Beacon Lighting Supply | Lighting the Way

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What Is a Wall Pack Light? A Complete Guide to Commercial Wall Pack Lighting

When it comes to commercial exterior lighting, few fixtures are as versatile and widely used as wall pack lights. You’ll find them mounted on warehouses, office buildings, apartment complexes, schools, retail stores, loading docks, and other commercial and industrial properties.

Wall packs provide dependable exterior illumination while helping improve visibility, safety, and security around a building. Modern LED wall pack lights can also offer significant advantages over older HID fixtures, including lower energy consumption, longer service life and reduced maintenance.

But with traditional wall packs, full-cutoff fixtures, adjustable models, photocell options and different lumen outputs available, how do you know which wall pack is right for your project?

In this guide, we'll explain what wall pack lights are, where they're used, and what to consider when choosing commercial LED wall pack lighting.

What Is a Wall Pack Light?

A wall pack light is an exterior lighting fixture designed to mount directly to the wall of a building. These fixtures generally project light outward and/or downward to illuminate the area surrounding the structure.

Wall packs are commonly installed around:

• Commercial buildings

• Warehouses

• Industrial facilities

• Apartment and condominium buildings

• Schools and universities

• Retail stores

• Office buildings

• Loading docks

• Walkways

• Building entrances

• Parking areas

• Alleys

Because wall packs are installed outdoors, commercial models are typically designed to withstand exposure to weather and environmental conditions.

You can browse Beacon Lighting Supply's selection of commercial wall pack lights for options designed for a variety of exterior applications.

Why Are Wall Pack Lights Used?

The primary purpose of wall pack lighting is to provide illumination around the perimeter of a building.

However, a properly designed exterior lighting system can accomplish several things at once.

Improve Visibility

Wall packs illuminate areas that might otherwise become extremely dark after sunset, including entrances, sidewalks, loading areas and building perimeters.

Better visibility can make it easier for employees, customers, tenants and visitors to navigate the property.

Support Property Security

Exterior lighting can reduce dark areas around doors, alleys and other portions of a property.

While lighting alone isn't a complete security solution, strategically placed wall packs can improve nighttime visibility around a building and complement cameras and other security measures.

Improve Safety

Adequate illumination can help people identify stairs, curbs, obstacles, changes in elevation and other potential hazards.

This makes exterior lighting particularly important around frequently traveled pedestrian areas.

Illuminate Work Areas

Warehouses and industrial buildings often have exterior loading docks, receiving areas and service entrances where employees may work after dark.

Higher-output commercial wall packs can provide useful illumination for these applications.

LED Wall Packs vs. Traditional HID Wall Packs

Many older commercial properties use wall packs containing metal halide or high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps.

These technologies were once common for exterior commercial lighting because they could produce substantial light output. However, LED technology has changed the way wall packs are designed.

Modern LED wall pack fixtures can offer several advantages.

Lower Energy Consumption

LED fixtures can produce substantial lumen output while consuming less power than many older lighting technologies.

For properties operating exterior lighting for many hours every night, reducing wattage across dozens of fixtures can contribute to meaningful energy savings.

Longer Service Life

LED fixtures generally require less frequent lamp replacement than traditional HID systems.

That can be especially valuable for commercial properties where exterior fixtures are mounted high on walls and may require lifts or specialized equipment to access.

Better Lighting Control

LED wall packs are available with features such as:

• Photocells

• 0-10V dimming

• Selectable wattage

• Selectable color temperature

• Motion sensing

• Adjustable light distribution

These options allow building owners and facility managers to better tailor exterior lighting to the property.

More Consistent Light

Older HID lamps can experience color shift and lumen depreciation as they age. LEDs can provide more consistent color and performance throughout their service life.

Types of Commercial Wall Pack Lights

Not every wall pack distributes light the same way. Understanding the major fixture styles can help you choose the right product for your application.

Traditional Wall Packs

Traditional wall packs typically have the familiar box-shaped appearance seen on warehouses and commercial buildings.

They provide broad illumination and are often used for:

• Building perimeters

• Warehouses

• Loading docks

• Parking areas

• Industrial facilities

Traditional wall packs can be a practical option when substantial exterior illumination is needed.

For example, Beacon carries the EiKO TWP1 Traditional Wall Pack, which offers selectable wattage and color temperature options for commercial applications.

Full-Cutoff Wall Packs

A full-cutoff wall pack directs light primarily downward rather than allowing significant light to travel upward.

This controlled distribution can help reduce unnecessary light spill and sky glow.

Full-cutoff fixtures can be especially useful around:

• Office buildings

• Apartment complexes

• Schools

• Retail properties

• Walkways

• Building entrances

They are also useful for properties where controlling glare and light trespass is an important part of the lighting design.

Beacon carries options such as the EiKO WFC1 Full Cutoff Wall Pack, which includes selectable wattage and color temperature along with photocell capability and 0-10V dimming.

Adjustable Wall Packs

Adjustable wall packs allow the fixture or light distribution to be positioned according to the needs of the property.

This can be useful when illumination needs to be directed toward a specific walkway, doorway or area around a building.

For greater flexibility, the Halco Adjustable Wallpack offers selectable 30W, 40W, or 50W operation and selectable 3000K, 4000K, or 5000K color temperature.

Mini Wall Packs and Entryway Fixtures

Not every application requires a large, high-output fixture.

Compact wall packs can work well around:

• Doorways

• Walkways

• Smaller commercial buildings

• Apartment entrances

• Utility areas

• Pathways

For example, the Westgate LED Decorative Mini Wall Pack is designed for applications including doorways, pathways, alleys and general site lighting.

