Outdoor Lighting Placement: Easy Ideas for Exterior Lighting
Learn how to illuminate your exterior with these outdoor lighting ideas.
Whether you’re illuminating your patio or porch, it’s crucial that you choose the right type of exterior lighting and install them in the correct locations. Keep reading our outdoor lighting placement guide to find which exterior lights you should pick and where you should place them.
1. Mount Them Next to Entryway Doors or Garage Doors
A single light that is placed next to your entryway or garage door should measure at least 1/3 of the height of the door. For two lights (one on either side of the door), each should measure 1/4 of the door height. This will help the lights appear visually balanced and proportional to the door – especially when viewed from a distance.
To calculate the proper size and placement, simply take the height of your door (in inches) and divide that number by 3 or 4 (depending on whether you need 1/3 or 1/4 respectively), and you will have the ideal measurement for your light. For example, an 80" door would do best with a 20" to 26" tall light. Additionally, lights should be placed 6" from the edge of the door and 66" from the ground to properly illuminate the lock and handle.
Whether you’re installing one wall-mounted light or two, you can consider barn lights, wall lanterns, armed sconces, or bulkhead lights for practical yet stylish outdoor lighting.
Placing an exterior light above a doorway provides a plenty of illumination for a warm welcome.
Flush or Semi-Flush Lights: If a fixture is placed above your doorway, it should measure at least 1/4 of the width of the doorway. To figure this out, measure the width of your doorway in inches and divide by 4. For example, if your doorway is 36" wide, divide that number by 4 and buy a light that is 9" wide. If you have low porch ceilings, choose a flush mount or semi-flush mount option to allow for sufficient clearance beneath the light. Just make sure to leave at least 6" of clearance between the bottom of the fixture and the top of the door frame.
Pendant & Hanging Lights: If you are hanging a pendant light from an entryway porch or ceiling, we recommend selecting a fixture that is 1/5 of the door's height. In this case, measure the height of the door in inches and divide by 5. For example, if your door is 80" tall, divide that by 5 and buy a light that is 16" tall (or that hangs down 16" from the ceiling). Make sure the bottom of the light hangs at least 7' off the ground to ensure you have enough clearance underneath – if this isn't possible, then a flush or semi-flush mount might be a better choice. Either way, there should be at least 6" of space between the top of the door and the light fixture.
If you are hanging a chandelier or pendant from a covered patio or porch with seating, make sure the base of the light hangs at least 7' above the ground and is centered above the seating area. If the light is installed above a dining table, measure the width of your table (in inches) and subtract 6" on either side to find the right size light. The light should also hang at least 34" above the surface of the table. This will ensure no one bumps their head and that the light fixture doesn't obstruct your view of your dinner guests.
When it comes to driveway lighting, consider installing lamp posts for additional visibility and safety. Each post should be secured about 1 1/2' – 2' below the ground, the light fixture should be 1/4 the height of the exposed pole, and the exposed pole should be 5 1/2' – 6 1/2' tall. When placing a post light, ensure it is at least a foot away from your driveway or sidewalk to allow for easy plowing and shoveling.
Pathway lighting is an easy way to improve both the safety and appearance of your outdoor spaces. Lights should be placed every few feet and should be 6" away from the path. Try alternating or staggering the lights on either side of the path to make it more visually appealing and achieve more even and effective illumination.
If you select a fan with an integrated light, make sure it is positioned at least 7' above the floor with at least 8"–10" between the ceiling and the tops of the fan's blades. The fan blade tips should also be at least 30" from surrounding walls or other obstructions.
There is no hard and fast rule to find the right size flood light or spotlight. However, we recommend installing them at least 6' – 8' from the ground, whether they are on your garage, over your back porch, or in other areas of your yard – both to get more coverage and to keep burglars from tampering with the lights. While you may want security lights to illuminate the front and back of your home, don't forget the sides and corners of your house! Just make sure the light won't annoy neighbors. For areas where you want added protection, buy enough lights so the beams overlap – this provides full coverage and eliminates dark spots.
Tip!
We also recommend motion sensor lights to save power and add a bit of extra security for the exterior of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high should outdoor sconces be mounted?
Outdoor sconces should be mounted 60" to 66" from the floor or the ground.
How far apart should path lights be?
Path lights should be spaced 6' to 8' apart.
Where to place garage lights?
Garage lights should be placed above or on both sides of the garage door.
How do you highlight landscaping?
You can highlight your landscaping by using spotlights angled at 30–45 degrees.
Keep Reading:
- To learn about how to layer lighting in your front yard or on your patio, check out our our Outdoor Lighting Guide.
- For tips on hanging outdoor lights, review How to Install Outdoor Lighting.
