LED Tennis, Basketball, Pickleball, Soccer, and Other Sports Court Lights – What You Need to Know

If there’s one application that benefits most from LED technology, it’s sports court lighting—whether for tennis, basketball, pickleball, soccer, or other court-based games. There are two major reasons:

1. Significant Energy Savings – Sports court lighting requires high lumens and wattage, so converting to LED can dramatically reduce electricity costs.

2. Improved Lighting Quality – LED fixtures provide cleaner, brighter light with reduced glare, making it easier on the eyes and more enjoyable to play at night.

Before installing LED sports court lights, consider these key factors:

• ·  How bright do you need the court to be?

• ·  Are you replacing existing poles or adding new ones?

• ·  Do you need dimming or zone control capabilities?

Investing in sports court lighting can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but our LED alternatives offer superior performance while saving you money.

Whether it’s tennis, basketball, or any other outdoor playground, LED Light Expert is here to help you choose the right lighting solution for your court.

Why Are LED Sports Lights Better Than Metal Halide?

A: Energy Savings, Higher Brightness, and Lower Maintenance

Metal halide lights generate significant heat, wasting energy and limiting how many fixtures you can install. In contrast, LEDs run cooler, are highly efficient, and allow fixtures to be placed closer together, resulting in brighter and more uniform illumination on the ground.

LEDs offer multiple advantages over metal halides. Metal halide bulbs rely on a gas mixture that becomes brighter as it heats up, but this makes them vulnerable to damage or explosion. They also consume more power, have shorter lifespans, and are costly to operate. LEDs, although sometimes more expensive upfront, provide superior lighting performance and long-term savings.

When selecting LED sports lights, focus on lumens rather than wattage, since LEDs are rated by light output, not power consumption. For example, a 1500-watt metal halide fixture may deliver similar brightness to a 500-watt LED stadium light—both averaging around 60,000 lumens—yet the LED consumes 1,000 fewer watts. For more insights, visit our LED Learning Center.

LEDs convert energy into light far more efficiently and provide better coverage per lumen than metal halide lights. They are safer to operate and have much longer lifespans. While a metal halide typically lasts 5–6 years or about 10,000 hours, high-quality LEDs can last 25+ years or 50,000 hours, with some even reaching 100,000 hours or more.

How Many LED Sports Lights Do I Need?

A: The number of LED sports lights depends entirely on the area you want to illuminate. For example, a home tennis court may require 6 fixtures at 18 feet high, each producing 30,000 lumens. A recreational basketball court might need 8 fixtures at 20 feet high, each around 45,000 lumens, to achieve brighter, more uniform lighting. Higher mounting heights generally require more lumens but create a more natural lighting feel.

Our main recommendation is to use more fixtures with lower lumen output. Relying on just 1 or 2 lights often creates uneven brightness and shadows on the court. Increasing the number of poles and fixtures helps distribute light evenly. While this may be limited for backyard courts, it’s worth considering for optimal performance.

What Are the Best Types of LED Fixtures?

A: There are several effective options for sports lighting:

• ·  Round stadium-style LED lights: Ideal for higher mounting heights with narrower beams.

• ·  LED Shoebox lights: Great for lower mounting heights, providing wide coverage.

• ·  LED Flood lights: Can also work, but require a U-bracket mount and careful consideration of light pattern.

When choosing fixtures, focus on glare reduction, high light quality, and wide beam angles. All of our LED sports lights feature premium LED chips and strong glare diffusers, ensuring a comfortable and high-quality lighting experience. Always check that your chosen lights have proper glare filters and the right light distribution for your setup.

What Is the Best Height for LED Sports Lights?

A: The ideal mounting height depends on the type of sport and your installation limitations:

• ·  Tennis courts: Around 22–23 ft using a Type III lens (see our tech guide for Type III lighting).

• ·  Basketball and pickleball courts: Similar height works well.

• ·  Larger field sports (soccer, football, baseball): 30–70 ft, depending on field size and lighting requirements.

For best results, ensure your LEDs are directed at the area you want illuminated or slightly over it. Keeping poles away from the playing surface and tilting lights down at approximately 45° usually provides optimal coverage.

Higher mounting heights can improve the overall lighting experience, but you must ensure the light effectively reaches the ground. For example, at heights up to 70 ft, we recommend our LED stadium light series with 15–30° beam angles to focus light on the playing area. A photometric study can help determine the precise placement—feel free to contact our experts for guidance.

How to Calculate Lumens for LED Sports Lights

A: Unlike traditional lighting, which is often rated by watts, LEDs are rated by lumens, the measure of total light output. Lumens indicate how much light is needed to adequately illuminate a specific area, while watts measure the power consumption of a bulb rather than the light it produces.

For example:

• ·  A 150-watt incandescent bulb produces roughly 2,600 lumens, which is approximately equivalent to a 28-watt LED bulb.

• ·  A 100-watt incandescent bulb produces about 1,600 lumens, similar to a 16–20 watt LED bulb.

By focusing on lumens rather than watts, you can more accurately determine the number and brightness of LED fixtures needed for your sports court.