Garage & workshop · Our pick
Best shop lights for high ceilings and pole barns
Buy the Sunco 150W UFO high bay for a 14 to 16 foot ceiling. It makes 19,500 lumens, and Sunco says this size suits ceilings between 12 and 16 feet.1, 2 For a pole barn at 18 feet or more, step up to about 28,000 lumens, which Sunco matches to 18 to 25 feet.2
Our picks
Best for 14 to 16 ft
Sunco 150W UFO LED high bay, plug-in
Sunco names 12 to 16 feet for this 150W size, and it makes 19,500 lumens from a plug-in cord.1
$31.99 on Amazon
Closest to Sunco’s 28,000-lumen size for 18 ft and up
Yihuven 200W UFO LED high bay, 30,000 lm
30,000 lumens with ETL named in the title, close to the 28,000 lumens Sunco matches to 18 to 25 feet.3
$37.99 on Amazon
Most light for very high ceilings
ONLYLUX 300W UFO LED high bay, 45,000 lm (4-pack)
The brightest high bay in our set at 45,000 claimed lumens, with no mounting height given.4
$145.37 on AmazonEvery high-ceiling light we checked
The table shows lumens and watts next to the mounting height each maker gives. Sunco is the only maker here that prints one, so the others are marked “Not published.”
| Product | Fits 14 to 16 ft | Lumens | Watts | Lumens per watt | Maker’s height | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunco 150W UFO LED high bay, plug-in1 | Yes, maker range | 19,500 | 150 | 130 | 12-16 ft | Plug-in, 60 in cord | $31.99 |
| Yihuven 200W UFO LED high bay, 30,000 lm3 | Not published | 30,000 (claim) | 200 | 150 (claim) | Not published | Plug-in, 5 ft cord | $37.99 |
| ONLYLUX 300W UFO LED high bay, 45,000 lm (4-pack)4 | Not published | 45,000 (claim) | 300 | 150 (claim) | Not published | Plug-in, 5 ft cable (from the title) | $145.374-pack, $36.34 each |
 hykolity 4 ft 120W LED shop light, 13,000 lm5 | Not for 14 ft and up | 13,000 | 120 | 108 | 8-10 ft | Plug-in, 59 in cord | $34.19 |
 POLARPRA 2-pack screw-in garage light (6+1 panels)6 | Not for 14 ft and up | 16,000 each (claim) | 160 each | 100 | Not published | Screw-in socket | $35.992-pack, $18.00 each |
Prices on Amazon, November 2, 2026.7
Two lights that turn up in high-ceiling searches
hykolity 4 ft 120W LED shop light, 13,000 lm
This light shows up in high-ceiling searches, but hykolity gives only 8 to 10 feet as its mounting height.5
POLARPRA 2-pack screw-in garage light (6+1 panels)
The title says 32,000 lumens. The bullets say 16,000 per light, with 2 lights in the box. There is no maker page and no mounting height.6
What shop light is best for a 14 to 16 foot ceiling?
The Sunco 150W UFO is the only light here with a maker range that includes 14 to 16 feet.2 It makes 19,500 lumens in a 110 degree beam and is rated from -40 F to 113 F.1
A typical 20 by 20 foot two-car garage is 400 square feet.8 A former utility lighting engineer, writing in Fine Woodworking, suggests about 50 foot-candles for a workshop, which is about 20,000 lumens for that garage.9 Two UFOs give 39,000 rated lumens, so that is plenty. Real output on the floor is lower than rated, so round up.
What do I need for a pole barn over 18 feet?
Sunco’s blog lists about 28,000 lumens (its 200W size) for 18 to 25 feet, and about 34,000 lumens (its 240W size) for ceilings over 20 feet.2 None of the other brands we read gives a mounting height.
So we matched the other lights to Sunco’s lumens. That is our comparison, not their advice. Yihuven’s 200W model claims 30,000 lumens.3 ONLYLUX’s 300W model claims 45,000, which is more than Sunco’s 240W size.4
If the barn gets cold, trust the number a maker prints. Sunco rates its 150W model to -40 F.1 Yihuven’s listing gives a range of “from -100 to 150” with no unit.3
Plug-in or hardwired?
The Sunco 150W comes with a 60 inch cord, and the Yihuven has a 5 ft cord.1, 3 A cord that short only works if there is an outlet near where the light hangs. Check that an outlet is within reach of where the light will hang.
Sunco also lists hardwired models for taller rooms.2 Wiring a new outlet or a hardwired light is a job for a licensed electrician.
Why not use a 4 ft strip at 14 feet?
Hykolity’s own coverage rule is for lights mounted at 8 to 10 feet.5 No strip maker in our set gives a coverage figure at 14 feet or more, so a strip has no maker rule to size it by up there.
Questions people ask
What size high bay do I need for a 16 foot ceiling?
Sunco says its 150W size, at 19,500 lumens, is ideal for ceilings between 12 and 16 feet.1, 2
What do I need for a 20 foot ceiling?
Sunco’s blog lists about 28,000 lumens for 18 to 25 feet and about 34,000 lumens for ceilings over 20 feet.2
Are screw-in garage lights good for high ceilings?
Not by any maker’s guidance. The POLARPRA listing gives no mounting height, and its 32,000 lumen title counts two lights.6
Can I dim the Sunco UFO high bay?
No. The plug-in model is not dimmable.1
Turn off the breaker before you hardwire any light. High ceilings mean tall ladders, so use a stable one with a helper, and hire a licensed electrician if you are not sure.
Sources
- Sunco UFO High Bay 150W Plug & Play LED Fixture, 19500 Lumens, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Lumens 19500 | Operating Temperature -40°F - 113°F | CRI 80+ | Beam Angle 110° | Certifications UL, FCC | 110° beam angle for wide area coverage”
- Sunco: How to choose the best high bay lights for your space, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “ideal for ceilings between 12 and 16 feet”
- Yihuven's Amazon listing, read November 1, 2026.
- ONLYLUX's Amazon listing, read November 1, 2026.
- Hykolity 4FT 120W LED Shop Light, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “Each light will cover 10ftx10ft area when installed at 8-10ft”
- POLARPRA's Amazon listing, read November 1, 2026.
- Prices and photos: Amazon product data, read November 2, 2026.
- Reolink: Standard Garage Size, read November 1, 2026. Quote: “The most common one-car garage dimensions are 12 feet wide by 20 feet deep, which equals 240 square feet. ... The most typical dimensions for a two-car garage are 20 feet wide by 20 feet deep, equaling 400 square feet.”
- Lighting for the Workshop, Fine Woodworking #154 (by Jack L. Lindsey, a former Southern California Edison lighting engineer), read November 1, 2026. Quote: “A woodshop should be lit uniformly to a level of 50 fc to 100 fc.”