Industry News
Industry News
Oct. 20, 2025
When building or upgrading a padel court, one of the most common questions is whether to choose LED or halogen lights. Both can deliver bright illumination, but they differ significantly in energy efficiency, maintenance, and long-term costs. In this guide, we’ll compare the two lighting options so club owners, developers, and sports facility managers can make the right decision for their court layout, budget, and playing experience.
Halogen lights have been widely used in sports facilities for decades. They produce warm, natural light but consume high amounts of energy and generate substantial heat.
LED lights, on the other hand, have quickly become the modern standard for padel court projects. They provide stronger, more consistent illumination while using up to 70% less energy than halogen alternatives.
A padel court typically requires eight lights of around 200W each, meaning the total system wattage can reach 1.6 kW. With halogen lights, that figure would be closer to 4–5 kW for the same brightness, directly impacting your long-term electricity costs.
For a full wattage and layout example, visit our detailed guide on How many lights for a padel court, and recommended lighting layouts.
Energy efficiency is one of the biggest reasons LED lighting has overtaken halogen systems worldwide. In regions like Brazil, where electricity tariffs can fluctuate seasonally, clubs and padel operators are especially aware of operational costs.
An LED-based padel court lighting layout delivers high luminous efficiency, typically exceeding 130 lumens per watt, compared to halogen’s 25–30 lumens per watt. Over a year of nightly use, switching to LED can reduce energy bills by 60–70%, paying back the higher upfront cost within 12 to 18 months.
Beyond cost, lighting quality directly impacts player visibility and comfort.
LED lights distribute light evenly, reducing glare and shadows, while halogen fixtures tend to create bright spots and darker edges—particularly noticeable in panoramic glass courts.
Professional tournaments now specify LED-only lighting due to the improved consistency and color rendering (CRI >80). This ensures the ball is clearly visible against glass walls, even during fast rallies.
For layout details and fixture placement, see our visual examples in optimal light pole height and positioning for padel courts.
Halogen bulbs emit significant heat—up to 90% of their energy output becomes heat rather than light. This not only increases the risk of overheating fixtures but also affects player comfort, especially in warm climates like South America.
LED lights stay much cooler, with less need for ventilation or frequent bulb replacement. The average LED fixture lasts 50,000–60,000 hours, compared to just 2,000–4,000 hours for halogen bulbs.
For clubs that run events or open courts at night throughout the year, reduced maintenance means lower downtime and operational headaches.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
LED lighting is not just efficient—it’s sustainable. LEDs contain no mercury or fragile glass parts and are fully recyclable. Their low energy demand aligns with Brazil’s ongoing energy transition policies, encouraging renewable and efficient infrastructure upgrades.
Meanwhile, halogen systems are gradually being phased out in the EU and several Latin American countries due to high emissions and poor efficiency ratings. For facilities seeking environmental certifications or local funding, LED systems help meet those requirements.
LED lights are highly adaptable for various padel court lighting layouts, whether mounted on 6-meter or 8-meter poles or integrated with a covered structure.
If you’re working with outdoor courts, ensure all fixtures meet at least IP65 protection against rain and dust.
For step-by-step layout plans and fixture examples, see our layout guide:
How many lights for a padel court, and recommended lighting layouts.
| Lighting Type | Initial Cost | Power (W per fixture) | Lifespan (Hours) | Annual Power Use* | Approx. Energy Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halogen | Low | 500–1000W | 3,000–5,000 | High | — |
| LED | Medium | 200–300W | 50,000–60,000 | Low | Up to 70% |
While LED has a higher upfront cost, its lifetime cost of ownership is significantly lower. The reduced maintenance and power savings easily justify the investment—especially in commercial clubs or resorts planning long-term operations.
Choose LED lighting if your goal is professional-level visibility, long-term energy savings, and low maintenance.
Choose halogen lighting only for short-term installations or temporary courts where the initial budget is extremely limited.
At Fortune Padel, every court we design comes equipped with an energy-efficient LED lighting system featuring eight 200W LED lights. This setup ensures not only substantial energy savings but also delivers 300 Lux of uniform brightness—the standard required for both recreational and competitive play. Each fixture is built to an IP65 protection level, providing reliable performance even in humid or coastal climates like Brazil’s.
This integrated LED solution gives clubs a balance of sustainability, professional-grade illumination, and reduced operating costs.
LED lighting has become the benchmark for modern padel court projects, offering unmatched energy efficiency, durability, and visual quality. It ensures players enjoy a consistent and comfortable experience while owners save significantly on maintenance and electricity.
At Fortune Padel, our lighting systems are purpose-built for performance, featuring eight 200W LED lamps per court, delivering 300 Lux brightness and IP65 weather protection. Whether for an indoor or outdoor facility, we help clients create bright, energy-efficient, and durable padel courts that enhance player satisfaction and reduce lifetime costs.
If you’re planning a new court or upgrading an older one, Fortune Padel provides custom LED lighting and full padel court construction solutions tailored to your project.
Contact our team today to learn more about how Fortune can light up your next court with professional-grade efficiency and style.
Fortune provides customized padle tennis court solutions to clients around the world. We offer a wide range of padel court models that can be customized to suit the specific needs of our clients. Explore our case studies to learn how we help a variety of clients achieve their goals.
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