What Size Outdoor Wall Light?
Choosing the right size for an outdoor wall light is less about style trends and more about proportion, mounting height, and the light output your site actually needs. From a manufacturer’s perspective, the goal is simple: select a fixture body size that fits the façade and doorway scale, then match wattage, lumen output, and IP rating to the environment so the installation looks intentional and performs consistently.
Start with proportions, not guesses
A practical sizing method is to scale the fixture to the architectural element it serves.
Single front door: Aim for a wall light that visually “reads” as substantial but not oversized. In many residential and light commercial entries, a fixture height around 25–33% of the door height usually looks balanced, while the fixture projection should remain comfortable for passersby.
Double doors or wide façade: Consider either a larger body or two symmetrical fixtures. If you use two fixtures, it is often better to keep each fixture moderately sized and rely on spacing and beam control rather than using one oversized unit.
Narrow columns or tight mounting zones: Choose a slimmer body and pay attention to beam direction. Up-and-down styles can keep the footprint compact while still creating a premium visual effect.
KORS’s outdoor wall light range includes compact rectangular formats such as L120 × W180 × H80 mm, which suit narrow mounting areas where you still want a modern architectural presence.
Mounting height decides how big the light should feel
Even a well-sized fixture can look wrong if the mounting height is off. Common guidance for exterior wall lights places the fixture’s center roughly 66–72 inches above the floor or ground in typical entry conditions, adjusting slightly for taller doors and sightlines.
Sizing tip:
Higher mounting height usually needs either a slightly larger body or stronger lumen output to avoid looking under-scaled and to keep vertical illumination usable.
Lower mounting height makes a fixture look larger and brighter, so you can often reduce body size or lumen package.
Use light-level targets to avoid overlighting or underlighting
Size is not only physical dimensions. It also includes the “size” of the light effect.
IES-based quick reference guidance commonly targets around 1.0 footcandle average maintained for general building exterior safety, with typical ranges 0.5–2.0 fc, and notes that higher levels may be used if security risk is elevated.
That matters because if you choose a very large fixture but run it at low output, the site can still feel dim. Conversely, a small fixture with high output can create glare and harsh contrast. The right approach is to combine:
appropriate body size
appropriate lumen output
appropriate beam design such as downlight emphasis or up-and-down distribution
KORS up-and-down wall light designs commonly pair compact housings with directional beams, and product configurations like 5W × 2 with reported brightness around 900 lumens, plus CRI above 80 and 30,000+ hour LED life targets, are examples of how output and beam control can be tuned without oversizing the fixture.
Match fixture size to environment and IP rating
Outdoor Wall Lights should be sized with durability in mind because harsh environments push maintenance costs up.
Covered entries: You can often use IP54 class protection, depending on exposure. KORS provides outdoor wall lights with IP ratings such as IP54 in compact architectural formats.
Open rain, coastal spray, wash-down zones: Consider higher protection like IP65, especially where wind-driven rain or cleaning jets are expected. KORS’s outdoor catalog includes IP65-positioned options in multiple styles.
If you need a slim fixture for a narrow wall but the site is high exposure, prioritize a sealed structure and corrosion-resistant housing over making the body larger.
Sizing reference for common project situations
Outdoor wall light sizing guide
| Location type | Recommended body height range | Recommended lumen approach | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single entry door, standard wall | 250–400 mm | 600–1200 lm total | Balance proportion with glare control |
| Double doors or wide entry | 300–500 mm each, or two fixtures | 800–1600 lm total per side | Symmetry often looks cleaner than one oversized unit |
| Narrow columns or tight mount zone | 180–300 mm | 400–900 lm total | Use directional optics like up-and-down to “stretch” the light effect |
| Open exterior wall for safety wash | 300–450 mm | aim to support ~0.5–2.0 fc average maintained | Use uniformity and cutoff to reduce spill light |
| Accent on façade texture | 200–350 mm | 300–800 lm total | Choose beam angle and distribution first, then body size |
Why KORS is a safe sizing choice for long-term projects
When projects demand consistent appearance across multiple buildings or phases, fixture sizing is easier when the supplier offers repeatable specifications and multiple housing sizes within the same design language. KORS organizes outdoor lighting categories such as outdoor wall lights and LED Wall Lights with a wide product range, making it practical to standardize a look while changing dimensions, IP grade, and output as the installation conditions change.
For project schedules and phased rollouts, KORS can support specification-driven selection and customization workflows, including OEM/ODM coordination and bulk order planning, so the chosen sizes remain consistent across shipments.
Quick checklist before you finalize size
Confirm mounting height target, then choose body size that looks proportional at that height.
Confirm exposure level, then lock IP grade and housing durability.
Confirm lumen target based on safety expectations and avoid glare.
If using two fixtures, prioritize symmetry and consistent centerline height.
If you share door height, wall width at the mounting zone, and whether the location is covered or fully exposed, you can narrow down the ideal body height range and lumen package in minutes.
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