In modern life, whether walking on the street, strolling in the park, or on the playground, LED spotlights and LED floodlights can be seen everywhere.
Although spot lights and flood lights are LED light fixtures, the specific use method is very particular. So, what’s the difference between spotlights and floodlights? Should you choose a LED spotlight or a LED floodlight for your indoor or outdoor lighting project?
Spotlight Or Floodlight For Indoor Lighting
When choosing spotlights and floodlights, beam angle should be considered. Interior lighting usually uses smaller beam angles to accentuate the decor, while outdoor areas need large bean angles to illuminate.
Beam angle, commonly known as the light-emitting angle, refers to the spot size and light intensity of the light reflected on the illuminated wall. If the same light source is used in reflectors with different angles, the larger the beam angle, the smaller the central light intensity, and the larger the spot, that is, the wider the illumination range. The smaller the beam angle, the greater the ambient light intensity, the worse the scattering effect, and the more prominent the center point.
- Spotlight: < 45° beam angle.
- Floodlight: 45° ~ 120° beam angle.
| Beam Angle | Name | Applicable Scene |
| <20° | Narrow beam angle | Accent lighting of small objects |
| 20°~40° | Medium beam angle | Accent lighting for wall washes and work surfaces |
| >40° | Wide beam angle | Overall illumination, basic lighting |
Many delicate and small ornaments in museums choose a 15° beam angle for lighting. Small ornaments and decorations in home improvement can also choose a 15° beam angle, so that the irradiated ornaments or decorations can become the visual focus.
The 24° beam angle is also suitable for accent lighting, which can well highlight the light level and the contrast between light and dark in the space. It is suitable for the accent lighting of the background wall, providing wall washing lighting for the TV background wall or the sofa background wall, producing a layered halo, and creating a beautiful and comfortable lighting environment.
The irradiation range of the 36° beam angle becomes larger, and a relatively soft spot is formed on the irradiation surface, which can be used to illuminate wall decorations such as decorative paintings to highlight the texture and color of decorative paintings.
In addition, when setting the wall washer lighting of the spotlight, pay attention to the distance between the spot light and the wall. It is recommended that the spotlight installation point be 25cm~30cm away from the wall, and the wall arc effect is better. Click here to check our outdoor spotlights and here to our car spotlights.
The large luminous angle of the floodlight makes it suitable for large-scale venues such as stages, concerts, theaters, concert halls, stadiums, roads, etc., and is widely used in outdoor landscape lighting and night applications.
Spotlight Or Floodlight For Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting needs to cover a large area to provide visibility at night. So if you’re looking for a LED fixture for your outdoor home lighting, focus on the area it illuminates.
There is a formula that can be used to calculate the coverage area of spotlights and floodlights: beam width = beam angle x 0.018 x distance from the lamp.
The spotlight has a long irradiation distance, but a narrow beam width. Floodlights have a larger beam width but a shorter relative illumination distance.
Outdoor flood lights are also known as work lights. Before you start looking for the right outdoor flood light, decide where you want to install it. Most importantly, what area does the light need to cover? The LED floodlight comes with an adjustable mounting bracket that supports a 180-degree swivel angle and is secured with screws and plugs. The location and angle at which the floodlights are installed determine the lighting effects you will have.
LED flood lights illuminate large areas, so you may struggle with choosing the right lumens and brightness. The following table provides you with a reference.
| Irradiation Range | Lumen |
| Small patio | 500lm |
| Lane | 1500lm |
| Small Garden (50m²) | 1600lm |
| Medium Garden (150m²) | 2400lm |
| Parking lot | 9000-20000lm |
If you’re really not sure how many lumens you need, look at the wattage of the floodlight. The higher the wattage, the brighter the brightness. Click here to browse our LED floodlight products.
