With so many beam angles out there, it can be confusing to pick the perfect one. Angles affect how light is spread, therefore affecting how objects appear under the lights. Smaller beams deliver very focused light, so they’re ideal for highlighting smaller spots, while wider beams are better for illuminating a bigger area, like a large canopy tree.
What is a beam angle?
In lighting, a beam angle is an angle at which the light spreads. The smaller the angle, the tighter and more intense the light beam will be. And for wider angles, the more diffused and spread out the beam will be.
Why are beam angles important?
Beam angles matter because they determine how many lights are needed in a space, affecting the end result. Of course, it varies from project to project, but it’s common to have a variety of angles, especially in landscape lighting, so a one size fits all approach is usually not the way to go. Different areas require different light solutions. Using a spot beam on a large tree, for instance, will look completely different from a wide beam on that same tree. The thin, or spot, beam will only highlight a small part of the trunk or the leaves, while the wide beam will show the whole tree in all of its glory; the broad and diffused light will illuminate a lot more than its thinner counterpart, displaying the tree in its natural beauty.
What are different types of beam angles?
Beam angles can be categorized in two different ways: by family (beam size name) and by angle (angle range).
Spot: 5° – 18°
Narrow: 18° – 30°
Narrow Flood: 30° – 60°
Flood: 60° – 90°
Wide Flood: 90° – 120°
Elliptical: 5° – 20° + 90° – 180°
Different beam anglesof MP Lighting L01, producing different lighting effects
1. Spot: 5° – 18°
Very small beams, also called “spots” or “spotlights”, range can range between 10° – 18°, and work best to highlight small areas or to create very thin light beams on walls for a beautiful light effect. In landscape lighting, these angles work best on pathways & walkways, and to accent architectural features, like columns, walls, and entrances. MP Lighting offers the 7° super spot and 12° spot angles for thin highlights.
A spot 12° beam angle created by a 10° angle bracket inside an in-ground lighting fixture
2. Narrow: 18° – 30°
Narrow beams are an intermediary between spot and narrow flood beams; they work best on small to medium-sized features, but can also be used to highlight bigger areas. The narrow beam is still tight enough to accentuate landscape features but wide enough to illuminate more than a thin area. In landscape lighting, these angles work best to light up shrubbery, pathways & walkways, and stairs. For underwater features, the narrow beam angles also work great to add pops of light in fountains, reflecting pools, and ponds.
In-ground lighting fixture L01 with a 30° beam angle
3. Narrow Flood: 30° – 60°
Medium-sized beams, or narrow flood beams, are the perfect in-between with a blend of highlighting and general illumination. These beams are ideal for general landscape & hardscape lighting under benches & sitting walls, on large steps and stairs, to illuminate tall trees, and to light up driveways, walkways, and pathways. MP Lighting offers 30°, 40°, 45°, and 48° narrow flood beam angles for concentrated lighting in downlight, bollard, in-ground, and linear landscape fixtures.
Flood beams are a great way to provide more light to areas without the overarching angle of the wide beam. These angles are great for pathways & walkways, stairs, steps, and tree illumination. For underwater applications, flood beam angles are better suited for larger environments like swimming pools, large-scale fountains, and faux waterfalls. MP Lighting offers a 60° flood beam angle for the perfect not-too-wide, not-too-thin beam.
In-ground lighting fixture L05 with a 60° beam angle
5. Wide Flood: 90° – 120°
Large and wide beams, or wide flood beams, provide a broad beam of light to large areas or landscape & architectural features of the environment. Because the beam is wide, the intensity of the light is different from smaller angles; it provides a less focused and less intense light, perfect for large features and spaces. These are used best to direct light in large pathways & walkways, to illuminate large-scale canopy trees, and for entrances and gates that require light washes. MP Lighting offers 120° wide flood beam angles for diffused lighting.
120° beam angle for illumination under benches
6. Elliptical: 5° – 50° + 90° – 180°
Elliptical beam angles are asymmetric beams that are thin but very wide, which is why it’s usually a combination of a low degree (5° – 50°) with a high degree (90° – 180°). This angle works well to accentuate architectural features like columns, to illuminate windowsills, and for ultra-wide beams underneath benches and sitting walls. MP Lighting offers 5° + 36°, 10° + 170°, and 5° + 175° elliptical beam angles for windowsill and in-ground fixtures.
