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What are the key differences between commercial-grade and residential lighting?

While commercial and residential lighting might look similar, they’re very different in their purpose, design, and manufacturing. Although brightness, intensity, maintenance, and warranties are all important factors to consider, when looking for a particular fixture other needs should be addressed like cost and quality. So, whether you’re retrofitting your home or business, continue reading to determine which type of lighting grade is needed to bring your vision to life

Commercial-grade lighting versus residential-grade lighting 

From a manufacturer’s point of view, there are a few differences in the grades of various lighting fixtures. 

Commercial-grade lighting:

  • Commercial-grade lighting fixtures are engineered for longer lifespans and continuous run-times.
  • Commercial-grade lighting fixtures feature tough finishes, thicker bodies, and can withstand greater wear and tear. 
  • Commercial-grade lighting uses higher bin-rated LEDs, which can equate to higher quality and cost. 
  • Commercial-grade lighting generally possesses better warranties.
  • Designed for more demanding applications with improved drivers, heat sinks, LED chips, and lenses.

Residential-grade lighting: 

  • Residential-grade lighting fixtures are often more affordable.
  • They are built using cost-effective components because they don’t require endless runtimes. 
  • Residential-grade lighting fixtures possess shorter and more comprehensive warranties because they are easy and affordable to replace. 

As a result of the above information, commercial-grade lighting and residential-grade lighting differ most often based on purpose, durability, cost, and design. 

In terms of purpose, if the focus is complimenting a home’s aesthetics, residential lighting is typically used as ambient light, making the home feel comfortable and functional while creating an environment that is alluring and safe. On the other hand, commercial lighting is much more varied and is great for illuminating workspaces to improve the health and well-being of the workers with fixtures that have luminous intensity. 

When considering durability on commercial vs. residential installations, there are many features to compare. For example, the lifespan of the fixture, how they stand up to weather conditions, temperature, dirt, and water, their resistance to external shocks, and the maintenance that’s required. The best thing you can do is research to ensure that you purchase quality products from a brand that stands behind its lights! 

Cost is another big difference between commercial-grade and residential-grade lighting. Like we mentioned above, commercial lights usually cost more to manufacture, so it’s important to know what type of features you’re looking for (spec, energy efficiency, longer lifespans, etc.) before you can determine which type of lighting will best work for your space. 

The last element to consider is design lighting, whether it’s for decoration, area distribution, or signage. In commercial spaces, lighting is focused on increasing efficiency while improving safety and wellness for employees. On the other hand, residential lighting is a bit more relaxed, focused on lighting trends, and creates an ambient environment, especially in entertainment spaces. With this in mind, it’s best to focus on the functionality of your lighting operation and then decide which grade of illumination will best accommodate this. 

Do you have any more questions about commercial-grade vs. residential-grade lighting? Drop them in the comments section below.