While installing a light fixture, you must be aware of the brightness or amount of light required in the area. And that’s where people usually struggle; they don’t know the adequate lumens needed. Let’s see the lumens you need for outdoor lighting. We will discuss different outdoor areas and recommended lumen ranges to help you select the right fixtures. Understanding Lumens For Outdoor Lighting Higher watts don’t always mean more lights. Because Wattage is not for measuring brightness. It measures electricity consumption. The output light could be low even if the wattage is higher as it depends on the energy efficiency of the fixture. The exact measure of brightness or light coming out of the fixtures is lumens. We can’t directly convert lumens into watts because of the varied energy efficiency. However, we can give an approximation. How Many Lumens Do I Need For Outdoor Lighting? Different outdoor locations required distinct lumen values for enough illumination. Here’s a quick idea of the lumens you need for outdoor spaces. 🔆Step Lights: 20-100 lumens 🔆Outdoor Wall Light: 50-200 lumens 🔆Path Light: 50-200 lumens 🔆Motion Sensor Lights: 700-1500 lumens 🔆Pool/Pond Lights: 200-800 lumens 🔆Floor Lights: 20-100 lumens 🔆Landscape Lights: 100-500 lumens 🔆Lamp Posts: 700-1300 lumens These are the minimum and maximum lumen values for different outdoor areas. Depending on the height of the installation, desired ambiance, and other factors, you can choose a suitable value within the range. #1. How Many Lumens Do I Need For Patio? For a patio, general ambient lighting should be 100-300 lumens. You can install one fixture or multiple. However, installing multiple fixtures is a better option for even lighting. It is more than enough to make the area well-lit and is suitable for easy movement and comfortable sitting and conversation. People often use patios for dining. In this case, the lumens required are 300-700. It provides more lighting to cook, grill, and eat. For decoration purposes and to enhance the ambiance, you can consider smart string lights or other decorative lights that are usually 10-100 lumens per fixture. Recommendation: #2. How Many Lumens For Landscape Lighting? For landscape lighting, you should consider the size of the things you want to illuminate. For small plants, flowers, and garden beds, you need a soft glow. It can be done in 20-100 lumens. You can choose a suitable value, depending on the brightness you prefer. Medium shrubs and small trees can be illuminated with 100-300 lumens. If there are large trees, and you want to illuminate them so that they can stand out, consider 300-1000 lumens. The path and step lights should be 50-200 lumens. They are enough to illuminate the area for safe walking. Recommendation: #3. How Many Lumens For Outdoor Security Light? For optimal security, the outdoor area must be well-lit. It requires extremely bright lights to illuminate the area and deter criminals. Different outdoor areas require different lumens. For driveways, go with an extremely intense light. You can choose between 1,500-3,000 lumens. The illumination spreads and covers a wider area. Entrances and porches can be covered through 1,200 to 1,600 lumens. These lumen values are for small to medium houses. If the yard is too large, 2,500 to 4,000 will more suitable. Recommendation: #4. How Many Lumens For Driveway Lights? The lumen range required in driveways is quite diverse because of the applications. Generally, people install 1,200 to 1,400 lumens to cover their entire driveway. It is enough to illuminate the area and make it safe for parking, walking, etc. 10-20 lumens per sq ft is generally good. If you want to cover a wider area with strong illumination and enhance security, you need floodlights. These lights are very intense and bright. For better illumination, you can go with 1,300+ lumens and select a suitable light according to the area you want to cover. For large areas, a 2,000 lumens or multiple fixtures is a great option. #5. How Many Lumens For Path Lighting? If you want subtle illumination, 50-100 lumens will be more than enough. It will light up the area and make everything easy to visualize and walk on the path without any hassle. You can have the number of fixtures as per your needs. However, if you want to make the path extra visible for the elderly and children, it is better to go with 100-200 lumens. It improves visibility and reduces the chances of accidents. Recommendation: #6. How Many Lumens For Flood Light? Flood lights are extremely bright. They throw an intense beam of light to illuminate a massive area. They highlight everything, including shrubs and trees. They are ideal for security measures as well. For flood lights, you can go with 1,000 to 4,000 lumens per fixture, depending on the area. For porches, small patios, and doorways, a 1,500 lumens flood light is more than enough. To cover backyards, you need more intense lights, such as 2,000+ lumens. If it is a commercial property or a vast area, consider 4,000 to 10,000 lumens overall or more as required. Recommendation: #7. How Many Lumens For Backyard Light? The backyard of a house must be properly illuminated to deter criminals. It is a common hiding spot and ideal for burglars. If you want general lighting, go with 200-800 lumens. You can install multiple fixtures at different locations for even lighting. For security purposes, go with bright fixtures, such as 700-1,500 lumens. It illuminates the area very well. If you have an outdoor kitchen or dining area, go with 500-1,000 lumens. It ensures adequate lighting and comfort for every task. #8. How Many Lumens For Outdoor Wall Light? Outdoor wall lights are generally installed for ambiance and decoration. They also make the area visible enough to walk without any hassle. For ambiance, you need a subtle glow that can be achieved with 50-200 lumens. You can install multiple fixtures and position them to create a mesmerizing ambiance. If you want to install lights to create a safe entrance and illuminate the area, 300-800 lumens are more than enough. If you need more brightness for general illumination and security wall lights, go with higher lumens. 700-1,500 lumens will work the best. Recommendation: #9. How Many Lumens For Deck Lighting For a soft glow and general lighting, 200-500 lumens are suitable. It makes the place comfortable and relaxing. If you prefer to cook and enjoy meals on the deck, you need more lighting. 500-1,000 lumens will be an appropriate choice. Some people also install under-deck lighting for the ambiance. Go with 50-200 lumens per fixture. Moreover, if you want to highlight the railing, you can consider 10-50 lumens per fixture. It makes the railing visible with subtle light. Recommendation: #10. How Many Lumens For Porch Light For general lighting and ambiance, 300-500 lumens are suitable. If safety and visibility are concerns, go with 800 lumens. Keep in mind that it is not for security measures. For that, the best option would be 1,200 lumens or more. #11. How Many Lumens Should Outdoor Solar Lights Have? Outdoor solar lights are also meant for the same purpose as normal outdoor lights. However, due to the battery capacity, lower lumens are preferred to enjoy the light for a longer duration. For decorative purposes, 5-50 lumens per fixture is a good choice. If you want to install on the path or steps, 50-200 lumens will work well. For landscape lighting, go with 100-400 lumens. If you want to install solar floodlights, 700-3,000 lumens are required. #12. How Many Lumens Outdoor Projector? If you want to enjoy a movie outdoors at night, you need 1,000 to 2,500 ANSI lumens for a small to medium screen. For large screens, go with 2,500 to 4,000 ANSI lumens. You can enjoy the screen with these lumens in truly dark conditions or minimal ambient light, such as full moonlight. During the day and when the ambient light is high, you need more lumens. The minimum recommended lumen range is 3,500 to 4,000 ANSI lumens for shaded areas. For more ambient light, you need to consider more than 6,000 ANSI lumens. Conclusion The purpose and place of the light fixtures decide the lumens you need. We have discussed the lumens ranges for outdoor lighting. You can consider the location and purpose of the light and select an adequate fixture for your needs without any hassle. Govee lights offer a variety of smart lighting solutions to meet all your needs—from string lights to deck lights—helping you create a unique and ambient outdoor space.