What Are the Lighting Requirements for Soccer Fields?

Bad lighting can ruin the experience of playing or watching a soccer match. Poor visibility causes missed goals, accidents, and unhappy players and fans. The good news? Great lighting design transforms a field into a professional sports venue.

Lighting for soccer fields must meet specific standards for brightness, uniformity, and color quality. It involves choosing the right LED fixtures, mounting them at the correct height, and arranging them to avoid shadows and glare. This ensures safe play and great visibility for players, referees, and spectators.

Stick with me to learn everything you need about soccer field lighting and how to get it right.

What Are Soccer Field Lights?

Soccer field lights are powerful outdoor lighting systems specifically designed to light up soccer fields for evening or night games. Their main job is to provide bright, uniform illumination across the entire field, ensuring players can see the ball clearly, referees can make accurate calls, and fans can enjoy the match without missing any action.

Modern soccer field lighting uses advanced LED floodlights instead of old metal halide or halogen systems. LEDs offer much higher energy efficiency, saving up to 70% on electricity costs. They also provide better color rendering, instant on-off control, and longer lifespan compared to traditional lights.

A good soccer field lighting system is carefully planned to avoid glare, dark spots, or shadows. Lights are typically mounted on high poles around the field, aiming downward at specific angles to maximize coverage while minimizing light spill outside the field. Whether it’s a community park, a school stadium, or a professional arena, well-designed soccer field lights are essential for safe and exciting gameplay at night.

What Kind of LED Lights Are Used on Soccer Fields?

Soccer fields usually rely on high-power LED floodlights to meet the demanding visibility standards needed for safe play. These fixtures typically range from 500 watts to 1500 watts, depending on the field size, competition level, and required brightness.

A quality soccer field light should deliver very high lumen output—often over 100,000 lumens per fixture—to ensure the entire field is evenly and brightly lit. Look for lights with IP66 or higher waterproof ratings, which protect against rain, dust, and tough outdoor conditions. Good thermal management is also critical, as it prevents overheating and extends the lifespan of the lights.

Another important feature is glare control. Special lenses or visors are used to reduce direct glare for players, referees, and spectators, improving comfort and safety. Compared to old metal halide lamps, LED soccer field lights offer better energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, instant full brightness, and a longer service life—making them the top choice for modern soccer facilities.

What Are the Lighting Requirements for a Soccer Field and Football Stadium?

Illuminance

The required brightness, measured in lux, changes based on the type of use:
– Training Fields: 75–200 lux
– Amateur Matches: 200–500 lux
– Professional Matches: 500–1000 lux or more
– Televised Events: Over 1400 lux

Proper illuminance ensures players, referees, and fans have a clear view of the action at all times.

Uniformity

Uniform lighting across the entire field is critical. A uniformity ratio (minimum to average lux) of at least 0.6 is recommended for professional fields. This prevents dark spots and overly bright patches, allowing consistent ball visibility and safer gameplay.

Color Temperature and Color Rendering Index (CRI)

The recommended color temperature ranges between 4000K and 5700K. A cooler white (around 5000K) provides a clean, sharp appearance, making it ideal for sports environments. The CRI should be above 70 for training fields and above 80 for professional fields to ensure accurate color distinction for both players and spectators.

Pole Numbers and Height

The number of light poles and their height depend on field dimensions:
– Standard Soccer Field (100m x 64m): Typically uses four, six, or eight poles.
– Pole Height: Generally between 12 and 30 meters.

Taller poles allow broader light distribution, minimize glare, and reduce the number of fixtures needed, creating a safer and more visually comfortable field.

How Many Lights and Poles on a Soccer Field?

The number of poles and lights needed for a soccer field depends on the size of the field, the required brightness (lux level), and how evenly the light needs to be distributed.

• Four Poles: One at each side of the field, typically with two to four LED floodlights per pole. Suitable for smaller or training fields.
• Six Poles: Three poles along each sideline, improving light uniformity and reducing shadows. Each pole can carry multiple lights, depending on the field’s lighting needs.
• Eight Poles: Two poles at each corner for maximum coverage. This setup is often used for professional fields or stadiums to achieve high lux levels and excellent uniformity.

Each pole usually supports two to four LED floodlights, but for larger fields or higher lux requirements, more powerful fixtures or additional lights per pole may be needed.

Grade 1 – FIFA World Cup Training Pitch Design Examples

How Many Lumens for a Soccer Field?

You will need massive lumen outputs for soccer fields:

• Training Field: About 100,000–200,000 total lumens.
• Amateur Matches: Around 200,000–400,000 lumens.
• Professional Matches: 500,000–1,000,000+ lumens.

Lumen calculations depend on fixture placement, beam angles, and field dimensions.

What Is the Height of the Lights on a Soccer Field?

The height of lighting poles for a soccer field usually ranges between 12 meters (40 feet) and 30 meters (100 feet). Taller poles offer several key advantages:

• Improved Uniformity: Higher poles allow light to spread more evenly across the field, reducing dark spots and shadows.
• Reduced Glare: Lights positioned higher are less likely to shine directly into players’ or spectators’ eyes.
• Better Coverage: Taller poles can cover larger areas with fewer fixtures, making the setup more efficient.

The choice of pole height depends on the size of the field, the level of play, and specific lighting design goals.

FAQs About Soccer Field Lighting

How Much to Light a Soccer Field?

Lighting a soccer field can cost anywhere from $30,000 to over $250,000. Factors include field size, number of poles, LED fixture types, installation labor, and whether the lighting meets broadcasting standards.

How Long Do LED Stadium Lights Last?

High-quality LED stadium lights usually last between 50,000 to 100,000 hours. With good thermal management and proper maintenance, they can serve for 10–20 years before needing replacement.

How Much Does a Backyard Soccer Field Cost?

A backyard soccer field can cost $10,000 to $100,000 based on size, turf, fencing, and of course, lighting. Good lighting alone could add $5,000 to $20,000 to your budget depending on the setup.

What Kind of Lights Are on a Football Field?

Football fields, like soccer fields, use high-intensity LED floodlights. These lights are built for high mounting, high lumen output, excellent uniformity, and minimal glare. Many stadiums now switch to LED to save on energy and maintenance costs while improving performance.

Conclusion

Great soccer field lighting isn’t just about making the field bright—it’s about safety, performance, and unforgettable experiences. Whether it’s a small practice field or a stadium ready for prime time, getting the right lighting setup matters. If you need expert help designing or choosing the best soccer field lights, feel free to reach out to us at Logos Lighting. We’re here to help you shine!