The most common question we get from Australian homeowners planning a garage upgrade is a simple one: how many hexagon lights do I actually need for a double garage? The honest answer is that it depends on the size of your space, your ceiling height and how you use the room, but you can get very close with a quick calculation. This guide walks you through it step by step, gives you a plain sizing table, and shows you how to lay the lights out so the whole garage is evenly bright with no dark corners.
The quick answer
For a standard Australian double garage of roughly 6m x 6m (about 36 square metres) with a 2.4m to 2.7m ceiling, most people are well served by a medium to large hexagon grid system, or two matched grids run as a pair, one over each bay. In panel terms that usually lands somewhere between about 14 and 23 hexagon lights, depending on the exact grid you choose and how bright you want the space. Aim for even coverage across the ceiling rather than a single cluster in the centre, and you will get a clean, shadow free result.
How to work it out properly
Light output is measured in lumens, and the brightness you feel on the floor is measured in lux (lumens spread over a square metre). Working out your requirement is a three step process.
- Measure your floor area. Multiply width by depth in metres. A 6m x 6m double garage is 36 square metres. A slightly smaller 5.4m x 5.4m garage is about 29 square metres.
- Pick a target lux level. A general residential garage sits comfortably around 200 to 300 lux. If you use the space for car detailing, mechanical work or a home workshop, push toward 400 to 500 lux so fine detail and colour are easy to see.
- Multiply area by target lux to get total lumens. For 36 square metres at 300 lux you need roughly 10,800 lumens delivered to the floor. At a workshop grade 500 lux you are looking at around 18,000 lumens.
Once you know your total lumen target, you simply choose a hexagon system, or combination of grids, that adds up to that figure with a little headroom. Headroom matters because light output drops with height and dust over time, so it is sensible to size up rather than sit right on the minimum.
A worked example for a 6m x 6m garage
Say you have a standard 6m by 6m double garage and you want a comfortable everyday level of about 300 lux. Multiply the area by the target: 36 square metres times 300 lux gives roughly 10,800 lumens delivered to the floor. Because some light is lost with mounting height, ceiling colour and dust over time, add around 20 percent headroom, which brings you to about 13,000 lumens. If the system you like is rated at roughly 800 lumens per panel, then 13,000 divided by 800 is about sixteen panels. Prefer detailing or workshop brightness closer to 500 lux? Repeat the sum at 36 times 500, which is 18,000 lumens, plus headroom, and you land nearer a large grid or two matched grids.
Double garage hexagon sizing table
Use this as a starting point, then adjust up if your ceiling is high or your work is detail heavy.
| Garage size | Approx. area | Everyday use (approx. 250 to 300 lux) | Detailing or workshop (approx. 400 to 500 lux) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact double (5.4m x 5.4m) | ~29 m² | ~9,000 to 10,000 lumens, medium grid or paired minis | ~14,000 to 16,000 lumens, large grid or two grids |
| Standard double (6m x 6m) | ~36 m² | ~10,000 to 12,000 lumens, large grid | ~16,000 to 18,000 lumens, large grid plus extension or two grids |
| Oversized double (6m x 7m) | ~42 m² | ~12,000 to 14,000 lumens, large grid plus extension | ~18,000 to 21,000 lumens, two matched grids |
The panel count that delivers these figures varies between systems because different hexagon designs produce different lumens per panel. That is why we talk in lumens first and panels second. When you browse the Garage Lighting collection, each system lists its output so you can match it back to the target you calculated above.
Layout matters as much as the count
Getting the number right is only half the job. Two garages with the same total lumens can look completely different depending on how the lights are arranged. A double garage naturally splits into two bays, so the cleanest result comes from spreading your hexagons evenly across the ceiling so both parked cars and both work zones sit under light.
- Cover both bays. Whether you run one large connected grid or two matched grids, position the pattern so light reaches the front and back of each bay, not just the centre of the room.
- Mind the walls. Keep the outer edge of the layout reasonably close to the side walls so benches, shelving and the boot of the car are not left in shadow.
- Think about where you work. If you have a workbench along one wall, bias a little more light toward it, or add a small extension of panels above it.
- Use the ceiling shape. Hexagon grids are modular, so you can follow a square ceiling with a block layout or stretch the pattern to suit a longer garage.
Ceiling height changes the maths
The higher your ceiling, the more the light spreads before it reaches the floor, so lux at floor level drops. Most Australian double garages have a ceiling between 2.4m and 2.7m, which suits the figures above. If you have a raised or sloped ceiling nearer 3m, add roughly 15 to 20 percent more output to keep the same brightness on the floor. If your ceiling is on the lower side, you can often sit at the lower end of each range.
