Street Light Height – Tallness, Spacing and Placement Guide

As a driver or pedestrian, you may notice that street lights you see on roads have different heights. This can actually confuse you when you are going to start road projects and want to install lights for new areas.

That’s why it’s important for you to know about street light dimensions. In today’s guide, you will learn about street light height, rules & when you can use short or tall light poles.

Standard Street Light Height: How Tall are Street Lights?

You need to install street lights high above the ground. So that they can give light to large areas. Generally, the height of a street light depends on where you use it. However, most street lights are placed 10 to 50 feet high. You can use this height on big roads and highways.

In smaller areas such as neighborhoods and parking lots, you will see the lights are at a shorter distance. You will find them at 12 to 25 feet high. This height standard will help you to maintain enough light without any harsh brightness.

Street Light Height in Meters

Street lights have different heights, which depend on where they are placed. On highways, you will see that the poles are 9 to 12 meters tall. On main roads or city streets, you should keep height between 7 to 9 meters.

However, in residential areas or parking lots, you need to install light which has a height around 4 to 6 meters. For pathways, parks & sidewalks, you can use smaller poles, (3 to 4 meters tall).

Street Light Height in Feet

You can also measure your street light height in feet. For example: on highways, street lights are generally 30 to 40 feet tall to cover wide roads. While in city streets or main roads, the height is basically around 23 to 30 feet.

In parking lots or neighborhoods, you will see that lights are shorter (13 to 20 feet tall). But for your small paths & parks, height around 10 to 13 feet is perfect.

Street Lights Height and Placement Restrictions

There are specific requirements you need to know about how tall street lights should be and where you can place them. These rules help you to make sure your light is safe, clear and not too bright.

For example: on big city roads, you can use tall street lights because they spread light over a wide area and also help drivers to see lights better. But, on quiet streets where people live, you should place shorter lights. It will keep your area safe but in a softer & more comfortable way. Following are some other standards you should remember.

• The height of the street light depends on how wide the road is.
• You will need more height if more light is required.
• Lights are installed in a way that it should not block road signs and traffic signals.
• Street lights should be placed at the right distance (not too close and not too far).

How Distance Between Street Lights Affects Height

If you want to install taller poles, you should place them farther apart because they shine light over a bigger area.

But in case you want to place lights closer together, you must use short height lights. So that road can be lighted properly. When you choose the right mix of height and distance, you will notice that it helps you to avoid dark spots on streets and saves energy too. If you are still confused, you can simply leave standard space that’s about 2.5 to 3 times the height of your pole.

Height of Street Light Pole

How Tall are Light Posts? A tall pole helps you to light up wide roads and big spaces such as highways and airports. On the other hand, shorter poles are better for your close-up areas like parks, sidewalks & small streets.

So, you can use poles with a minimum height of 10 feet and a maximum of 50 feet (mostly for highway/busy roads). Whatever the height requirement is, you need to install strong poles and place them deeper in the ground so they can stay safe in storms as well.

Street Light Pole Height Calculation

If you want to calculate the right height for your street light pole, you have to consider a few things. First of all, you should measure the width of the road and then check how far apart the lights will be. Also, you should keep in mind how bright the light you need. 

Now, for exact height calculations, you can multiply the pole’s height by 2.5 to 3. For example, if your poles are 8 meters tall, you should space them about 20 to 24 meters apart.

Spacing = 8 × 2.5 to 3 = 20 to 24 meters apart

How Does Road Type Influence Street Light Pole Height?

Basically, the height of your street light poles changes based on the type of road. Following are some common road types and how they affect the size of light poles.

Urban and Commercial Area

In busy city streets and commercial zones, you need taller street lights such as 14-20 feet. Because you will notice, there is more traffic, people, and buildings. Hence, you need more lights to make the street visible to all drivers. If you place taller poles, it will help you to spread light over wider spaces and keep the overall area bright and safe at night.

Residential Area

Well, you need short street light poles (around 3 to 4.5 meters) for residential areas as compared to main roads or highways. The reason is that these places do not need very bright lights. You just need to provide enough light, which can help people walk or drive safely. Moreover, shorter poles also reduce harsh light. In this way, the light will stay outside and will not disturb people inside their homes.

