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Last updated: 16 Feb 2023
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products-learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Light Up Your Workspace With the Best Garage Lights

Best Overall
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SANSI 300 Watt LED Garage Light
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Runner Up
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Fimitech Garage Light
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Brightest Light
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Tanbaby Garage Light
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Sturdiest Option
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JMTGNSEP Garage LED Ceiling Light
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Most Adjustable
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LZHOME Garage Bulb Light
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If you are looking for a way to brighten up your garage but don’t want to spend a lot of money, a three-leaf garage lamp is a great choice. Garage lighting fixtures can help to illuminate your work space and bring brightness to an otherwise dark area of your home. These lamps are easy to install and can be used indoors or outdoors. Whether you’re looking for task lighting, a shop light, or an all-encompassing overhead light, you’re sure to find an option that works for you. Garage lights also come in a variety of styles and colors to match your décor. To illuminate your space, check out our favorite garage lights in 2023.

Which is the Best Garage Light?

1

SANSI 300 Watt LED Garage Light

– Best Overall
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Brighten up your garage and work on that project you’ve been putting off with the SANSI LED Garage Light. This light has 5000K daylight and 5500lm output that can light up not only garages but also basements, warehouses, and gardens, and can even help your small business. Sustainable LED bulbs also help reduce your energy bills long term, so five hours of usage only costs $11. That’s savings of up to $110 compared to if you have used incandescent lights instead. 

The strong power supply won’t let you down when you need light most. The LED light is flicker-free as it has drivers that stabilize the light by varying the voltage for consistent use. It’s also weatherproof for outdoor use if you need to brighten up your backyard. All these features and more make this garage light from SANSI the best overall on the list. 

Pros
  • Patented ceramic technology
  • Reduces energy bills
  • Flicker free
Cons
  • Not a grow light for plants
2

Fimitech Garage Light

– Runner Up
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Ease of installation and use combined with good build quality make this 60W garage light from Fimitech our first choice. The extremely bright LED light that it offers will easily bring brightness into your work space. Its straightforward design earns it the runner up place on this list. 

Pros
  • The lights installation is as simple as screwing in a lightbulb.
  • Panels can be individually adjusted to different angles to change the lighting.
Cons
  • Would be nice if panels could be turned off and on separately.
 
3

Tanbaby Garage Light

– Brightest Light
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Key Features

Concerned about heat buildup and electricity usage? This light is purpose-built to alleviate your concerns. This option makes a great shop light thanks to its angled leaves.

Pros
  • Superior heat dissipation will keep your light’s from overheating.
  • 85% energy saving for reduced electrical bills.
Cons
  • Still uses slightly more electricity than a standard light bulb.
 
4

JMTGNSEP Garage LED Ceiling Light

– Sturdiest Option
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Key Features

Spend lots of time in the garage or workshop and want a light that will last as long as you do? Look no further. Compared to other LED garage lights or a single bar shop light, this one is encased in sturdy aluminum alloy and offers versatile and reliably bright lighting.

Pros
  • Tested to last for upwards of 50,000 hours.
  • 6000k light temperature clearly illuminates every corner of the garage.
Cons
  • Not the highest possible lumen rating.
 
5

LZHOME Garage Bulb Light

– Most Adjustable
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Key Features

Have a large space to light up and want the best visibility around? This one is for you. This light’s adjustable panels allow you to position it just right to illuminate all of your garage’s needs.

Pros
  • The 6500-lumen rating provides superior visibility in large garages.
  • Softer 5000k natural light temperature is easier on the eyes.
Cons
  • Motion sensors to turn the light on automatically would be great.
 
6

Lightdot Garage Bulb Light

– Simplest Design
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Key Features

Want powerful lighting that extends beyond the boundaries of your garage? This one will do the job. In comparison to other LED garage lights, this one features softer lighting that is easier on the eyes. Its simple design also adds to its ease of use.

Pros
  • 2-pack of lights that can be installed anywhere a lightbulb would screw-in.
  • A wide panel design throws light on wider areas with the same amount of power.
Cons
  • Not the highest light temperature available.

Finding the Top Garage Light: A Buying Guide

Why Do You Need Garage Lights?

Well, a garage is not just some place to park your car. Some people use it for storage, while some people turn their garage into a home gym, an extra bedroom, or a workshop. You don’t have to rely on high ceilings to bring a fresh sense of openness to your space. Depending on what you use your garage for, you will need to install the right lights so you can utilize your space effectively. This simple home improvement choice can truly transform the area you have to work with.

