{"id":7997,"date":"2022-07-08T19:46:47","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T19:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perfectoutdoorspaces.com\/?p=7997"},"modified":"2023-06-10T03:12:14","modified_gmt":"2023-06-10T03:12:14","slug":"how-far-from-door-should-porch-light-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/how-far-from-door-should-porch-light-be\/","title":{"rendered":"How Far From Door Should a Porch Light Be?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Designing a porch can get quite tricky, especially if you\u2019re not sure how it should ideally turn out. Lighting is crucial for a porch considering it\u2019s where people usually pass through when entering your house. The question now is how far from the door should porch light be for it to be well lit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your porch light should be around 3 to 5 feet from your door. The distance will depend on factors such as the intensity of the light, the type of lighting used, and the design of your porch in general. Before anything else, we want to ensure that the lighting levels on your porch are sufficient.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other factors that also determine the distance for the porch light would be the height of the ceiling and the types of finishes of your porch. Ideally, we want a light that illuminates just enough so that your entire porch is lit up but not too bright.<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/a>How Far from door should porch light be?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lighting design boils down to two main factors, which are the purpose of the lighting and the amount of light you need. For porch lights, it\u2019s best to with omnidirectional accent lighting (which goes in all directions<\/strong>) so that the immediate area of your door is well lit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s essential to look at the relationship between light and distance. The inverse square law dictates that as light travels, its intensity is reduced based on the distance traveled. With that said, the inverse square law’s practical application in lighting design<\/strong> can help you calculate a specific lighting level at a particular spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor example, if you want a well-lit approach to your porch, you must obtain a 50 lux level at a distance of around 5-6 feet from your door. This entails that you\u2019ll need a strong enough light that\u2019s capable of emitting this lux level to this distance from it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>How much light does a porch need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The recommended lux levels for a porch are anywhere between 75 to 150 lux. This lux requirement entails a lot of leeway in lighting design since the standard for this area in our homes is relatively low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For context, recommended lux levels for rooms are based on the needed amount of light to execute activities properly within it. A higher lux level, 500 lux and up, is usually for rooms for intricate work (Ex. cooking, office work, drawing, etc.),<\/strong> while lower lux levels are in areas that with activities don\u2019t need that much attention( Ex. hallways, stairs, porches)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re curious about the lux levels currently in your home, there are phone apps that allow you to measure light. You can opt to do this so that you have a reference point to work with regarding the intensity<\/strong> of lighting you want for your porch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have a selection of articles on Porch lights, brightness location, color and more. We have highlighted some below but you can seach if you need more. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/a>How to maximize light on a porch?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aside from just the lighting, we also have to consider the other factors that affect it. Knowing how to make a light appear stronger gives us more leeway in where to place it and makes the lighting much more efficient for our purposes<\/strong>. Here are the factors that affect how light interacts with a space:<\/p>\n\n\n\n