How to Choose an LED Wall Pack

Selecting the right fixture involves more than choosing the highest wattage available. Several specifications should be considered.

1. Look at Lumens, Not Just Watts

Wattage measures energy consumption. Lumens measure light output.

When comparing LED fixtures, lumen output is therefore one of the most important specifications.

A smaller entrance may need considerably less light than a large loading dock or warehouse perimeter.

Rather than simply replacing an old fixture with an LED of similar wattage, evaluate the lumen output and light distribution required for the space.

2. Consider Mounting Height and Fixture Spacing

Mounting height affects how light reaches the ground and how large an area each fixture can illuminate.

Fixtures mounted higher may require greater lumen output or different optics than fixtures installed near pedestrian areas.

Spacing matters as well. Wall packs placed too far apart can create alternating bright and dark areas.

For larger commercial projects, photometric planning can help determine fixture quantity, placement, and expected illumination before installation.

3. Choose the Right Color Temperature

Commercial LED wall packs commonly offer color temperatures such as:

3000K: Warmer appearance that may work well around hospitality, residential-style, and architectural environments.

4000K: Neutral white light commonly used for commercial applications.

5000K: Cooler white light often selected for industrial, security, and high-visibility applications.

Many modern fixtures are CCT selectable, allowing the installer to choose between multiple color temperatures during installation.

4. Consider Wattage-Selectable Fixtures

One increasingly useful feature in commercial lighting is selectable wattage.

Instead of stocking separate fixtures for several output levels, one fixture can be configured for different wattages.

For contractors, facility managers, and property managers, this can simplify inventory while providing additional flexibility in the field.

Beacon's wall pack selection includes numerous field-selectable fixtures, including Halco models with multiple wattage and CCT settings.

5. Check the Voltage

Always confirm that the fixture's input voltage is compatible with the building's electrical system.

Commercial fixtures commonly support ranges such as 120-277V, while some products are designed for higher-voltage commercial and industrial systems.

Using the correct voltage is essential for proper fixture performance and safety.

6. Look for Wet-Location Ratings

Because wall packs are exposed to outdoor conditions, verify that the fixture is rated appropriately for its installation environment.

Many commercial wall packs are listed for wet locations, and some also provide an IP rating such as IP65.

For example, Beacon's Westgate 120W LED Non-Cutoff Wall Pack is wet-location rated and designed for applications including alleys, loading docks, doorways, pathways, and parking areas.

7. Consider a Photocell

A photocell allows exterior lighting to respond automatically to ambient light levels, typically turning fixtures on at dusk and off after daylight returns.

For properties where exterior lights need to operate every night, photocell-controlled wall packs can eliminate the need for manual switching and help prevent fixtures from unnecessarily operating during daylight hours.

Some commercial wall packs include integrated or selectable photocell functionality, while other installations may use separate lighting controls.

Traditional vs. Full-Cutoff Wall Packs: Which Should You Choose?

The right choice depends largely on where the light needs to go.

A traditional or non-cutoff wall pack may be appropriate when broad exterior illumination is the primary goal.

A full-cutoff wall pack may be preferable when controlling glare, upward light, and spill beyond the property is particularly important.

Before choosing, consider nearby roads, windows, neighboring properties, and pedestrian areas.

More light isn't necessarily better. The goal of good commercial exterior lighting is to put the appropriate amount of light where it is actually needed.

Common Wall Pack Applications

Commercial LED wall packs are remarkably versatile.

Warehouses and Industrial Facilities

Wall packs can illuminate building perimeters, loading docks, employee entrances, and outdoor work areas.

Retail Buildings

Exterior wall lighting can improve nighttime visibility around entrances, sidewalks, delivery areas, and portions of adjacent parking areas.

Apartment and Multifamily Properties

Wall packs are commonly used around building entrances, walkways, maintenance areas and parking areas.

Full-cutoff fixtures may be especially useful when controlling light near residential windows.

Schools and Municipal Buildings

Wall-mounted exterior fixtures can provide illumination around entrances, walkways, service areas and building perimeters.

Loading Docks

Loading areas may require higher-output fixtures to provide sufficient visibility for employees, vehicles and deliveries.

When Should You Replace Existing Wall Packs?

A commercial lighting upgrade may be worth considering when existing fixtures:

• Require frequent lamp or ballast replacement

• Have inconsistent color

• Produce insufficient illumination

• Consume excessive energy

• Create excessive glare or unwanted light spill

• Lack modern lighting controls

• Have become damaged or unreliable

Replacing older HID wall packs with appropriately selected LED fixtures can reduce maintenance requirements while giving property owners greater control over light output, color temperature and operation.

Shop Commercial LED Wall Pack Lights

The best wall pack isn't necessarily the fixture with the highest wattage or lumen output. It's the fixture that provides the right distribution, output, color temperature, controls, and electrical compatibility for the application.

At Beacon Lighting Supply, we offer commercial lighting solutions for contractors, property managers, building owners, and facility professionals.

Our commercial wall pack lighting selection includes traditional, full-cutoff, adjustable, entryway, and other wall-mounted exterior fixtures from leading lighting manufacturers.

Whether you're replacing existing HID wall packs, upgrading an entire commercial property to LED, or sourcing fixtures for a new project, Beacon Lighting Supply can help you find the right lighting solution.

Need wall packs for a larger commercial project? Contact Beacon Lighting Supply for product assistance and volume pricing.