Blog>Questions>How to work out how many LED spotlights I need
Last updated: 13 October 2023
How to work out how many LED spotlights I need
When planning lighting for rooms in your home, you may be left wondering how to work out how many LED spotlights I need. And there's no one correct answer, as it will depend on the room and how you want the lighting to be.
When planning lighting for rooms in your home, you may be left wondering how to work out how many LED spotlights I need. And there's no one correct answer, as it will depend on the room and how you want the lighting to be.
Ways to work out how many LED spotlights you need
To help you calculate exact numbers, we've put together a brief guide on the best ways to work out how many LED spotlights you might need in a room...
1. The simple one-metre rule
One of the quickest and easiest ways to work out the number of spotlights you'll need in a room is to plan them to be spaced one metre apart in all directions – placing them one metre from where the ceiling meets the wall to avoid shadows.
2. Divide your ceiling height by two
Another simple way to calculate how many LED spotlights you need is to divide your ceiling height by two and allow that amount of space between your spotlights.
For example, if your ceilings are a standard height of 2.4m, you would space your spotlights 1.2m apart.
3. Create lighting zones
LED spotlights don't have to be uniformly distributed on the ceiling of your room. In fact, in many cases it can be more effective to create different zones of lighting
Before you start installing your spotlights, think about how you plan to use the space and where you might want or need lighting to be located. For example, in the kitchen you'll want plenty of equally distributed lighting in the areas where you'll be preparing and cooking.
Wherever you install LED spotlights and no matter how many you have, we always recommend installing them with a dimmer so that you can easily adjust levels of lighting in the room to suit the mood – whether you're in work mode, cooking mode, or hosting a dinner party.
LED spotlights by room type
When planning your LED spotlights, the type of room you're lighting will affect how many lights you need. Here's a brief summary of lighting per room type based on the size of the room in square metres:
Number of LED spotlights for living rooms and bedroom
In living rooms and bedrooms you typically want to use comfortable lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere that's not too bright:
4m2 – 2 LED spotlights
9m2 – 4 LED spotlights
16m2 – 6 LED spotlights
25m2 – 9 LED spotlights
Number of LED spotlights for kitchens
In kitchens you want to make sure that you have sufficient lighting to safely and comfortably use work spaces, so you'll generally want more LED spotlights than in a living room or bedroom:
4m2 – 3 LED spotlights
9m2 – 8 LED spotlights
16m2 – 15 LED spotlights
25m2 – 20 LED spotlights
Number of LED spotlights for bathrooms
In a bathroom the lighting will want to be slightly brighter than in a living room or bedroom, but not as bright as a kitchen:
4m2 – 3 LED spotlights
9m2 – 6 LED spotlights
16m2 – 9 LED spotlights
25m2 – 12 LED spotlights
Hire a local lighting professional
If you need help working out how many LED spotlights you need for your home, or you want a professional to install them for you, we're here to help.
At Checkatrade, we have many skilled and experienced electricians in your area who specialise in lighting installations. Simply enter your postcode in the box below to find skilled lighting experts near to you.
