Guide · lighting
Light the workpiece, not just the room.
A high lumen figure cannot tell you where the light lands or whether your hands will cast a shadow.
Separate ambient and task light
Ambient light helps you move safely and find equipment. Task light concentrates illumination on the workpiece. A small workshop often needs both: one even source for the room and one movable source that follows the job.
Lumens are not the whole answer
Lumens describe total light output. Lux describes illumination over an area, but manufacturers do not always publish it at a useful distance. Beam shape, distance, diffusion and placement determine what reaches the bench.
Plan the support point
Decide whether the light will stand on the floor, sit on a bench, attach magnetically or hang from a hook. Check that the support does not consume the work surface or place the beam behind your hands.
Check the power system
For cordless lights, include battery compatibility, runtime and the cost of a battery if it is not supplied. For mains lights, route the cable away from cutting, heat and the aisle.
Simple test: mark the intended light position and move your hands through the task before buying. If the shadow follows the work, change the angle or add a second source.
Browse the documented work-lighting category or return to the space checker.