To plan multi bay workshop lighting zones, map the floor, assign every square metre to a zone, set a lux target for each zone, convert that target to lumens and fixture counts, then group the fixtures so each bay switches on its own. Done properly, you can work in one bay at full brightness without paying to light the whole shed.
This guide covers Australian sheds and industrial units with two to six bays, in metres and lux. For single garage layout basics, see the home workshop layout guide in our HEXA buying guides.
Lighting zone vs lighting layer vs switch group
These three terms get mixed up, and a multi bay workshop needs all three thought through.
- Lighting zone: an area of floor with one job and one brightness target, such as a hoist bay or a parts rack.
- Lighting layer: the type of light doing the work. Ambient light fills the space, task light targets a bench or machine, and fill light reaches the places ceiling light cannot, such as under a raised vehicle.
- Switch group: the set of fixtures that turn on together. A zone can have more than one switch group, for example ambient and task.
How to plan multi bay workshop lighting zones in five steps
- Measure the floor. Record length, width and ceiling height in metres, including the height of any rafters, door tracks and mezzanines.
- Mark each bay. Draw the real parking or working footprint. A typical vehicle bay is about 3 m wide and 5.5 m to 7 m deep.
- Mark fixed equipment. Hoists, compressors, benches, racking, wash bays and welding areas.
- Mark walkways and doors. Roller doors, personnel doors and the lanes people and vehicles travel along.
- Assign every square metre to a zone. Nothing is left over. If an area has no zone, it ends up as a dark patch.
Lux targets for each workshop zone
The figures below are practical planning targets, not a compliance statement. AS/NZS 1680 is the Australian standard series for interior and workplace lighting, and a business premises should have its final levels confirmed against the current edition by an electrician or lighting designer.
| Zone type | Planning target (lux) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry and roller door apron | 160 | Softens the jump between daylight and interior |
| Walkways and lanes between bays | 160 | Own switch group for walk through light |
| Parts and storage racking | 160 to 240 | Light the aisle face of the rack, not the top |
| Vehicle or work bays | 320 to 400 | Rows along both sides of the bay |
| Hoist bays | 400, plus side fill | Ceiling light is blocked when the vehicle is up |
| Workbench and tool wall | 400 to 600 | Fixtures above the front edge of the bench |
| Welding or fabrication corner | 400 to 600 | Keep fixtures clear of sparks and fume extraction |
| Wash or detailing bay | 600 to 800 | Even, low shadow light for paint inspection, with fittings suited to wet areas |
| Office and amenities | 320 office, 80 to 160 amenities | Separate from workshop switching |
How to convert lux into lumens and fixture counts
Lux is lumens per square metre arriving at the work surface. Not every lumen leaving a fixture gets there, because dark cladding, open roller doors, dust and normal LED ageing all take a share. A simple planning allowance is to assume about 60 percent arrives.
Lumens needed = lux target x floor area in square metres, divided by 0.6
Then divide by the lumen output on your chosen fixture's specification sheet to get a fixture count. Unlined sheds with dark steel walls may need a larger allowance.
Worked example: 3 bay shed, 9 m x 7 m
The floor is 63 square metres. Three bays, each 3 m wide and 5.5 m deep, run back from the roller doors. A 1.5 m strip along the rear wall holds the workbench and tool wall. Bay 3 has a two post hoist.
| Zone | Area | Target | Lumens needed | Switch group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Bay 1 | 16.5 m2 | 400 lux | 11,000 | 1 |
| B: Bay 2 | 16.5 m2 | 400 lux | 11,000 | 2 |
| C: Bay 3, hoist | 16.5 m2 | 400 lux | 11,000 plus side fill | 3 |
| D: Bench and tool wall | 13.5 m2 | 600 lux | 13,500 | 4 |
| Total | 63 m2 | 46,500 | 4 groups |
Each bay works out as 400 x 16.5 = 6,600 lumens delivered, divided by 0.6 = 11,000 lumens. That is two 5,500 lumen fixtures, or a hexagon grid with the same total output. In a shed this size the bench group doubles as walk through light.
Top down zone and switching plan
| Rear wall. Zone D: workbench and tool wall, switch group 4 | ||
| Zone A: Bay 1, switch group 1 | Zone B: Bay 2, switch group 2 | Zone C: Bay 3 hoist, switch group 3 |
| Roller doors and apron (daylight side). Switches at the personnel door and beside the roller doors | ||
Running cost
Assuming fixtures at 100 lumens per watt, the full shed draws about 465 W. Over an 8 hour day at an assumed 30 cents per kWh, that is about $1.12. Running only one bay and the bench (245 W) costs about 59 cents. Use your own tariff and the wattage on the specification sheet for a real figure.
