What Is the Difference Between a Spotlight and a Floodlight?

Knowing the difference between spotlights and floodlights is crucial when evaluating which lights you need for your particular project. To the uninitiated, there may seem to be little difference between them, but in reality, these two different types of lights serve very different functions. That's why it's so important to understand the subtle differences that differentiate them from each other.

The main difference between spotlights and floodlights is the beam angle. Let us explain.

The beam angle (sometimes called the beam pattern) is a measure of the angle formed between the brightest point of the light and the points on either side, and the intensity of the light is measured as bright at 50%.

Larger beam angles translate into a broader spectrum of light passing through the surface area, while smaller beam angles represent narrower beams. Those narrower beams are often called spot beams, while those with wider angles are considered flood beams (hence the name).

Spotlights are usually defined as lights with a beam angle of 45 degrees or less, while flood lights are usually classified by beam angles of 90 degrees and above.

With spotlights, users can virtually "point and shoot" a beam of light at specific objects to better illuminate them. Due to the narrower beam, the illumination is more focused than floodlights. Floodlights, on the other hand, can cast light into a larger space without having to use more power or wattage than spotlights.

Which type of light you choose to use depends largely on your needs.

Spotlights are flexible and bright enough to illuminate specific objects. That's why they are the lights of choice for musical and theatrical performances. They're especially good at following performers across the stage to give the audience a better view. However, they are equally suitable for lighting static objects such as artwork or sculpture.

Floodlights are the first choice when it comes to lighting large areas, such as the exterior of your home, large warehouses, construction projects, or parking lots. Perhaps the most obvious use of floodlights is in stadiums across the country. By installing hundreds of floodlights on the pillars above the playing field, players and spectators alike can enjoy an uninterrupted view thanks to 100% lighting of the playing field.

In short, no. The beam angle depends largely on the bulb. Some bulbs may look the same but emit completely different beam angles, while other lights are capable of providing different spotlight and floodlight settings while using the same bulb. This is especially true when it comes to products using LED lighting technology.

The above briefly introduces the difference between spotlights and floodlights. If you want to buy spotlights or floodlights, please contact us.

TFB Lighting is a professional custom landscape light manufacturer. The company integrates design, development, production, and sales, and has strong technical force, advanced technical equipment, scientific management, and perfect concept. TFB Lighting has always insisted that quality is life for many years, strictly implemented the ISO9001-2000 quality management system certification standard, and instilled in every employee the concept that lighting is art, there is only better, not the best. To ensure quality, almost critical and demanding improvements and refinements have been made to each product. Customer satisfaction is our only standard, and we put quality and service first.