Windowsill light L150 with an elliptical beam angle10°+170°
As if with any other project, choosing the correct beam angle for any landscape lighting project depends on the individual needs and what the end result should look like. MP Lighting offers an array of luminaires with customizable beam angles so projects can look and feel the best it can. This breakdown of beam angles is a guide to assist any who may need help during the specification process of a project.
Choosing the right beam angle in lighting design
With so many beam angles out there, it can be confusing to pick the perfect one. Angles affect how light is spread, therefore affecting how objects appear under the lights. Smaller beams deliver very focused light, so they’re ideal for highlighting smaller spots, while wider beams are better for illuminating a bigger area, like a large canopy tree.
What is a beam angle?
In lighting, a beam angle is an angle at which the light spreads. The smaller the angle, the tighter and more intense the light beam will be. And for wider angles, the more diffused and spread out the beam will be.
Why are beam angles important?
Beam angles matter because they determine how many lights are needed in a space, affecting the end result. Of course, it varies from project to project, but it’s common to have a variety of angles, especially in landscape lighting, so a one size fits all approach is usually not the way to go. Different areas require different light solutions. Using a spot beam on a large tree, for instance, will look completely different from a wide beam on that same tree. The thin, or spot, beam will only highlight a small part of the trunk or the leaves, while the wide beam will show the whole tree in all of its glory; the broad and diffused light will illuminate a lot more than its thinner counterpart, displaying the tree in its natural beauty.
What are different types of beam angles?
Beam angles can be categorized in two different ways: by family (beam size name) and by angle (angle range).
1. Spot: 5° – 18°
Very small beams, also called “spots” or “spotlights”, range can range between 10° – 18°, and work best to highlight small areas or to create very thin light beams on walls for a beautiful light effect. In landscape lighting, these angles work best on pathways & walkways, and to accent architectural features, like columns, walls, and entrances. MP Lighting offers the 7° super spot and 12° spot angles for thin highlights.
2. Narrow: 18° – 30°
Narrow beams are an intermediary between spot and narrow flood beams; they work best on small to medium-sized features, but can also be used to highlight bigger areas. The narrow beam is still tight enough to accentuate landscape features but wide enough to illuminate more than a thin area. In landscape lighting, these angles work best to light up shrubbery, pathways & walkways, and stairs. For underwater features, the narrow beam angles also work great to add pops of light in fountains, reflecting pools, and ponds.
3. Narrow Flood: 30° – 60°
Medium-sized beams, or narrow flood beams, are the perfect in-between with a blend of highlighting and general illumination. These beams are ideal for general landscape & hardscape lighting under benches & sitting walls, on large steps and stairs, to illuminate tall trees, and to light up driveways, walkways, and pathways. MP Lighting offers 30°, 40°, 45°, and 48° narrow flood beam angles for concentrated lighting in downlight, bollard, in-ground, and linear landscape fixtures.
4. Flood: 60° – 90°
Flood beams are a great way to provide more light to areas without the overarching angle of the wide beam. These angles are great for pathways & walkways, stairs, steps, and tree illumination. For underwater applications, flood beam angles are better suited for larger environments like swimming pools, large-scale fountains, and faux waterfalls. MP Lighting offers a 60° flood beam angle for the perfect not-too-wide, not-too-thin beam.
5. Wide Flood: 90° – 120°
Large and wide beams, or wide flood beams, provide a broad beam of light to large areas or landscape & architectural features of the environment. Because the beam is wide, the intensity of the light is different from smaller angles; it provides a less focused and less intense light, perfect for large features and spaces. These are used best to direct light in large pathways & walkways, to illuminate large-scale canopy trees, and for entrances and gates that require light washes. MP Lighting offers 120° wide flood beam angles for diffused lighting.
6. Elliptical: 5° – 50° + 90° – 180°
Elliptical beam angles are asymmetric beams that are thin but very wide, which is why it’s usually a combination of a low degree (5° – 50°) with a high degree (90° – 180°). This angle works well to accentuate architectural features like columns, to illuminate windowsills, and for ultra-wide beams underneath benches and sitting walls. MP Lighting offers 5° + 36°, 10° + 170°, and 5° + 175° elliptical beam angles for windowsill and in-ground fixtures.
As if with any other project, choosing the correct beam angle for any landscape lighting project depends on the individual needs and what the end result should look like. MP Lighting offers an array of luminaires with customizable beam angles so projects can look and feel the best it can. This breakdown of beam angles is a guide to assist any who may need help during the specification process of a project.