High bay fixtures light everything from 6 m warehouse ceilings to 18 m foundry roofs, and the product range spans a 10× price spread. This guide walks through every decision in order, so a shortlist practically writes itself.
Step 1: UFO or linear?
The two dominant formats solve different problems:
- UFO (round) high bays are compact, cheap to install on a hook or pendant, and project light symmetrically. Best for open floors, cross-docks, and gyms.
- Linear high bays distribute light in a batwing pattern that illuminates vertical surfaces — rack faces, shelving labels — far more effectively. Best for aisles and production lines. They also visually align with racking, which building owners tend to prefer.
If your space is more than half racking, start from linear; otherwise start from UFO.
Step 2: Size the lumen package to the mounting height
Rules of thumb for general storage at 150–200 lux with typical reflectances:
| Mounting height | Lumen package per fixture | Typical spacing |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 m | 15,000–20,000 lm | 8–10 m grid |
| 8–12 m | 20,000–30,000 lm | 10–12 m grid |
| 12–15 m | 30,000–40,000 lm | 12–14 m grid |
| 15 m+ | 40,000+ lm, narrow optics | per calculation |
These get a project into the right fixture class; a photometric layout (DIALux/AGi32) makes it a design.
Step 3: Pick optics deliberately
- 120° — low ceilings, tight grids, open areas
- 90° — the general-purpose default from 8–12 m
- 60° and narrower — 12 m+, or punching light down between obstructions
- Batwing/asymmetric — aisles (see Step 1)
Frosted lenses trade a few percent of efficacy for a big cut in the direct-view harshness of high-output LEDs — worth it anywhere people look up.
Step 4: Decide the controls story before purchase
Retrofitting sensors costs more than ordering them integrated. The pragmatic ladder:
- None — small spaces, short hours.
- Standalone PIR per fixture (dim-to-20% rather than off) — the 80/20 answer for most warehouses.
- DALI-2 networked — required when zones must be reconfigurable, or energy reporting is contractual.
Step 5: Verify the durability numbers
- L70 ≥ 100,000 h and a 7-year warranty are the current bar for quality industrial fixtures.
- IP65 keeps dust off the optics even indoors.
- 10 kV surge protection for sites with compressors, welders, or exposed feeds.
- Ambient rating: standard fixtures are rated to 35–45 °C; check the ceiling-level temperature in summer, and check cold-storage ratings (-30 °C class) for freezer aisles.
- CRI 80 is worth the small premium over CRI 70 anywhere staff work full shifts.
Budgeting
As of 2026, quality mid-market UFO high bays run $150–350, linear high bays $200–400, with premium European DALI-native product above that. Controls add 10–20% and typically pay back in under two years at commercial energy prices.
Shortlist starting points
Compare current examples on LightKilo: the Lithonia CPHB Compact Pro — a stocked, contractor-grade linear high bay for racked aisles — against the architectural Meteor Whiz 2.0 and the high-output Meteor Dext 3.0 for open halls, or see the CPHB vs Dext 3.0 comparison side by side.