How far apart should downlights be in eaves?

When installing downlights in the eaves (or soffits) of your home, spacing is essential to achieve even, effective lighting. The distance between the lights will depend on several factors, such as the brightness of the lights, the size of the area you want to illuminate, and the overall aesthetic you want to create. Below are guidelines to help you decide how far apart to place downlights in your eaves.

1. General Spacing Rule for Downlights

A common rule of thumb for spacing downlights is 1.5 to 2 times the distance of the light's beam spread from the wall or center of the area being illuminated. For example:

• For LED downlights with a 40-degree beam angle, you would generally space them 1.5 to 2 times the beam angle apart.
• For wider beams (e.g., 60–80 degrees), you can space the lights further apart.

Example:

If your downlights have a 40-degree beam angle:

• Spacing: The distance between lights should be about 1.5 to 2 meters (or around 5 to 6.5 feet) for even coverage.

2. Spacing Based on Light Wattage and Beam Angle

• Lower Wattage or Narrow Beam (30-40°): These lights are typically more concentrated in their beam, meaning you’ll need to space them closer together, usually around 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to 6.5 feet).
• Higher Wattage or Wider Beam (60-90°): These lights cover a larger area, so you can space them 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet) apart.

3. Spacing for Aesthetic and Functional Lighting

If you want to use the downlights for accent lighting (e.g., highlighting architectural features or landscaping), you may want to space the lights closer together to create a more uniform wash of light. For general ambient lighting, slightly greater spacing may be suitable to provide softer illumination over a larger area.

4. Considerations for Soffit or Eave Size

• Smaller Soffits: If your eaves or soffit areas are narrow (e.g., less than 1 meter or 3 feet wide), space the lights closer together to ensure even coverage.
• Larger Soffits: For larger eaves (e.g., 2 meters or more wide), you can space the lights further apart.

5. How High Are the Eaves?

If your soffit or eave is positioned very high above the ground, you might need to space the downlights further apart, as the light will need to cover a wider area. However, if the lights are closer to the ground (e.g., a lower eave), closer spacing may be necessary.

6. How Many Lights Are Needed?

The total number of lights you need will also affect how far apart you place each light. Here's a quick guide:

• Small area (e.g., 2 to 3 meters wide): Use 2–3 lights, spacing them 1.5–2 meters apart.
• Larger area (e.g., 4 to 5 meters wide): Use 3–5 lights, spacing them 2 meters apart.

7. Specific Lighting Styles

• Accent Lighting: If you want to highlight a specific feature (like an architectural detail or a sculpture), place the lights closer together to create focused light on that area.
• General Ambient Lighting: For broader coverage with softer illumination, spacing the lights further apart will create a more diffused effect.

Summary of Spacing Guidelines:

• 1.5 to 2 meters apart for 40-degree beam angle downlights.
• 2 to 3 meters apart for wider beam angle lights.
• Smaller soffits: Space closer (about 1.5 meters apart).
• Larger soffits: Space further apart (2 to 3 meters apart).
• Consider the overall brightness and purpose (ambient vs. accent lighting) when spacing.

By using these spacing guidelines, you can ensure your downlights provide the perfect level of illumination, whether you're aiming for accent lighting, task lighting, or general ambient lighting in your eaves!