What the Australian lighting guidance suggests
The Australian and New Zealand interior lighting standard, the AS/NZS 1680 series, sets recommended light levels by the task rather than by the room, and it is a useful sanity check for a garage. General movement, parking and storage areas only need a modest level, often in the region of 40 to 80 lux. Routine bench work, assembly and general workshop tasks sit far higher, commonly around 300 to 400 lux. Fine, detailed or inspection work, such as close paint and finish checks, climbs to roughly 600 lux or more. A home double garage usually blends these uses, which is why the 200 to 500 lux range above works so well: it keeps the whole floor comfortable for parking and storage while giving the workbench zone enough light for detailed jobs.
Glare is the other half of a comfortable result. Light levels alone do not make a space pleasant to work in. A well diffused hexagon panel spreads its output softly, so even a bright grid stays easy on the eyes rather than dazzling. Spreading the panels evenly across the ceiling, rather than concentrating a few very bright points overhead, keeps glare low and shadows soft.
Colour temperature and brightness
For a double garage, a neutral to cool white in the 5000K to 6500K range is the popular choice. It renders colours cleanly, keeps the space feeling crisp and bright, and suits detailing and mechanical work where you need to see true colour and fine detail. Warmer tones look great in living spaces but tend to feel dull in a working garage.
If you want flexibility, a dimmable hexagon system lets you run full brightness while you work and dial it back for a relaxed hangout mood. HEXA's dimmable Classic models dim straight from your standard wall switch, so it is a plug and play setup with no extra hardware to buy.
Choosing the right hexagon system
Once you know your lumen target and rough layout, choosing hardware is straightforward. Browse the full hexagon LED lighting range and match a system, or a pair of grids, to the figure you calculated. A few pointers for a double garage:
- Buy for the space, not the minimum. It is easier and cheaper to size up slightly now than to add panels later.
- Match your grids. If you run two systems, keep them the same model and colour temperature so the ceiling looks uniform.
- Check mounting and connection. Confirm the grid connects and mounts in a way that suits your ceiling, and plan the switch and power point positions before you start.
- Read the specs. Compare listed lumens and colour temperature rather than panel count alone, since panels differ between systems.
If you want to go deeper on brightness, colour temperature and dimming before you buy, our buying guides break each topic down for Australian garages.
Frequently asked questions
How many hexagon lights for a 6x6 double garage?
For a standard 6m x 6m double garage used day to day, aim for around 10,000 to 12,000 lumens, which is typically a large hexagon grid. For detailing or workshop use, target 16,000 to 18,000 lumens, often a large grid with an extension or two matched grids. In panel terms that usually falls in the range of about 14 to 23 hexagons depending on the system.
How many lumens does a double garage need?
A double garage of about 36 square metres needs roughly 10,800 lumens for a comfortable 300 lux everyday level, and closer to 18,000 lumens if you want a bright 500 lux for detailing or mechanical work. Multiply your floor area in square metres by your target lux to get the total.
Should I use one big system or two grids?
Both work. One large connected grid gives a seamless look, while two matched grids, one per bay, make it easy to cover a wide double garage evenly. Choose whichever spreads light across both bays with no dark corners.
Are hexagon lights bright enough for a garage?
Yes. Modern hexagon LED systems are designed as primary garage lighting and comfortably deliver the lux levels needed for parking, storage, detailing and workshop tasks when sized correctly for the room.
Can I dim hexagon lights in a double garage?
Yes. HEXA's dimmable Classic models dim from your standard wall switch, so you can run bright while working and lower the level for a relaxed setting without any extra dimmer hardware.
Does ceiling height affect how many I need?
It does. Higher ceilings spread the light more before it reaches the floor, so a ceiling near 3m generally needs about 15 to 20 percent more output than a standard 2.4m to 2.7m garage to keep the same brightness underfoot.
What lux level does an Australian garage need?
A general residential garage used for parking and storage is comfortable at around 200 to 300 lux. If you detail cars, weld, or run a home workshop, aim for 400 to 500 lux so colour and fine detail are easy to see. These sit within the task based levels the AS/NZS 1680 lighting guidance recommends for movement areas through to detailed bench work.
How far apart should hexagon lights be spaced in a garage?
As a rule of thumb for even coverage, keep the spacing between panels or grids roughly equal to the mounting height, and no more than about one and a half times it. On a standard 2.4m to 2.7m garage ceiling that means spreading the layout across the whole ceiling rather than bunching it in the centre, and keeping the outer edge reasonably close to the side walls so benches and the boot of the car are not left in shadow.
Work out your area, pick your target lux, convert to lumens, then choose a system that meets it with a little headroom and spreads evenly across both bays. Do that and your double garage will be bright, even and genuinely useful, whether you are parking, tinkering or detailing.
