What Wattage Should an LED Street Light Be? A Guide by Road Type

The most common question when choosing an LED street light is "what wattage should it be?" The short answer: wattage alone isn't the right measure. What a road needs is determined by luminous flux (lumens), how light is distributed on the road (optics), and pole placement. Wattage is simply the energy the luminaire that meets that need consumes. Still, a project needs a starting point — this article explains that starting point and how to get to the right answer.

Lumens and efficacy before wattage

Two luminaires of the same wattage can put very different amounts of light on the road if their efficacy (lm/W) differs. Asso luminaires have a standard efficacy of 143 lm/W, so a 100W model produces around 13,500 lm of luminous flux. A lower-efficacy product needs higher wattage to achieve the same light, and your electricity bill rises accordingly. That's why, when comparing quotes, always ask for lumens and lm/W alongside wattage.

Starting values by road type

The ranges below are approximate starting values compiled from common field applications; the exact power is set by the road's lighting class and a calculation using real measurements:

• Side streets and estate roads (4–6m poles): roughly 30–60 W
• Neighbourhood avenues (7–9m poles): roughly 50–100 W
• Main avenues and boulevards (9–11m poles): roughly 100–150 W
• Ring roads and highways (10–14m poles): roughly 150–250 W and above

As pole spacing widens or the road gets wider, the required power rises. Single-sided, opposite, or median pole arrangement also directly affects the result.

Why does the road lighting class matter?

Road lighting design in Türkiye is based on the TS EN 13201 standard. It classifies roads by how they're used (motor-vehicle roads, junctions and conflict areas, pedestrian and low-speed areas) and sets targets such as average luminance/illuminance and uniformity for each class. The right wattage is the one that meets these targets with the least energy.

A lighting calculation: measurement, not guesswork

A photometric calculation using road width, number of lanes, pole height, bracket length and pole spacing clarifies both the required power and the optic choice. Choosing more power than needed wastes energy and investment; too little creates dark patches and uniformity problems.

At Asso, we prepare a free lighting calculation at the quote stage. Because we manufacture the luminaire at our own factory, if the calculation lands on an in-between wattage (e.g. 85 W) we can produce at that exact value, with no middleman on price.

Which Asso product?

• AQUA LED street light: 50–350 W, from side streets to avenues
• IQONIC LED road luminaire: 100–350 W for wide avenues, boulevards and highways
• IQONIC 77W TEDAŞ-approved LED road luminaire: for TEDAŞ-spec projects