The short answer
To light a caravan or boat storage shed, aim for about 100 to 150 lux if you only park and store, and 300 to 500 lux if you wash, service or detail inside. Run LED fittings in rows above the aisles on each side of the vehicle, not along the centreline over its roof, then add wall mounted side lighting. Choose fittings with an IP rating that matches how exposed the shed is, and have a licensed electrician do any fixed wiring.
Why caravan and boat sheds are harder to light than a garage
A standard garage has a ceiling around 2.4 m to 2.7 m and a car that sits well below the lights. A caravan or boat shed is a different shape, and it creates four problems:
- Tall walls. Wall heights of 3 m to 4.6 m put the fittings a long way from the floor, so less light arrives where you work.
- A high apex. Fittings fixed at the ridge sit even higher and directly over the vehicle roof.
- Long, narrow bays. A 9 m x 3.7 m bay leaves well under a metre of aisle on each side of a full width caravan.
- A very large object in the middle. A caravan or a boat on its trailer blocks overhead light and shades its own sides, the underbody and the far wall.
How much light a caravan or boat shed needs
Lux is the amount of light landing on a surface. Lumens is the total light a fitting produces. The figures below are practical planning targets, not compliance figures.
- Storage and parking only: 100 to 150 lux
- Washing, servicing and general maintenance: 300 to 400 lux
- Detailing, polishing, paint and gelcoat inspection: 500 lux or more at the work area
A simple lumens calculation
Multiply floor area in square metres by your target lux, then add about 50 percent. The extra allows for light lost to mounting height, dark surfaces and the vehicle itself.
Total lumens = length x width x target lux x 1.5
Worked examples for common shed sizes
The fitting counts assume an example LED fitting of 4,000 lumens, rounded up to an even number so the fittings split into two rows. Check the real lumen output of the fitting you buy and adjust.
| Shed size | Floor area | Storage (150 lux) | Fittings | Maintenance (400 lux) | Fittings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 m x 3.7 m | 22.2 m² | About 5,000 lm | 2 | About 13,300 lm | 4 |
| 9 m x 3.7 m | 33.3 m² | About 7,500 lm | 2 | About 20,000 lm | 6 |
| 9 m x 6 m | 54 m² | About 12,150 lm | 4 | About 32,400 lm | 10 |
| 12 m x 6 m | 72 m² | About 16,200 lm | 6 | About 43,200 lm | 12 |
Two fittings can meet the storage number in a narrow bay, but four smaller ones spread along both aisles will light the vehicle sides far more evenly.
Mounting height and layout
How wall height changes the plan
- 3 m to 3.6 m walls: wide beam fittings such as battens, linear lights or a hexagon grid work well, mounted to the purlins or suspended level.
- 4 m to 4.6 m walls and high apex roofs: use higher output fittings such as high bays, or suspend the fittings so they hang closer to the work area. A narrower beam puts more light on the floor from height, but it needs closer spacing to avoid dark patches.
Beating vehicle shadow
This is the part most shed fit outs get wrong. A single row of lights along the ridge mostly lights the caravan roof. Instead:
- Place one row above each side aisle, so light falls down the sides of the vehicle.
- In narrow bays, move the rows out towards the walls or fix them at the wall and roof junction.
- Add wall mounted fittings at about 1.5 m to 2 m high to fill in the lower panels, wheel arches and hull sides.
- Light the rear wall or workbench separately, because the vehicle shades it.
- Keep a portable work light for the underbody, chassis and trailer.
Which fixture suits a caravan or boat shed?
| Fixture | Best use | Pros | Cons | Suitable height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hexagon LED grid | Enclosed sheds used as a workshop or detailing bay | Very even light from many angles, fewer hard shadows, strong visual finish | Not for open or wash down areas unless the product is rated for it, more than storage alone needs | About 3 m to 3.6 m, or suspended in taller sheds |
| Linear LED battens | Aisle rows and wall mounted side lighting | Affordable, simple to run in rows, weather rated versions available | Plain appearance, many fittings needed in big sheds | Up to about 4 m |
| LED high bays | Tall sheds and high apex roofs | High output per fitting, fewer fixing points | Can glare off glossy panels, creates shadow if placed over the vehicle | About 4 m and above |
| LED floodlights | Open shelters, aprons and door openings | Weather rated options, long throw | Harsh and directional for close work | Wall or post mounted |
| Solar lights | Shelters with no mains power | No cable run, simple to add | Lower output, depends on sun and battery | Low level and entry points |
Where a hexagon grid fits, and where it does not
A hexagon LED lighting grid is the right choice when the shed is enclosed, dry and doubles as a place to detail, polish or work on the vehicle. Light arriving from many directions reduces shadowing down the sides and makes paint and gelcoat defects easier to see.
