Recessed LED Garage Lights: Amazing Benefits & Installation Tips

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Are Recessed LED Garage Lights Good For You?

Whether you are building a new garage or remodeling an existing one, Recessed LED Garage Lights have to be on the top of your list!

Recessed LED Garage Lights are sleek, energy-efficient solutions that will transform your garage into a bright, functional space that you will love.

Recessed LED garage lights offer a revolutionary solution to dim, dusty spaces and high electricity bills. Say goodbye to flickering bulbs and constant ladder climbs – welcome to a world of sleek, energy-efficient illumination.

Benefits of Recessed LED Garage Lights

Investing in LED garage lights is a smart decision with multifaceted benefits for your wallet, the environment, and the overall ambiance of your garage.

Energy Efficiency for Savings

Recessed LED garage lights offer a remarkable 75% reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional bulbs. This efficiency not only cuts down on electricity bills but also minimizes environmental impact.

LED lights use way less energy than traditional bulbs, reducing the operating cost and cutting down on electricity bills.

Lumens is a measure of the brightness from a light source whereas Watts is a measure of the energy it consumes. The table below clearly demonstrates the energy efficiency of LED lights.

Energy Efficiency
Light Source	Energy Efficiency (Lumens/Watt)
Incandescent	12-18
Halogen	10-20
LED	75-110

Longevity Ensures Consistent Lighting

Experience a lasting solution with recessed LED garage lights, providing clear and bright illumination for up to 50,000 hours.

Outlasting traditional bulbs by 25 times, LEDs eliminate the need for frequent replacements, ensuring a consistently well-lit garage without the hassle of maintenance.

Typical Average Rated Life for Various Types of Bulbs

Incandescent	750-2,000 hours
Fluorescent	24,000-36,000 hours
HID	10,000-24,000 hours
Compact Fluorescent (Plug-in)	10,000-20,000 hours
Compact Fluorescent (Screw-based)	8,000-10,000 hours
Halogen	2,000-4,000 hours
LED	40,000-50,000 hours

Data Source: Bulbs.Com

Aesthetic Appeal and Modern Functionality

Installation of recessed LED garage lights will instantaneously elevate the visual appeal of your garage, giving it a sleek and minimalist look.

Recessed LED garage lights integrate seamlessly with the interior of your garage. The various styles available not only enhance functionality but also bring a touch of contemporary style to your garage.

But it’s not just aesthetics, recessed LED garage lights also give you the extra headspace that you, as an avid DIYer, will love. With recessed lights in the garage ceiling you won’t have to worry that much when you are moving a tall ladder or a 8 foot long 2X4 stud.

Low Maintenance for Dependable Illumination

Recessed LED garage lights are low-maintenance solutions, providing reliable brightness without constant attention.

They don’t flicker and die. In fact, forget the hassle of frequent replacements; these lights offer consistent illumination for 40-50 thousand hours.

Government Incentives and Rebates for Cost Savings

Choosing recessed LED garage lights may seem expensive to begin with. But fortunately, many states offer incentives, from tax credits to rebates, making the switch to energy-efficient lighting economically attractive.

Research local government perks to unlock significant savings, turning your lighting upgrade into a financially rewarding and environmentally conscious venture. Be proactive in seeking out these rebates.

Installing garage can lights, which is the same as recessed lights in garage ceiling, gives you a more headspace and a clean look as there is nothing hanging or protruding below the garage ceiling. Why not check out

Sunco Retrofit LED Recessed Lighting 6 Inch, Dimmable Can Lights

For more information you should also check out my earlier article, Recessed Lights in Garage: A Comprehensive Guide

How Many LEDs Does My Garage Need?

The number of LEDs that your garage needs, of course, depends on the garage size, the lumens / watts of each LED can and the location of lights on the ceiling.

Brightness Level

To ensure that you have the required brightness you need to estimate the lumens required. This is done by multiplying the area of the garage with the recommended foot candle.

How Many Lumens for a One Car Garage?

A standard one car garage is 12 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Therefore, the area of the garage is 240 ft.². This is just enough to park a car and manage some storage. There is no room for a workshop in a standard 1 car garage.

Since there is no workshop, a brightness level of 20 lumens per square foot will be sufficient. Multiply the area (240 square feet) with 20 and you get the lumens required for standard 1 car garage lighting as 4,800 lumens (or 5,000 lumens to round up).

How Many Lumens for a Two Car Garage?

A standard two car garage is 20 feet wide and 20 feet deep. Therefore, the area of the garage is 400 ft.². The space is not enough to have a garage workshop. The parking & storage area requires a brightness of 20 lumen.

Multiply the two parameters and you get 8,000 lumens as the lighting requirement for a standard two car garage without a workshop.

For details on lumen calculations kindly check my blog post Lumens for Garage (Per Square Foot) Calculator + 8 Superb Tips

Layout & Numbers

The Sunco Retrofit LED Recessed Lighting 6 Inch, Dimmable Can Lights, emits 965 lumens per unit. For simplicity let me assume that the LED recessed light emits 1000 lumens.

Based on this you need 4-6 recessed can lights for a 1 car garage (12’X20′) and 8-10 recessed can lights for a 2 car garage (20’X20′). The number is a guideline and you can have up to 10% more or less. Better more than less though!

Generally a grid layout looks neat, but you can modify it to meet any special requirements. For example you may want more light in some area and less in another area.

TIP: Keep the lights 2’ from the walls to avoid the “cave effect”. Keep a distance of 4’ between lights for uniform brightness on the garage floor.

Installing Recessed LED Garage Lights

Installing recessed LED garage lights is best left to an experienced electrician. It can be done as a DIY project if you have the skills and the tools.

Below is a simplistic step-by-step installation guide

• Plan Layout: Sketch light placement.
• Choose Fixtures: Select appropriate LEDs.
• Prepare: Turn off power. Gather tools.
• Mark Locations: Mark spots for lights.
• Drill Holes: Use hole saw for lights.
• Wire Connections: Connect wires to fixtures.
• Secure Fixtures: Install lights in holes.
• Test Lights: Ensure proper functionality.

Just remember that the fixture comes in two versions.

Remodel

This is designed to be retrofitted into the existing drywall ceiling. Simply cut a hole in the ceiling and push the fixture through the opening. The fixture comes with clips that prevent it from falling.

New Construction

The fixtures in this case are designed to be screwed into the ceiling joists, before the drywall ceiling goes up.

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.