Clightstore vs. Branded LED High Bays: Price, Specs and When Each Makes Sense

A 20,000 lm LED high bay from a major brand costs roughly €160 to €300 at online retailers. A comparable or brighter high bay from Clightstore costs €54 to €73. Both are IP65, both carry a 5-year warranty, and some Clightstore models even use a Philips driver. So where does the price difference come from, what do you actually get for the extra money, and when is a branded luminaire still the better choice? This guide compares specifications, prices and total cost for a typical hall.

Why is there such a large price difference?

A branded luminaire usually passes through several hands before it reaches the installer: manufacturer, national sales organisation, wholesaler and sometimes an installer margin on top. Each step adds cost. On top of that come brand marketing, extensive product ranges kept in stock for years and large service organisations. That has real value in some projects, but it is not reflected in the amount of light the luminaire produces.

Clightstore imports its LED high bays directly from the factories that build them, without intermediaries, and sells them online at one price for everyone. The components that determine quality and lifetime, the LED chips and the driver, come from established suppliers such as Philips, Sosen, Mean Well and Moso. What differs is the route to your hall, not the technology inside.

Specifications compared

The table compares a widely used branded high bay with Clightstore models of similar output. Branded prices are as listed by European online retailers (checked November 2026) and vary between shops.

On paper, the luminaires are close. The standard Philips model is slightly more efficient than a 150 lm/W import luminaire; the 210 lm/W Clightstore model is clearly more efficient than both and delivers about 25% more light at slightly lower power.

Total cost for a hall: an example

Take a hall of about 1,000 m² with 20 high bays, 4,000 operating hours per year and an electricity price of €0.25/kWh.

Because the efficacy is similar, energy costs barely separate the two options; the purchase price decides. If you want the same light level as the branded set, you can also run the Clightstore luminaires at 90 W and save a further 25% on energy. How quickly a switch from old lighting pays back is shown in our LED payback calculator guide, and how many luminaires a hall needs is explained in Warehouse Lighting Calculation.

LED high bays from the comparison

What a branded luminaire offers on top

A fair comparison also looks at what is not in the specification table. Large manufacturers typically offer:

• Long-term product continuity: the same model is often available for years, which helps when a hall is extended later.
• Certification marks beyond CE: some branded ranges carry ENEC or similar third-party marks. What these marks mean is explained in CE, ENEC, TÜV and GS on LED Luminaires.
• Connected control systems: sensors, gateways and software from one manufacturer, for example for networked building control.
• Local field service from a national sales organisation.

Clightstore luminaires are CE-marked, come with a 5-year warranty and use drivers from known manufacturers; photometric files (LDT/IES) are available for light planning. For most warehouses, workshops, production halls and sports halls, that covers what matters day to day.

When does a branded luminaire make sense?

• A public or corporate tender prescribes a specific brand or certification mark without "or equivalent".
• You are building a networked lighting system that must come from one manufacturer.
• An insurer or client explicitly requires ENEC-certified luminaires.
• The existing installation is branded and new luminaires must match exactly.

In all other cases, the price difference usually buys you a logo rather than more light.

How to compare any two high bays

1. Luminous flux in lumens, not watts. Compare lumens to lumens.
2. Efficacy (lm/W) at system level, including the driver.
3. Driver brand and type: flicker, surge protection, dimming interface. See LED Drivers Explained.
4. Beam angle for your mounting height. See LED Beam Angle Explained.
5. IP and IK rating for dust, moisture and impact.
6. Warranty terms: duration, and whether the warranty is handled by the seller or a manufacturer abroad.
7. Photometric data (LDT/IES) for a light study.
8. Price per 1,000 lumens rather than price per luminaire.

Frequently asked questions

Are cheaper LED high bays lower quality?

Not necessarily. The price of a high bay is driven heavily by distribution and brand costs. What matters is the driver, the LED chips, cooling and warranty. A direct-import high bay with a Philips or Sosen driver and a 5-year warranty is technically comparable to many branded luminaires.

Do Clightstore high bays really use Philips drivers?

Several models do, and the driver brand is stated in the product title and specifications. Other models use Sosen, Mean Well or Moso drivers, which are also established industrial driver manufacturers.

Is the warranty the same as with a branded luminaire?

Clightstore gives 5 years warranty on its LED luminaires, the same period as the Philips CoreLine Highbay. Claims are handled directly by Clightstore, without going through a wholesaler.

How much can I save on a complete hall?

For 20 luminaires, the purchase price is typically €1,500–4,500 lower than with a comparable branded luminaire. Energy costs are similar because the efficacy is similar; with the 210 lm/W models, they are lower.

Can I get a light study with Clightstore luminaires?

Yes. We provide LDT and IES files and can prepare a light study for your hall, so you can check the lux levels before you order.