The best way to light a warehouse is with bright, cool white LED fixtures (4000K to 5000K) installed in zones that match the work happening underneath them. Good warehouse lighting keeps staff safe, makes labels and shelf locations easy to read, and cuts your power bill. Here is how to plan it, and why it is a job for a licensed commercial electrician in Mandurah and the Peel region.
What is the best colour temperature for warehouse lighting?
Colour temperature has a bigger effect on productivity and safety than most warehouse owners expect. A bright, clear white light between 4000K and 5000K suits most warehouses. It keeps staff alert, makes barcodes and shelf labels easy to read, and shows product colours accurately. Light that is too warm tends to make people drowsy and makes it harder to tell similar items apart at the end of a long shift.
How bright should a warehouse be, and where?
Brightness is not one size fits all. The Australian Standard AS/NZS 1680 series sets recommended light levels for different workplace tasks, and a well designed warehouse uses different levels in different zones:
- Loading docks: bright, even general lighting for safe forklift and pedestrian movement, with glare control so drivers are not dazzled.
- Shipping and receiving: enough light to read paperwork and labels, with lenses or diffusers to reduce glare.
- Racking aisles: light that reaches the vertical face of the shelving, not just the floor, so pickers can see the top and bottom levels.
- Workstations and packing benches: dedicated task lighting where detailed work happens.
- Cold storage: LED fixtures rated for low temperatures, usually at lower overall intensity because the space is static.
Why are LEDs the best choice for warehouse lighting?
Warehouses have high ceilings, few windows and large floor areas, so lighting runs for long hours and becomes a major part of the electricity bill. LED high bay fixtures use a fraction of the power of older metal halide and fluorescent lights, and they reach full brightness the moment they are switched on. There is no warm up delay and none of the flicker that causes eyestrain and headaches on late shifts.
LEDs also last far longer, which matters when every lamp change means getting an elevated work platform out. Fewer changes at height means lower maintenance cost and less risk for your team. Our lighting and power installation service covers new warehouse fit outs and upgrades from old fittings to LED.
What else should you plan for in a warehouse lighting upgrade?
- Controls: motion sensors and timers on low traffic aisles, and daylight sensors near roller doors and skylights, stop you paying to light empty space.
- Emergency and exit lighting: most commercial buildings need it. Our guide to what emergency lighting is and how it works explains the basics.
- Safe maintenance access: position fixtures so they can be cleaned, tested and replaced without unsafe reaching, and keep them on a scheduled electrical maintenance plan.
- Circuit capacity: a lighting upgrade is a good time to check the switchboard and circuits can carry the load safely.
Why use a licensed electrician for commercial lighting?
Warehouse lighting means working at height on live commercial circuits, and in Western Australia fixed electrical installation work must be done by a licensed electrician. A licensed electrician designs the layout, selects fixtures suited to your ceiling height and racking, installs them and tests the finished system. Workplaces also have a duty to keep lighting safe for staff, which Safe Work Australia covers in its guidance on workplace hazards.
Energised Installs is a family owned electrical contractor based in Golden Bay, servicing commercial and industrial clients across Mandurah, Rockingham and the Peel region.
Planning a warehouse lighting upgrade? Contact us or call Darren on (08) 6118 6148.
Frequently asked questions
What lighting is best for a warehouse?
LED high bay fixtures with a colour temperature of 4000K to 5000K are the best choice for most warehouses. They use far less power than metal halide or fluorescent lights, turn on instantly and last longer. Our lighting and power team can design a layout to suit your racking and ceiling height.
How much light does a warehouse need?
It depends on the task. AS/NZS 1680 sets recommended light levels for different workplace activities, and general storage areas need less light than loading docks, packing benches or areas where staff read small labels. A licensed electrician can specify the right level for each zone of your warehouse.
Is it worth upgrading warehouse lighting to LED?
In most cases, yes. LEDs use much less electricity, need replacing far less often and give consistent, flicker free light. Payback depends on how many hours your lights run and what you have now, so a quote based on your current fittings is the best way to see the savings.
Do warehouses need emergency lighting?
Most commercial buildings need emergency and exit lighting that meets Australian Standards and is tested regularly. It keeps people able to see and leave the building safely if the power fails, and it needs to be tested on a regular schedule. Read more in our guide to emergency lighting.
Who can install warehouse lighting in Mandurah?
Only a licensed electrician can legally carry out fixed lighting installation in Western Australia. Energised Installs is a Golden Bay electrical contractor with over 20 years of experience across commercial and industrial sites in Mandurah, Rockingham and the Peel region.
