Indoor vs Outdoor Court Lighting Design
Indoor courts use high-bay fixtures built for mounting height, impact resistance, and controlled reflections off walls and ceilings. Outdoor courts use weatherproof, full-cutoff pole-mounted fixtures focused on glare and spill control. Indoor emphasizes uniformity and flicker-free quality; outdoor emphasizes durability and neighbor-friendly light containment.
This comparison covers the design differences.
At a glance
| Indoor | Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixtures | High-bay, impact-rated | Pole-mount, IP65+, full-cutoff |
| Key challenge | Reflections off walls/ceilings | Glare and spill toward neighbors |
| Emphasis | Uniformity, flicker-free | Durability, light containment |
How to choose
Choose indoor design for an enclosed gym — high-bay fixtures handle the mounting height, resist ball strikes (impact-rated), control reflections off walls, ceilings, and glossy floors, and run flicker-free for filmed play. Choose outdoor design for an exposed court — weatherproof (IP65+), full-cutoff pole-mounted fixtures that contain glare and spill toward neighbors and survive the elements. The two share footcandle targets by sport but diverge sharply on durability and the dominant control problem (reflections indoors, spill outdoors).
Frequently asked questions
How does indoor court lighting differ from outdoor?
Indoor uses impact-rated high bays controlling reflections; outdoor uses weatherproof full-cutoff poles controlling glare and spill. Indoor emphasizes uniformity/flicker-free; outdoor emphasizes durability/containment.
What fixtures do indoor courts use?
Impact-rated high bays that control reflections and run flicker-free for filmed play.
What fixtures do outdoor courts use?
Weatherproof (IP65+) full-cutoff pole-mounted fixtures focused on glare and spill control.
How do I choose the right design?
Indoor design for an enclosed gym, outdoor design for an exposed court needing weather and spill control.
Do indoor and outdoor share footcandle targets?
Largely by sport, but the control challenges (reflections vs spill) and durability requirements differ.
Request the right design for your court. Get it at duvonlighting.com/free-quote.