How many uplights should I rent?

Lots of possibilities, one space. Our Uplighting Guide will walk you through several common options to help you understand how many lights you may need for your space.

Uplighting Calculator Uplighting + Room Uplighting / single Wall Uplight Spacing Guide

Uplighting Calculator

Accent Lighting – 20′

Simple, yet colorful atmosphere

Medium Lighting – 12′

Balanced but full wall coverage

MAXIMUM Lighting – 8′

A bright and bold atmosphere

WALL WASH – 5′

Solid color for a full wall wash

HOW TO CALCULATE UPLIGHT QUANTITIES FOR A ROOM

Measure the Area: Take the length and width of your event space (in feet). Add these two measurements together and double the distance. This will equal the total perimeter of your space.
Determine the Coverage Area: Decide on the desired spacing for the uplights. This can be anywhere from 5-20 feet depending on the amount of color you want on the walls.
Calculate the Number of Uplights: Divide the total perimeter of the space by the lighting spacing to determine the number of uplights needed.

Number of Uplights = Total Perimeter / Light Spacing per Uplight

If this number is a partial number, round up (i.e. 9.5 lights -> 10 lights)

HOW TO CALCULATE UPLIGHT QUANTITIES FOR A WALL

Measure the Wall: Determine the length of your wall within your event space (in feet).
Subtract Obstructions: Subtract the width of any openings or obstructions that you don’t wish to illuminate. This might be a hallway, a large door, or a presentation screen.
Determine the Coverage Area: Decide on the desired spacing for the uplights. This can be anywhere from 5-20 feet depending on the amount of color you want on the wall. For maximum impact on a single wall, we recommend about 5′ spacing.
Calculate the Number of Uplights: Divide the total length of the wall by the lighting spacing to determine the number of uplights needed.

Number of Uplights = Total Length / Light Spacing per Uplight

If this number is a partial number, round up (i.e. 9.5 lights -> 10 lights)

corporate event at event center with green uplighting

Uplight spacing recommendations

To light up an entire venue, we recommend spacing uplights anywhere from 6 to 20 feet apart. When positioning uplights, try to avoid overlapping the light beams by placing lights too close. If the lights are located too far apart, the room can feel sparse. Spacing uplights within this range generally produces a good result.

5 feet	Wall Wash	Solid color for a full wall wash
8 feet	Maximum Lighting	A bright and bold atmosphere
12 feet	Medium Lighting	Balanced but full wall coverage
20 feet	Accent Lighting	Simple, yet colorful atmosphere

If your venue has solid walls with no windows, doors, or architectural elements, these spacing recommendations are relatively straightforward. If you’re unsure of the wall spacing, contact your venue – most venues can give you a basic floor plan or dimensions.

Simple accent lighting

For a more affordable solution, consider using uplights in one or two areas. Uplights can provide accent lighting behind a head table, a DJ booth, or near an entrance. Consider using 2 to 4 uplights per accent area to create simple but impactful accent lighting.

Where to put uplighting

Most venues have windows and doors that may take up a lot of wall space. While a spacing recommendation is a great place to start, it’s important to consider the actual layout of the space. Uplights don’t work so well shining on windows or wall elements. Consider locating uplights between windows and doors on a relatively flat wall. If your space has a lot of architectural columns or wall bump outs, try to locate 1-2 uplights at each column. Corners are also great places to locate an uplight, too. Whatever you intend to illuminate, be consistent across the venue for the most intentional look.

Consider locating uplights between windows or columns for a balanced look.

Aside from walls, trees and posts – either inside or outside – are great elements to highlight. Whether on the perimeter or in the middle of your space, these naturally tall elements can be illuminated much like a wall and can bring color and life to your event.

Plan around outlet locations

If you plan to use wired uplights, outlets can dictate where lighting fixtures need to be placed. Many newer event facilities have plenty of outlets, but it is important to note where they lie across your venue – new or old. Uplights should be located within ten feet of an outlet. Extension cords can extend that length, but consider the quantity of extension cords you may need if you’re renting more than a few uplights. If outlet locations are too far apart, consider wireless uplights; these battery powered lights can be placed anywhere across your venue without needing access to a receptacle. Wireless uplights are often slightly more expensive than their wired counterparts, but they remove the hassle of cords and cabling.

Wall Wash Uplighting

“Wall washing” refers to a technique used to evenly illuminate a wall. Typically this is accomplished by utilizing several uplights at a consistent spacing to create a full and even distribution of light on a wall. For event spaces, wall washing works best when employed on a single wall. This can be behind a head table, behind a presenter, or on a decorative wall within a space. When utilizing uplights for a wall wash, we recommend a spacing of 4-6 feet apart to create a full wash of color on the wall.