Metal Garages

Whether you’re a professional mechanic or have started working on a hobby classic car restoration, you’re going to need plenty of lighting in your garage and workshop. 

Here are some tips on how to achieve the best lighting for your auto repair workshop.

Kelvin levels

A Kelvin is a unit used to measure the hue of a light source. When it comes to lighting, they can range from 2600K (like an incandescent lightbulb) up to 5250K (which is sunlight). The lower the Kelvin, the more amber hue light is; the higher the Kelvin, the more blue hue of the light. 

How many Kelvins do you need? While you can see better under a light with a higher Kelvin range, leaning more toward a blue hue than an amber hue for sure, you definitely don’t want up to 5250K. Working too long under a light that’s too bright can strain your eyes. Finding bulbs in the 3500K-4100K range, which will have more a white hue, would probably be your best bet. The light will be brighter, but no so bright that you hurt your eyes and vision.

Limiting shadows

When working in auto repair, shadows can be incredibly inhibiting if not flat out annoying. And while you could get even brighter bulbs, there are still a couple more steps you will have to take to limit shadows in your workspace. 

How to limit shadows in your auto repair workshop:

• Invest in several light fixtures, from various angles like ceilings and walls
• Add curtains to windows
• If an object is blocking light, like a toolbox, consider rearranging the organizational layout of your shop to limit shadows

Fixtures

Some of the best fixtures to achieve this level of lighting are probably going to be LED high bay fixtures and/or linear T5 or T8 fixtures. Although, the high bay fixtures are a bit more durable than the T5 and T8 fixtures, which may be more desirable in an auto repair shop. 

Regardless, you’re going to want to strategically place the fixtures in your workshop design for the best light distribution and shadow elimination. Distribute them throughout the building evenly, making sure that they aren’t too close or spread too far apart. Take into account how high your ceilings are and how wide your building is. It may take some time to measure and plan where you want your light fixtures, but it is worth it in the end.