You’ve probably heard the term “Friday Night Lights”. It refers to American high school football games that are typically played on Friday evenings. It evokes scenes of local communities gathering for “the big game”.
But it also refers to the high-powered sports lights that illuminate the football field. These high school football lights provide illumination not only for the game but also for spectators.
Lighting plays a critical role in maximizing the safety, visibility, and performance of outdoor football fields. Whether for high school programs, college stadiums, or community recreation fields, selecting the right lighting system requires understanding the unique demands of football as a fast-paced sport played on a large field.
This article will serve as a practical guide for athletic directors, school administrators, municipal planners, and contractors responsible for upgrading or installing football field lighting.
- It will outline key considerations such as lumen output, mounting height, beam angle, light distribution, and energy efficiency.
- It will also explain how proper pole placement helps minimize shadows and control light spill for consistent field coverage.
- It will highlight the advantages of LED lighting systems for football applications, including long lifespan, low maintenance, precision optics, and reduced energy use.
- It will explain how lighting standards influence system selection depending on the level of play and expected audience size.
What is the standard lighting for a football field?
Football field lighting standards will depend on the level of play, such as recreational, high school, collegiate, or professional. The higher the level of competition, the brighter the field must be, especially if games are televised.
Brightness is measured in two ways: lumens and foot candles. Put simply, lumens measure the amount of light that radiates from a light source, whereas foot candles measure the amount of light that reaches the surface of the area that is to be illuminated. In the case of a football field, the light level that reaches the field is measured in foot candles. The mounting height of a light will affect how much light reaches the surface. The higher it is mounted, the less light (foot candles) will reach the surface, as shown in the diagram below.
This is a key consideration because you will want to know how many lumens you need to achieve a foot candle. In other words, how much light you want to reach a specific point.
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) establishes the standards for lighting schemes across all categories of facilities. This includes sports venues. IES standards help guarantee consistent uniformity, visibility, and safety.
Here are some general IES foot candle guidelines for football fields:
- Local Training, School, and Recreational Level = 20-30 foot candles
- High School Level = 30-50 foot candles
- Collegiate Level = 50-100 foot candles
How does lumen output affect football field lighting performance?
Football fields are the same size, regardless of the level of play; however, different levels of play have varying lighting requirements. Higher levels of play are likely to have more spectators (and larger stadiums). They are also more likely to be televised. Both scenarios will require a higher level of light output.
Besides the level of play, the total lumens required depend on the number of light poles used, mounting height, and light beam angle. Individual LED light fixtures used will typically have a lumen output between 40,000 to 100,000 lumens, or more. This will affect the number of fixtures needed and where they are placed.
What is the ideal pole height and layout for football field lighting?
Common football field lighting layouts are 4-, 6-, or 8-pole configurations where the light poles are placed along the sidelines. Regardless of the number of poles that you use, you’ll want to have an equal number of poles on each side of the football field. This helps to eliminate shadows.
- The 4-pole configuration provides uniform lighting levels and can be used for recreational or small high school fields. Each pole is placed around the 20-yard lines.
- A 6-pole configuration should be used for larger high school and smaller college stadiums. This is the minimum number of poles/lights that you’ll want to use if games are being broadcast or streamed. Four poles are placed at the 10-yard lines, and two poles at the 50-yard line.
- An 8-pole configuration should be used for large colleges and pro stadiums. In this scenario, supplemental lighting is usually used in addition to the light fixtures mounted on the poles. Four poles are placed at the goal lines, and four poles around the 30- or 35-yard lines.
Another spacing consideration is the distance between the poles outside the field. The general range is 50-100 feet. This will depend on the layout of the field and the type of seating that it has.
Standard pole heights typically range from 50 to 70 feet.
- Training/Recreational = 4-pole configuration/50 feet
- High School = 6-pole configuration/70 feet
- College/Pro = 8-pole configuration/90+ feet
How do mounting height and beam angle impact lighting effectiveness?
Different mounting heights and beam angles work together to control light distribution, minimize spill, and maximize field coverage. The right combination reduces glare and dark spots while improving uniformity.
Narrow light beam angles target specific areas of the field from a longer distance, whereas wide beam angles provide illumination for a broader space but at a shorter projection area. A combination of narrow and wide beam angles will ensure uniform lighting distribution across the field.
Uniformity in lighting distribution is a critical aspect of football field lighting. A uniform field ensures that no part of the playing surface is significantly darker than any other, which is vital for both players and viewers. If a field has inconsistent lighting with significant brightness variations, it can cause discomfort for those on the field and hinder the quality of televised broadcasts.
It’s important to remember that lights mounted on taller light poles will require a higher lumen output to achieve the desired foot candle levels on the surface of the field.
Can LED lights meet football field lighting standards?
High-quality LED systems not only meet but often exceed lighting standards. Performance benefits include instant-on capability, directional beam control, longer life span, and energy efficiency.
Uniformity and brightness are of utmost importance for any sports field. This is accomplished by installing LED football field lights that have a combination of specific narrow and wide beam angles (such as 30 degrees and 45 degrees). It is key to understanding that the higher the lights are to be installed, the narrower the beams should be to ensure that enough light reaches the surface of the field. LED lights are smaller and require less maintenance, making them ideal for lighting needs that require placement at a greater height.
What are the benefits of using LED instead of metal halide for football field lighting?
LED lighting systems have greater energy efficiency, minimal maintenance requirements, faster startup time, and more consistent performance. Their typical lifespan is 50,000 to 100,000 hours, which is much longer than metal halide lights.
Modern LED lighting systems offer lower energy usage and high performance. They also offer long lifespans, which reduces maintenance demands. This makes them a great investment for facilities that want to lower operational costs while maintaining high lighting standards.
How can LightMart help you choose the right lighting system for your football field?
LightMart offers personalized lighting recommendations, custom layout support, LED sports lighting tips, and complete outdoor football field lighting packages built for performance, reliability, and compliance with lighting standards. Our knowledgeable staff can help you design your outdoor football field lighting project. We also offer lighting packages for other types of sports lighting systems. Contact us today!
David DeWald is the E-Commerce Marketing Specialist at LightMart. He has been working in the industrial and commercial lighting industry since 2013 and is based in the greater Chicago area. David specializes in digital product management, web content writing, and product marketing. He regularly publishes lighting industry-related articles on the LightMart blog. You can visit his LinkedIn profile here.