Highway and Main Roads

Generally, highways and big roads need high street light poles at 30 to 50 feet. Because these places are wide, you will always find fast-moving traffic. Hence, you require more light to keep everything clear and safe. Actually, taller poles will help you to fill the light over long distances, which makes it easier for drivers to see from far distances (especially at night).

Parks & Walkways

In parks and walkways, street lights are mostly short and soft (4.5 to 6 meters tall). Because these locations don’t need very bright lights. You have to provide enough to help you see where you are going. Also, your lower poles make the area look calm and cozy without too much light shining in your eyes.

What Affects How Tall a Street Light Is?

• Road Width

The width of the road decides how many high street lights you need to place. Generally, wider roads need taller poles, so that light can reach all the way across. For example: for a small two lane road, you can use a 6-meter (20-foot) pole. However, if the road has more width and many lanes, you probably need 40 feet (12 meters) high street lights.

• Mounting Style

The way you fix/mount the light will definitely affect the overall height of the street light. If you set lights on top of the pole, then light will fall right under the pole. But, if it is attached to a long metal arm, you need a taller pole to make it well visible.

• Type of Bulb & Fixture

The type of bulb and fixture you use can also change how tall the street light is. For bulbs that shine bright, you should install short poles. But, you will need high poles if you want to install a bulb that can spread light to the whole area.

• Area Brightness

The level of light in a certain zone can directly impact the height of light you require. For brighter places such as highways & city centers, you should use taller poles (around 9 to 12 meters). While in dimmer areas like small streets or parks, you can install 4 to 6-meter-tall poles.

• Pole Spacing and Layout

If we talk about the gap between street light poles, it can also change the height requirements. On narrow roads where lights are close together, you may use short poles. On wide roads, you have to use higher light towers with more space between them.

• Traffic Volume & Road Speed

You will see that when roads are busy and cars move fast, then street lights generally need to be installed at a higher height because this helps you to spread light across more lanes. On slower and quieter roads, you can use shorter lights. It will be enough because there is less traffic and you don’t need much brightness.

• Local Standard/Law

Further, street light height also depends on your local rules & laws. Basically, different cities and countries have their own guidelines for how tall the lights must be. Plus, rules also tell you where to place them and how far apart they are placed.

What is the Best Height For Street Lights?

The exact answer will vary because it depends on where you plan to install the street light. However, we can give you a general height range, it is generally between 4 to 12 meters. For example, you can use 13 to 20 feet poles for small streets and 30-40 feet for your busy roads.

We advise you to also keep in mind your local street lighting standards and road type. The reason is these factors will help you decide the right height for safe and effective street lights.

What is the Height of Parking Street Lights

You will find parking lots with shorter street lights than highway lights. The reason is, you only need to light a small area. The standard height you need for such locations is between 4 to 11 meters.

This height helps you to provide enough light for drivers, so that they can see the street clearly. You should always keep in mind that exact height may also depend on how large your parking area is and how many poles are used.

Do LED Street Lights Need Different Heights?

Yes, you may need different pole heights for LED street lights as compared to older lights. That is because LEDs are brighter and more focused lights. Hence, you will see that they can light up the road well (even from a lower height). So, you should install them on poles between 10 and 30 feet high.

In many cases, you can place LEDs on shorter poles, but still you will get enough visibility on the street. But, on wide or busy roads, you have to fix taller poles to spread the light evenly.

Is Solar Street Light Height Different?

Absolutely yes. Solar lights can be a bit shorter than normal street lights. That is because the solar panel on top needs to absorb good sunlight and also spread light properly.

The general standard height for solar street lights is approx. 10 to 20 feet. However, you should also consider the size of solar panels and battery box as well. Both are basically mounted on the pole of lights. Sometimes, you need poles that are stronger & taller to hold this extra equipment.

To Conclude

Finally, now you have clear knowledge of how street light height changes based on your road type, location and lighting needs. If you use the right pole height, as a result it provides you with safety and good visibility at night.

If you are looking for a trusted street light pole supplier & need custom lighting solutions, JACKWIN is your top choice. Contact us today! We offer you reliable road safety products according to your project requirements.