What use will the track have?
The first step is to define the type of use for the basketball court. An outdoor school court does not require the same lighting as a sports hall prepared for competition.
Each level of play requires different lighting requirements. As a guideline, three common classes can be distinguished:
For an indoor basketball court, the usual references place Class II at around 500 lx of average illuminance, with good uniformity and glare control. For recreational or school use, the levels may be lower, while in professional competition or television broadcasting, higher values may be necessary.
Arrangement of luminaires and structurea
A typical installation for a basketball court can be achieved using LED fixtures installed in the ceiling of the gymnasium or by using side projectors if it is an outdoor court.
In an indoor track, the most common solution includes:
- LED fixtures suspended or fixed to the ceiling structure.
- Symmetrical distribution on both sides of the track.
- Avoid direct placement over the baskets to reduce shadows and glare.
- Wide or asymmetric optics depending on the height of the pavilion.
- Neutral color temperature, usually around 4,000 K.
- Good color reproduction index to correctly distinguish the ball, lines, and uniforms.
In an outdoor court, the installation is usually done with perimeter poles, placing the projectors outside the playing area to avoid obstacles, harsh shadows, or visual disturbances for the players.
Simulated luminous performance
The lighting simulation allows for verification before installation if the track meets the necessary levels of illuminance and uniformity.
For a basketball court used for sports or clubs, the goal would be to achieve uniform lighting across the entire playing surface, avoiding dark areas in the corners, under the baskets, or along the sidelines.
Datos orientativos de simulación para pista interior Clase II:
- Eav [lx]: 500 lx
- Emin [lx]: 350 lx
- Emax [lx]: 650 lx
- Emin / Eav: 0,70
- Color temperature: 4,000 K
- CRI: >80 recommended for better visual perception
- Maintenance factor: 0.8
These values provide comfortable visibility for players, referees, and spectators, maintaining a good view of the moving ball and reducing visual fatigue during the game.
Illuminance requirements for basketball courts
To ensure adequate lighting, it is important to consider not only the amount of light but also the uniformity, glare, and color quality.
Guideline table for indoor basketball court:
The Luxes proposal has been designed to meet these standards of luminous performance.
Consult sports lighting regulations
Luxes technical solution
At Luxes, we conduct customized lighting studies for each sports facility, adapting the proposal to the dimensions of the space, the level of competition, the mounting height, the broadcasting needs, and the visual comfort of players and spectators.
An example of this is the project carried out at the Sports Palace of Granada on the occasion of the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto 2022where Luxes participated in the adaptation of the venue's lighting system. For this high-level event, 120 light points were installed, equipped with projectors from the Protón and Fission ranges, designed to meet the demands of professional and televised sports.
The intervention improved track visibility, reduced shadows and glare, optimized the visual comfort of the audience, and ensured flicker-free lighting, an aspect that is especially important in live broadcasts and high-speed recordings.
This type of project demonstrates the importance of approaching sports lighting from a personalized technical study. It is not just about reaching a certain level of lux, but about achieving a uniform, efficient distribution that is adapted to the actual use of the facility.