Woodshop LED Panel Lights Upgrade | 30x28x10 Shop Lighting

This lighting project involved a precision wood shop measuring 30 feet by 28 feet with a 10-foot ceiling. The goal was to achieve a clean, high-visibility environment suitable for general woodworking tasks, which typically require 50 to 100 footcandles (fc) of illumination and a uniformity ratio between 3:1 and 4:1 for optimal safety and visual clarity.

Woodworking Shop Lighting Design

This custom lighting solution was developed by our team of professional lighting engineers to meet the unique needs of a woodworking environment. The 30x28x10 shop required consistent, bright illumination for detailed work across benches, cutting stations, and tool areas.

Twelve 2×4 LED panel lights were specified, each running at 72 watts. These fixtures were strategically arranged in a grid layout to maximize coverage and minimize shadowing, especially in critical work zones. By combining photometric planning with practical shop layout considerations, the design ensures safe, effective illumination for a variety of woodworking tasks.

Results

The final lighting layout provided an average of 89fc across the shop floor — ideal for woodworking tasks involving detailed cutting, sanding, and assembly. With a uniformity ratio of 2.0, the lighting design exceeds typical uniformity guidelines, ensuring minimal glare or hotspots that could impact visibility or safety.

This installation demonstrates how properly spaced high-efficiency LED panels can transform a workshop into a professional-grade environment, offering high visibility without harsh contrasts or shadowing.