LED Yard Lighting: Wattage, Mounting Height and Motion Sensors

Short answer: a yard needs about 20 lux where vehicles drive and 50 lux where you load and unload. As a rule of thumb, that is one LED floodlight of 50W for a yard of up to 100 m², 100W for 250 m² and two of 200W for 1,000 m², mounted at 4 to 6 m and aimed downwards. A motion sensor is the right choice where the yard is used a few times per evening; a dusk sensor where light has to stay on all night. Below: the lux values, the wattage per yard size, mounting, sensors and costs.

How many lux does a yard need?

Area	Lux	Note
Footpaths, access to buildings	approx. 5	More at entrances and steps
Driveways with slow vehicles	approx. 10	Forklifts, tractors at walking pace
Farm yard, regular vehicle traffic	approx. 20	Lorries, turning areas
Loading and unloading	approx. 50	Labels and loads readable

These are the values of EN 12464-2 for outdoor workplaces. More detail for company sites is in Outdoor Lighting for Business Premises.

How many watts for which yard?

As a first estimate for 20 lux: lumens needed = area in m² × 50. That includes light that falls beside the yard and the loss from dirt and ageing.

Yard	Lumens needed	LED floodlights
Up to 100 m² (driveway, small yard)	5,000 lm	1 × 50W
Up to 250 m²	12,500 lm	1 × 100W
Up to 500 m²	25,000 lm	2 × 100W
Up to 1,000 m²	50,000 lm	2 × 200W

Two floodlights from two sides give fewer shadows than one large one. For 10 lux halve the values, for a loading zone with 50 lux multiply them by 2.5. The full overview is in LED Floodlights: Which Wattage for Which Area?

LED floodlights for the yard

Motion sensor or dusk sensor?

• Motion sensor: the light comes on when someone enters the yard and goes off after a set time. Right for yards that are used a few times per evening. On our sensor floodlights you set the sensitivity, the hold time and the daylight threshold with a remote control.
• Dusk sensor: the light comes on at dusk and stays on until morning. Right for access roads and sites that must stay lit for security; LED street lights with a daylight sensor are made for this.
• Both: a low basic level all night and floodlights with a motion sensor for the working areas.

The difference between the sensor types is explained in PIR vs HF Motion Sensors.

Mounting height and aiming

• 4–6 m on the building: 50–100W with a wide beam for yards, entrances and paths.
• 6–10 m on the building or a mast: 100–200W for larger yards and loading areas.
• Aiming: tilt the floodlight downwards. Aimed almost horizontally, it dazzles drivers and lights the neighbours instead of the yard.
• Neighbours: keep the light on your own site (see Light Pollution and Outdoor LED Lighting).

Is solar enough?

Solar lights are easy to install because they need no cable, but their battery limits how bright and how long they shine, least of all in winter, when the yard is dark longest. For marking a path they can be enough. For working light of 20 lux and more on a yard, mains-powered LED floodlights are the reliable choice.

Frequently asked questions

How many watts do I need for yard lighting?

For 20 lux: about 50W LED up to 100 m², 100W up to 250 m², 2 × 100W up to 500 m² and 2 × 200W up to 1,000 m².

Which yard lighting with a motion sensor?

An LED floodlight with a built-in sensor, IP65 or higher, with adjustable hold time and daylight threshold, mounted at 4 to 6 m.

How high should I mount the floodlight?

4 to 6 m for 50–100W, 6 to 10 m for 100–200W. Higher mounting spreads the light more evenly.

How many lux does a yard need?

About 20 lux for a farm yard or regular vehicle traffic, 10 lux for slow vehicles, 5 lux for footpaths and 50 lux for loading.

Which light colour for the yard?

4000K neutral white for working light. Near homes, 3000K warm white is gentler on neighbours and attracts fewer insects.

Last checked: November 2026, Nick Cuppens, Clightstore.