Scaling up: 6 bay commercial unit, 18 m x 12 m
Six bays of 3 m x 7 m face the roller doors, a 3 m lane runs behind them, and a 2 m strip along the rear wall holds the bench, racking and office.
| Zone | Area | Target | Lumens needed | Switch groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six bays, two with hoists | 21 m2 each | 400 lux | 14,000 each, 84,000 total | 6 |
| Lane | 54 m2 | 160 lux | 14,400 | 1 |
| Workbench | 20 m2 | 600 lux | 20,000 | 1 |
| Parts racking | 10 m2 | 240 lux | 4,000 | 1 |
| Office | 6 m2 | 320 lux | 3,200 | 1 |
| Total | 216 m2 | 125,600 | 10 groups |
Bay by bay layout rules and ceiling height
- Light both sides of each bay. A single row on the centre line lights the roof of the vehicle and leaves the sides, sills and wheel arches in shadow. Run rows along both long edges of the bay.
- Spacing follows height. As a starting point, space rows about 1 to 1.5 times the mounting height above the work surface, then check the guidance for the specific fixture.
- Wall offset. Keep the outer row about half the row spacing off the wall so the wall and tool board are lit, not striped.
| Ceiling height | Typical building | Fixture approach |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 m to 3 m | Domestic garage, small shed | Surface mounted hexagon grids or linear fixtures |
| 3 m to 4.5 m | Farm and trade sheds | Surface mounted or suspended grids, lowered where rafters block light |
| 4.5 m to 6 m plus | Industrial units | High bays for ambient light, suspended grids or linears over key bays |
A hexagon grid is the right fixture where even, low shadow light across a whole bay matters, such as work bays and detailing bays under lower ceilings. It is not the right primary light at 6 m or more unless it is suspended, and it does not replace under vehicle fill light. Browse HEXA hexagon LED lighting for bay grids and LED high bay lights for tall units.
How to light a hoist bay
Once a vehicle is raised, it blocks the ceiling light directly above the area you are working on. Plan for that from the start.
- Side lighting: rows along both edges of the bay throw light in under the sills at an angle.
- Low level fill: wall mounted fixtures beside the bay and portable work lights cover the underbody.
- Clearances: check the hoist manual for maximum lift height, add the tallest vehicle you service, and keep every fixture and suspension cable clear of that envelope and of the hoist posts and arms.
Roller doors and daylight
An open sectional door sits flat under the ceiling and hides any fixture mounted above its tracks, and a roller door drum takes up space at the door head. Keep fixtures out of the door's travel and place the front row just behind the open door position. Daylight usually carries a few metres into the bay, so put the front row of each bay on a group you can leave off during the day. It will be needed at night and on overcast days.
Switching, load and what needs a licensed electrician
- One switch group per bay.
- A separate group for ambient walkway and lane lighting, switched from every entry so nobody crosses a dark floor.
- A separate group for bench and task lighting.
- Bay switches on one labelled plate, in bay order, near the main personnel door.
Add up the wattage of every fixture in each zone and give that schedule to your electrician. They use it to size circuits, protection and switching correctly.
In Australia, all fixed wiring must be done by a licensed electrician. That includes new circuits, switches, hardwired fixtures and power points. What you can do yourself is the planning: measure, zone, calculate, mark out the ceiling and assemble plug and play connected systems that run from an existing power point. Fixtures should carry the RCM mark. See the HEXA workshop lighting range for options.
Zone schedule template
Copy this table, fill in one row per zone and hand it to your electrician.
| Zone | Area (m2) | Lux target | Lumens needed | Fixture and quantity | Total watts | Switch group | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay 1 | |||||||
| Bay 2 | |||||||
| Bench | |||||||
| Lane |
Frequently asked questions
How many lux does a multi bay workshop need?
Plan on around 320 to 400 lux across vehicle and work bays, 400 to 600 lux at workbenches, and about 160 lux for walkways, lanes and storage. Detailing and inspection areas benefit from 600 to 800 lux. These are planning figures, and AS/NZS 1680 is the Australian standard series to check for a workplace.
Should each bay be on its own light switch?
Yes. One switch group per bay lets you light only the bay in use, which cuts running costs and glare. Add a separate group for walkways and another for bench task lighting.
Do I need a licensed electrician to install workshop lighting in Australia?
Any fixed wiring, including new circuits, switches, hardwired fixtures and power points, must be done by a licensed electrician. You can plan the zones, mark out the layout and assemble plug and play lighting that connects to an existing power point.
Are hexagon lights suitable for a commercial workshop?
Hexagon grids suit work bays, detailing bays and benches under lower ceilings, roughly 2.4 m to 4 m, where even, low shadow light matters. In units of 6 m or more, high bay lights usually handle the general lighting, with hexagon grids suspended over key bays.
How far apart should workshop lights be spaced?
As a starting point, space rows about 1 to 1.5 times the mounting height above the work surface, and keep the outer row about half that spacing off the wall. Always check the spacing guidance for the specific fixture.
