Pétanque Court Lighting: Lux, Mast Height and How Many LED Floodlights
How to light a pétanque court: 50, 100 or 200 lux by level of play, how many LED floodlights per court, mast height and position, and an example for a club with eight courts.
Short answer: a pétanque court needs 50 lux for leisure and local play, 100 lux for regional competition and 200 lux for national and international competition. One court of 15 × 4 m is lit for leisure with two LED floodlights of 50W on masts of 4 to 5 m, placed on the long sides. Below: the lux levels, how many floodlights you need per court, mast height and position, a calculation for a club with eight courts, and the costs.
- Lux outdoors: 50 for local play, 100 for departmental and regional competition, 200 for national and international competition.
- One court (15 × 4 m): 2 × 50W for 50 lux, 4 × 50W for 100 lux, 4 × 100W for 200 lux.
- Masts on the long sides, 4–5 m for one or two courts, 6–8 m for a club with several courts.
- Choose 4000K, IP65 or higher, and aim the floodlights downwards so players are not dazzled.
- Solar garden lights create atmosphere but not enough light to play by.
How many lux does a pétanque court need?
The levels follow the sports lighting standard EN 12193 and the equipment rules of the French pétanque federation FFPJP. They apply to outdoor courts; covered boulodromes need more.
| Level of play | Lux on the ground | Uniformity |
|---|---|---|
| Leisure, local competition | 50 | 0.5 |
| Departmental and regional competition | 100 | 0.7 |
| National and international competition | 200 | 0.7 |
Uniformity matters as much as the lux value: the jack lies 6 to 10 m away, and a dark patch halfway hides the terrain the boule has to cross.
How many floodlights per court?
A competition court measures 15 × 4 m (60 m²); 12 × 3 m is the minimum for other competitions. As a first estimate: number = (lux × m²) ÷ (lumens per floodlight × 0.5 × 0.8). The 0.5 accounts for light that falls beside the court, the 0.8 for dirt and ageing.
| Target | Lumens to install | Floodlights for one court |
|---|---|---|
| 50 lux | 7,500 lm | 2 × 50W (5,000 lm each) |
| 100 lux | 15,000 lm | 4 × 50W, or 2 × 100W where uniformity matters less |
| 200 lux | 30,000 lm | 4 × 100W (10,000 lm each) |
Four smaller floodlights light a court more evenly than two large ones. For competition levels, a lighting calculation confirms lux and uniformity.
LED floodlights for pétanque courts
Mast height and position
- Height: 4–5 m for one or two courts, 6–8 m for a club with several courts side by side. Higher masts spread the light more evenly and dazzle less.
- Position: on the long sides of the court, never behind the throwing circle or behind the jack, so nobody plays into the light.
- Aiming: tilt the floodlights downwards. A floodlight aimed almost horizontally dazzles the player who looks up to follow a high lob.
- Light colour and protection: 4000K neutral white, IP65 or higher for outdoor use.
Example: a club with eight courts
Eight courts side by side cover 32 × 15 m, or 480 m². For 100 lux the formula gives 120,000 lumens: eight LED floodlights of 100W with 15,000 lm each, on four masts of 6 to 8 m. For 200 lux, double the number or move to 200W. A free lighting calculation shows the exact positions and aiming angles.
What does it cost?
Luminaires only. Masts, cable and installation come on top.
| Project | Floodlights |
|---|---|
| One court, leisure, 50 lux | 2 × 50W |
| One court, regional competition, 100 lux | 4 × 50W |
| One court, 200 lux | 4 × 100W |
| Club with eight courts, 100 lux | 8 × 100W with 15,000 lm |
Current prices are on the product cards above and in LED floodlights. Which power suits which area is in LED Floodlights: Which Wattage for Which Area?
Frequently asked questions
How many lux for a pétanque court?
50 lux for leisure and local play, 100 lux for departmental and regional competition, 200 lux for national and international competition.
Which floodlight power for a pétanque court?
For one court of 15 × 4 m: two LED floodlights of 50W for leisure, four of 50W for 100 lux, four of 100W for 200 lux.
How high should the masts be?
4 to 5 m for one or two courts, 6 to 8 m for several courts. Place them on the long sides.
Is solar lighting enough for a pétanque court?
Solar garden lights mark the edges and create atmosphere, but they do not reach the 50 lux you need to judge distances. For playing, use mains-powered floodlights.
Which light colour is best?
4000K neutral white gives good contrast between boules, jack and ground without the harshness of cold white.
- EN 12193 – Light and lighting – Sports lighting.
- FFPJP (Fédération Française de Pétanque et de Jeu Provençal): equipment rules for boulodromes and official rules of the game (court dimensions).
Last checked: November 2026, Nick Cuppens, Clightstore.
Send us the number of courts, their dimensions and the level of play. We prepare a free lighting calculation with the number of floodlights, mast positions and aiming angles, and a no-obligation quote at direct-import prices. Delivery in 2–5 working days.
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