It is not the right choice for an open sided shelter, a wash down bay or a shed used purely for parking. For very tall roofs, LED high bay lights usually make more sense, and you can compare other formats in the HEXA shed lighting range.
Colour temperature and CRI
Choose 5000K for a neutral daylight white that suits cleaning, servicing and inspection. 6500K is a cooler, crisper white that some owners prefer for detailing. For storage, a colour rendering index (CRI) of 80 is fine. For paint correction, gelcoat polishing and colour matching, look for CRI 90 or higher, and use low angle side light to reveal swirl marks and oxidation.
Open shelter versus enclosed shed
An IP rating has two digits. The first covers dust and solid objects, the second covers water.
- Enclosed, dry shed: indoor rated fittings are usually suitable, provided condensation does not drip onto them.
- Humid or dusty shed: step up to a sealed fitting around IP44 or better.
- Open sided shelter or wash down bay: look for around IP65 or higher, which means dust tight and protected against water jets. Weather rated battens and LED floodlights suit these areas.
Near the coast, salt air attacks fixings before it attacks the light. Use stainless steel fixings, avoid mixing dissimilar metals, and rinse exposed fittings when you rinse the boat. Always check the IP rating stated for the exact product.
Steel shed specifics
- Fixing: fix to roof purlins or wall girts. Do not drill portal frames or other structural members without checking with the shed manufacturer.
- Roof heat: an uninsulated steel roof gets very hot in an Australian summer. Suspend fittings below the sheeting and check the fitting's rated operating temperature.
- Condensation: uninsulated roofs drip on cold mornings. Use sealed fittings or insulate the roof, and keep connections off the drip line.
- Surfaces: light coloured or bare metallic cladding reflects light back into the space. Dark cladding absorbs it, so allow more lumens.
Power and Australian electrical rules
In Australia, fixed electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician to AS/NZS 3000, the Wiring Rules. That includes new circuits, power points, switches, hardwired fittings and the cable run to a detached shed. Your electrician will size the cable for the distance and load, decide between underground and overhead supply, and provide RCD protection for the new circuits. Fittings that are plug and play can connect to an existing power point.
With no mains power nearby, an off grid setup uses a solar panel, charge controller, battery and, for 240 V fittings, an inverter. Size the battery by multiplying the total wattage of the lights by the hours you expect to run them.
Planning checklist
- Measure the shed length, width, wall height and apex height.
- Decide the use: storage only, maintenance or detailing.
- Calculate total lumens with the formula above.
- Mark the vehicle position and plan rows over both aisles.
- Add wall mounted side lighting and a rear wall light.
- Match the IP rating to exposure, wash down and coastal conditions.
- Choose 5000K or 6500K and the CRI your work needs.
- Confirm fixing points on purlins and girts.
- Book a licensed electrician for the supply, circuits and switching.
Frequently asked questions
How many lumens do I need for a caravan or boat storage shed?
Multiply the floor area in square metres by your target lux, then add about 50 percent for losses. A 9 m x 6 m shed needs roughly 12,000 lumens for storage only and about 32,000 lumens if you also wash, service or detail the vehicle inside.
Where should lights go so the caravan or boat does not cast shadows?
Run the lights in rows above the aisles on each side of the vehicle, not along the centreline above its roof. Add wall mounted fittings at about 1.5 m to 2 m high to light the sides, and use a portable work light for the underbody.
Do I need a licensed electrician to light a detached shed?
Yes for any fixed wiring. In Australia, new circuits, power points, hardwired light fittings, switches and the cable run to a detached shed must be installed by a licensed electrician. Plug and play fittings can connect to an existing power point.
What IP rating do shed lights need?
A dry, enclosed shed can use indoor rated fittings, while an open sided shelter or a wash down bay needs fittings rated around IP65 or higher. Always check the IP rating stated for the exact product before you buy.
Are hexagon lights suitable for a caravan or boat shed?
Hexagon LED grids suit enclosed, dry sheds that double as a workshop or detailing bay, where even, low shadow light matters. For open shelters, wash down areas and very high roofs, high bays, weather rated battens or floodlights are usually the better choice.
