. Add color temperature to the equation: neutral and cool tones perform in technical areas and car parks, while warm tones flatter facades and gardens. There are selectable temperature models so you can adjust on site.

IP rating, mounting and aiming

The IP rating sets the protection: the first digit is dust and the second water. IP44 copes with splashes and works under an eave or a covered porch. IP65 withstands water jets and is fine out in the open. IP66 takes powerful jets and IP67 temporary immersion. Rule of thumb: with direct rain, IP65 as a minimum.

The mounting decides the result, and also the nuisance factor. An outdoor LED facade floodlight aimed upwards draws the wall, but with too much tilt it dazzles the neighbours and throws light away into the sky. With ceiling mounted outdoor LED floodlights, under a porch or an eave, aim slightly inwards to avoid glare in people's eyes. Check that the bracket is adjustable and that the angle locks in place: a badly anchored floodlight drifts in the wind.

The ranges: ACTION, AVANT, EVOLUTION, RGB and Motion Sensor

ACTION, AVANT and EVOLUTION are FactorLED's three outdoor floodlight families: the same wide-beam approach with different bodies, outputs and finishes. The AVANT range appears in this category as an adjustable floodlight.

The Motion Sensor range builds in PIR detection: it switches on when it detects presence and goes off after a set delay, ideal at entrances, access points and back yards where you do not need light all night. RGB outdoor floodlights add color change for event facades, terraces and atmosphere, and many combine color with a white mode for everyday use. Accessories holds the brackets, angle plates and mountings.

Where they are installed

On the facades of homes and business premises, to give the building presence at night. In gardens and courtyards, as general light. At entrances and access points, usually with a detector. In car parks and loading areas, where even spread and resistance to water and dust matter. And on small sports courts, with several floodlights overlapping beams to avoid shadows in the middle.

At FactorLED you have the ACTION, AVANT, EVOLUTION, RGB and Motion Sensor ranges, plus their accessories, with lumens, beam angle and IP rating on every product page so you can choose the floodlight that covers your surface.

Frequently asked questions about outdoor LED floodlights

What is an outdoor floodlight?

A wide-beam LED luminaire that washes large surfaces, such as facades, courtyards or car parks, instead of concentrating the light on one specific point.

How many lumens do I need to light a garden or a courtyard?

It depends on the surface to be covered and the mounting height: the more area and the more height, the more total lumens. Spreading several floodlights with overlapping beams usually works better than a single very powerful one.

What IP rating should an outdoor floodlight have?

IP65 as a minimum if it gets direct rain. IP44 only works under an eave or a covered porch, and IP66 or IP67 are the choice where there are water jets or a risk of standing water.

What is an outdoor floodlight with a motion detector for?

It has a PIR sensor and switches on when it detects presence, then goes off by itself. It is the answer at entrances, access points and yards where you do not need permanent light.

Do color changing LED floodlights also give white light?

Many RGB models include a white mode as well as color, so they work both for atmosphere and for everyday lighting. Check it on the product page.