A garage makes for excellent additional space in your home, and people really like to make the most out of it. Whether you are using it to fix cars, do woodworking projects, or work on other crafts, you will need garage lights to make it easier on the eyes. Plus, utilizing a sufficient light fixture will also enable you to use the garage during the night. And that is great for night owls who are most productive at night time. 

If you have a garage with a driveway, you can park your cars outside and use the garage as a spare room for anything you can think of—and that is a great way to become more productive in your passion. Here are some cool ideas for your garage if you haven’t thought about them yet:

You can turn it into an extra room

You can actually make your garage into a living space, especially if one of your kids needs an extra room as they get older.

You can turn your garage into a workshop

Whether you are a painter, woodworker, artist, sculptor, or you just love to do DIY work, you can utilize the space in your garage. You can transform it into a spacious workshop to get those ideas out of your head.

You can turn it into a man cave or she-shed

Depending on your garage’s size, you can transform it into a man cave, game room, or even a she-shed. You can put in a pool table, a couple of arcade games, a home theater, or anything you can think of that you don’t have enough space for in the house. 

You can turn it into a gym

If you want to get gym equipment but don’t have enough space or a spare room in the house, guess what? You can transform your garage into your very own home gym. 

You can turn it into an office

Your garage can be your safe place. You can turn it into a home office where you can get a lot of work done. If you are a musician, you can turn it into a rehearsal space or home music studio, and the possibilities are endless. 

There are so many possibilities for a garage, especially if you will not use it for parking your car. However, you will need a lot of remodeling, depending on what you plan to do with it. The easiest way to start is by picking out the right lights! Before doing the actual construction work and adding an HVAC system, the lights can drastically change the look of the place without doing much work.

Related: Check out our buying guides to build your dream home office.

Types of Garage Lights

Garage lights illuminate the place so you can get work done in the garage, so make sure you choose the right type of lights for the job. If you live in an old house, then chances are your garage is equipped with incandescent light bulbs. These ancient types of bulbs are very inefficient. Compared to newer light bulbs, they are not even that bright. Of course, they look better than other light bulbs, but that’s about it. Here are some of the best and most efficient light bulb types you can install in your garage. 

Fluorescent

CFLs, or fluorescent lights, make an excellent choice for garages. They might not be as efficient as LED garage lights, but the brightness is very well distributed. If you need a bright light spread evenly across the garage for the activities you will be doing, you should definitely consider getting CFLs. Flourescent fixtures can be an simple solution to light up darker areas.

LED

LEDs are the best when it comes to longevity, energy efficiency, and brightness. They generate directional light that casts bright beams to help illuminate any room, including the garage. 

How To Choose the Best Garage Lights

Area

Ensure the lights you get can cover the entire area or the area you will need it the most. As mentioned before, fluorescent lights are the best for spreading light evenly. But if you value being energy efficient more, LEDs can make a great choice as well.

Brightness

Unlike other areas in your home, a garage might not have windows for a natural source of light. For that, you will need lights that can produce at least 3,000 lumens. Lumens measure the brightness, and watts have nothing to do with that. When checking out lights, make sure you have enough illumination or a sufficient number of lumens for your garage area. 

Energy efficiency

If you think that you will be spending most of your time in the garage, make sure you choose energy efficient lights to help you cut down on your energy consumption. It’s not only good for your pocket, but it is also good for the environment. 

Color

If it’s not for mood lighting, and you need a light to brighten up the place, make sure that the color is bright white or yellow. However, if you need a secondary light for setting the mood, you can choose color-changing LEDs for accent lighting. 

Are they easy to install?

Another factor to consider is the ease of installation. You need to consider if you can do it yourself or if you need to hire a professional. If you have no experience working on electrical, make sure you hire a pro to do it for you. However, if you have some experience with electrical work and want to tackle the project yourself, check out this tutorial from Shop Nation:

People Also Asked

Q: Can higher color temperature produce more brightness?

A: No, the higher color temperature does not affect the brightness. An elevated color temperature can add a bluer tone, and that is just about it.

Q: What is the most long-lasting type of light bulbs?

A: LEDs are the most efficient and brightest light bulbs that can last the longest. However, fluorescent light bulbs are better in brightness distribution.

Garage Lighting
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By Old House Journal Review Team
The Old House Journal Review Team’s product reviews and in-depth guides are here to help you restore, repair, update, and decorate your home. The content is created by The Old House Journal Review Team. The Old House Journal editorial staff is not involved. Old House Journal is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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