The best barn lighting fixtures are wet-listed, corrosion-resistant RLM shades and sealed vaportights, chosen zone by zone: gooseneck RLMs over the doors, pendant or stem-mounted domes in the open bays, and gasketed jelly-jar fixtures wherever hoses, livestock or condensation live. Get the listing, finish and mounting height right and it will outlast several winters.

Picture a February morning at chore time. It is still dark, frost is on the gravel, and a row of green shades throws clean pools of light across the sliding doors while the tractor warms up inside. That is where the RLM shade was born: a spun reflector that puts light on the work, not the sky.

We still build them that way. Our Galvanized Step Neck Dome and Standard Dome are spun from heavy-gauge metal with a rolled bead, then configured to order in size, mount, lamp and color. For wet bays and wash stalls, our die-cast VW/VWB vaportight is listed for wet locations and approved for spaces exposed to moisture, corrosive fumes and non-combustible dust.

The best barn lighting fixtures are wet-listed, corrosion-resistant RLM shades and sealed vaportights, chosen zone by zone: gooseneck RLMs over the doors, pendant or stem-mounted domes in the open bays, and gasketed jelly-jar fixtures wherever hoses, livestock or condensation live. Get the listing, finish and mounting height right and it will outlast several winters.

Picture a February morning at chore time. It is still dark, frost is on the gravel, and a row of green shades throws clean pools of light across the sliding doors while the tractor warms up inside. That is where the RLM shade was born: a spun reflector that puts light on the work, not the sky.

We still build them that way. Our Galvanized Step Neck Dome and Standard Dome are spun from heavy-gauge metal with a rolled bead, then configured to order in size, mount, lamp and color. For wet bays and wash stalls, our die-cast VW/VWB vaportight is listed for wet locations and approved for spaces exposed to moisture, corrosive fumes and non-combustible dust.

A farm is six lighting jobs under one roof line.

Barn exterior and doors

Barn exterior lighting starts at the doors. A gooseneck barn light mounted above each sliding or overhead door lights the threshold, the apron and the latch without glare in the driver's eyes. Size the shade to the opening: a 12-inch shade suits a walk door, while 14- to 18-inch shades suit 10- to 16-foot sliders. Mount the shade so its rim sits roughly 12 to 24 inches above the door header. Pair the Standard Dome with one of our RLM gooseneck arms for reach off the siding.

Pole barns and machine sheds

Pole barn lighting has to clear equipment. With eaves of 12 to 20 feet, hang domes on stems or cord at truss height and space them about as far apart as they are mounted high. A 16- or 18-inch shade spreads light across a combine bay. The Galvanized Radial Wave adds a wider, softer spread for storage aisles.

Farm shops

Machine shed lighting and shop lighting need more light at the bench than in storage bays. Close up the spacing over the bench and lift, in neutral 4000 K to 5000 K.

Aisles and stalls (equestrian)

Horse barn lighting has one hard rule: no glass within a horse's reach. Keep fixtures above the stall walls, add wire guards, and specify Lexan globes where a fixture could be struck. Light aisles evenly so horses move calmly. For horse stall lighting, a guarded dome centered over the stall gives enough light for a vet check.

Wash stalls and wet areas

Wash stalls, milk rooms, hose-down bays and chemical storage call for sealed vaportights. The VX ceiling mount and VW/VWB wall mount are die-cast aluminum with silicone gaskets and stainless fasteners. Choose a cast guard with glass or a Lexan globe on its own.

Yard and perimeter

For the yard, fuel tank and loading area, the WLC Series wall light delivers up to 15,699 lumens from a wet-listed die-cast housing.

A barn is hard on a fixture: ammonia, fertilizer dust, chaff and condensation all attack metal and wiring.

Galvanized or powder coat?

A galvanized barn light has a zinc-coated steel shade that shrugs off weather and has the classic farm look. Our galvanized reflectors are spun from heavy-gauge steel. Powder coat lets you match the barn trim or the farm's colors; see our powder coat finishes. Near livestock or fertilizer storage, where ammonia is constant, a sealed die-cast aluminum vaportight is the safer choice for the fixtures closest to the animals.

Dust and moisture

Match the listing to the space. Open bays, exterior walls and any area that gets hosed down need a wet-location listing. The Standard Dome is cULus listed for damp and wet locations. Outdoors, seal the threaded top mount with Teflon tape or a similar sealant. Our vaportights are approved for non-combustible dust, which covers most barns. They are not rated for hazardous (classified) locations such as grain dust in a bin or elevator, so specify a classified fixture there.

Photocells and dusk-to-dawn

The simplest dusk-to-dawn setup is a photocell or timer on the lighting circuit, which controls every fixture on it at once. Ask us about fixture-mounted photocell options for your configuration.

Guards, globes and maintenance

Add wire guards anywhere a hay bale, loader bucket or horse could strike a fixture. Clean shades once or twice a year, and replace gaskets to keep vaportights sealed.

Built to order

Every fixture is configured to order. For public or grant-funded ag buildings, BAA or BABA can be added to the part number where the product page allows it.