Outdoor Wall Light Spacing and Lumens by Area
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Outdoor lighting fails in two ways: too little where you walk, and too much where you don't. Here is how much light each area actually needs, how far apart to space fixtures, and what "IP65" means before you buy.
Lumens by area
| Area | Lumens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front door / porch | 600–800 per fixture | One each side of the door, or one 800+ lumen fixture centered above it |
| Garage door | 800–1,200 per fixture | One per bay, mounted 6–12 in outside the door trim |
| Path / walkway | 100–200 per fixture | Low lumens, many fixtures. Bollards and step lights, not floodlights |
| Steps and stairs | 50–100 per step light | Aim at the tread, never at the eyes |
| Patio / deck (sitting) | 300–500 per fixture | Warm white, dimmable if you eat out there |
| Driveway / security | 700–1,300 per fixture | Motion-activated so it isn't on all night |
| Fence / accent | 50–150 per fixture | Solar is fine here; it's decoration, not safety |
Use 2700–3000K warm white for anything near the house; it reads as welcoming and doesn't wash out brick or wood. Save 4000K+ for the garage and driveway where you want to see color accurately.
Spacing
- Wall sconces along a wall or fence: every 8–10 ft (2.4–3 m). Closer than 6 ft looks like a runway.
- Path lights / bollards: every 6–8 ft (1.8–2.4 m), staggered left and right rather than paired. A 30 ft path needs four or five, not ten.
- Step lights: one every other tread on straight runs, one per tread on turns. Mount in the riser or the side wall 6–8 in (15–20 cm) above the tread.
- Front door pairs: centered on the door frame, 6–12 in outside the trim, mounted at 66–72 in (168–183 cm) to the fixture center. Full sconce heights are in the sconce placement guide.
Wet, damp, and the IP number
Outdoor product pages list an IP rating where the supplier provides one. The second digit is water.
- IP44 – splash-resistant. Fine under a covered porch or eave. Not for a fixture that gets rained on directly.
- IP65 – rain-proof from any direction. The standard for exposed walls, garages, gates and fences.
- IP67 – survives temporary submersion. Ground-level step lights, in-ground path lights, anything that sits in standing water after a storm.
Rule: if rain can hit it, IP65 or better. If it sits on the ground, IP67. Anything with an E27 socket and an open shade is only as sealed as the bulb you put in it; use a bulb rated for outdoor use.
Solar: where it works and where it doesn't
Solar fixtures are right for accent and fence lighting, and for step lights on a path that gets full sun. They are the wrong choice for the front door, the garage, or anywhere you need 600+ lumens for hours on a winter night; a small panel cannot store that. For those spots, hardwire or use a plug-in fixture on a photocell.
Picks by job
| Job | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Front door, exposed wall | AlumaGlow IP65 Outdoor Wall Sconce |
| Up-and-down accent on a wall or pillar (uses your own bulb) | BrightGuard E27 Up/Down Wall Sconce |
| Driveway or side door, only on when someone's there | MotionGlow IP65 Motion-Sensor Wall Light |
| Path or driveway edge | Pathway Pro LED Bollard Light |
| Deck or patio steps, no wiring | SolarGlow IP67 Step Lights |
| Fence line, decorative | LumiGuard Solar Wall Light |
Before you order
- Count fixtures from the spacing rules above, then buy one extra of any path or step light so a failure doesn't leave a gap you can't match later.
- Hardwired fixtures need a junction box; check the mounting plate size on the product page against your box.
- Put everything on a photocell or a timer. A fixture that runs 24 hours costs you bulbs and annoys the neighbors.
Browse the Outdoor & Solar collection. IP rating and lumens are listed where the supplier provides them; if a listing doesn't show one, ask before you order.