LED Tennis, Basketball, pickleball, soccer or other Branded Sport Court Lights and What to Know When Buying

If there is one application that benefits the most from LED lighting, it is LED tennis court lighting, LED basketball court lighting, or other sports played on courts. Two big reasons explain this:

First, with the high lumens required by sports lighting and therefore high wattage, the energy savings from LED conversion will be substantial.

Second, the quality of the lights is vastly improved. Cleaner, brighter lights with less glare make it easier on the eyes and more enjoyable to play at night.

Before equipping your court with an LED light fixture, there are a few things to consider upfront: How bright do you need it to be? Are you changing poles? Adding poles? Do you need dimming or other zone controls?

Whether it is tennis court lighting, basketball court lighting, or any other outdoor playground, LED Light Expert is here to help you figure it all out.

Why Are LED Sports Lights Better Than Metal Halide?

LED sports lights offer energy savings, higher lumen output, and lower maintenance compared to metal halide systems. Metal halides generate large amounts of heat, wasting energy and limiting the number of fixtures that can be installed. LEDs run cool, are highly efficient, and allow fixtures to be placed closer together, increasing light coverage on the ground.

Metal halide lights rely on a gas mixture inside the bulb. The more heat they produce, the brighter they shine, but this mixture is vulnerable and can explode. Metal halides also consume more watts, have a shorter lifespan, and are expensive to operate. In comparison, LEDs may have a higher upfront cost but provide excellent lighting quality, efficiency, and durability.

When buying LED sports lights, focus on lumens rather than wattage, because LED performance is measured by lumens. For example, a 1500-watt metal halide is roughly equivalent in brightness to a 500-watt LED stadium light—both producing around 60,000 lumens, but the LED uses 1,000 fewer watts.

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

How Many LED Sports Lights Do I Need?

The number of LED fixtures depends entirely on the area you want to cover. For example:

• ·  A home tennis court may be well lit with 6 fixtures at 18 feet high, each producing around 30,000 lumens.

• ·  A recreational center basketball court might require 8 fixtures at 20 feet high, each around 45,000 lumens.

Higher mounting heights require more lumens but often create a more natural lighting feel.

We recommend using more fixtures with lower lumens rather than trying to light a court with only 1 or 2 high-lumen fixtures. Fewer fixtures can create shadows and uneven lighting. Evenly distribute poles and fixtures whenever possible. While this may not always be feasible for backyard courts, it’s important to consider for larger or competitive setups.

What Are the Best Kinds of LED Fixtures?

There are several types suitable for sports courts:

• ·  Large round stadium-style lights with narrower beams, ideal for higher mounting heights.

• ·  LED shoebox-shaped lights, great for lower mounting heights and sports courts.

Key features to look for include glare reduction, high light quality, and wide beam angles. All of our LED court sports lights include strong glare diffusers and premium LED chips to ensure the best overall experience.

LED flood lights are also an option, though they require different mounting, often with a U-bracket. Ensure they have a strong glare filter and the appropriate light pattern for your setup.

What Is the Best Height for Sports Court LED Lights?

The ideal mounting height depends on how high you can install the lights. For Sports Court alternatives such as tennis, a height of 22.8 ft with a Type III lens works well. The same height is also suitable for basketball and pickleball courts.

For larger field sports such as soccer, football, and baseball, lights can be mounted between 30–70 ft. Ensure the LED is aimed at the area you want to illuminate or hangs directly over it. Keeping poles away from the court and tilting the light downward at a 45-degree angle is usually ideal.

Higher mounting can improve the overall lighting experience, but you need to ensure light reaches the ground. For example, at 70 ft, it’s recommended to use LED stadium lights with a 15–30 degree beam angle to project light effectively. Conducting a photometric study can help determine optimal coverage—our experts can assist with this.

How to Calculate Lumens

Unlike traditional lighting, which is measured in watts, LEDs are measured in lumens. Lumens indicate the actual amount of light output, rather than the energy used to power the light.

For comparison:

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

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

Using lumens ensures you calculate the light required to adequately cover a specific area, rather than relying on wattage.