LED Laundry Room Lighting

Bright, even LED laundry room lighting makes it easy to spot a stain before it sets, match socks and read care labels without squinting. Too many laundry rooms still run on a single bare bulb or a buzzing fluorescent fixture. LED flush mounts, panels, recessed lights and T8 tubes give bright light with little heat, and some switch on by themselves when you walk in with a full basket. This page is for homeowners with a basement or main-floor laundry room, and for landlords, condo managers and contractors who light shared laundry rooms and commercial laundries.

Below: the fixtures that work best, the specs that matter in a humid room, layout tips and answers to common questions.

The best light fixtures for a laundry room

Flush mount ceiling lights, some with a motion sensor

Flush mount ceiling lights suit low basement ceilings and small rooms. The ORTECH 5 in flush mount with built-in motion sensor (10 W, 600 lumens, 5CCT, 120 V TRIAC dimming) turns on as you enter, handy when both hands hold a basket. Its 9 in sibling gives 1500 lumens at 18 W, and the ORTECH 12 in frameless flush mount (25 W, 2000 lumens, 3CCT selectable) lights a larger room from a single box. In a laundry room that doubles as a mudroom, LUMIFARO GU10 ceiling lights (1 to 4 lights) add some style.

LED panels for basement laundry rooms

Many basement laundry rooms have a suspended ceiling, where an LED panel replaces a ceiling tile and lights the whole room evenly. A 2x2 LED panel fits a small room: the Light Efficient Design 2X2 flat panel (40 W, 4000 K, 120-277 V) is a clean, neutral option. For bigger rooms, the CSC LED PLS standard panel lets you select 30, 40 or 50 W and 3500, 4000 or 5000 K. On a drywall ceiling, a surface mount frame, such as the TUROLIGHT RGD BLP frame in 1x4, 2x2 or 2x4, holds the panel flat against the ceiling.

Recessed and linear lights for finished rooms

In a finished laundry room, recessed lights keep the ceiling clean. Linear recessed lights such as the CANOLIGHT linear blade light with 10 heads (20 W, 1650 lm, CRI 90+, 4000 K, damp location) line up over a counter or above the washer and dryer, and the 5-head model (10 W, 600 lm) suits a narrow laundry closet. The CANOLIGHT 3.5 in modular downlight (12 W, 1000 lm, CRI 90+, 5CCT from 2700 K to 5000 K) is a versatile round option. The recessed lighting calculator helps you count and space them.

LED T8 tubes for older fluorescent fixtures

If your laundry room still has fluorescent fixtures, LED T8 tubes are the quickest upgrade. Ballast bypass tubes such as the TUROLIGHT VIVID T8 Bypass VII (15 W, 2200 lm, 4000 K or 5000 K, DLC) take the ballast out of the circuit. Hybrid tubes such as the TUROLIGHT HD T8 Hybrid Shatterproof IV (13 W, 2200 lm, 5CCT, 120-347 V) can also run on a compatible ballast. Shatterproof models are a smart choice near a utility sink.

Laundry room lighting specs to compare

• Colour temperature: 4000 K to 5000 K is crisp and neutral, the best choice for spotting stains and sorting colours. Choose 3000 K if the laundry room opens onto a living space. 3CCT and 5CCT fixtures let you decide on site.
• Colour rendering: CRI 90+, as on the CANOLIGHT blade and modular downlights, shows true colours. The TUROLIGHT VIVID T8 Bypass Shatterprotect tube reaches CRI 95 (18.5 W, 2100 lm, 5700 K).
• Humidity: washers, dryers and sinks add moisture. Choose damp location fixtures near the sink and the dryer.
• Dimming and controls: TRIAC dimming on the ORTECH flush mounts, 0-10V on commercial panels and built-in motion sensors for hands-free use.
• Certification: look for cUL or CSA, plus DLC or Energy Star on commercial products.

How to lay out laundry room lighting

Light the work zones. The folding counter, the sink and the front of the washer and dryer need the most light. A central fixture alone casts your shadow on the counter, so add a second fixture, a linear recessed light or under cabinet lighting above the folding surface.

Size the light to the room. A laundry room needs more light than a hallway. The guide How many lumens per room explains how to estimate total lumens from the floor area.

Mind the ceiling. Low basement ceilings call for slim flush mounts or panels rather than hanging fixtures. Keep fixtures clear of shelves and cabinet doors so nothing blocks the light.

Residential and commercial laundry rooms

At home, laundry rooms are often in the basement, next to a mudroom or tucked into a closet. The same products work in each, and they pair well with your basement lighting.

In apartment buildings, condos, hotels and laundromats, the priorities are uniform light, durability and low maintenance. Troffers and panels at 120-277 V or 120-347 V, such as the CSC LED VOL volumetric troffer (20, 35 or 40 W, 3CCT, DLC) or the Light Efficient Design sensor-ready 2x2 volumetric troffer, cover large shared rooms. The commercial LED lighting guide for Quebec helps property managers and contractors plan these projects.

FAQ

What is the best lighting for a laundry room?

A bright, neutral ceiling light plus task lighting over the folding counter. A flush mount with a built-in motion sensor, a 2x2 LED panel in a suspended ceiling or a row of recessed lights all work well. Choose 4000 K to 5000 K and a high CRI.

What colour temperature is best for a laundry room?

4000 K (neutral white) or 5000 K (daylight) makes stains and colours easier to see. If you prefer a softer look, a 3CCT or 5CCT fixture lets you switch to 3000 K.

How many lumens does a laundry room need?

It depends on the floor area and the finishes. As a reference, the ORTECH 9 in flush mount gives 1500 lumens and the 12 in frameless model 2000 lumens. The lumens per room guide shows how to size your room.

Are LED lights safe in a humid laundry room?

Yes, with the right rating. Use fixtures rated for damp locations near the sink and the dryer, such as the CANOLIGHT linear blade lights, and have a licensed electrician handle the wiring.

Can I replace fluorescent tubes in my laundry room with LED?

Yes. Ballast bypass tubes need the fixture rewired so the tube runs on line voltage, while hybrid tubes can also work on a compatible ballast. Choose shatterproof tubes near water and follow the wiring label on the fixture.

Is a motion sensor worth it in a laundry room?

Yes. You usually walk in with your hands full, and a sensor switches the light on and off for you. The ORTECH 5 in and 9 in flush mounts have one built in.

Ready to brighten laundry day? Browse LED ceiling lights, LED panels and LED T8 tubes to find the right fit for your room.