Most Australian workshops end up with one of three light types on the ceiling: LED battens, linkable LED shop lights or a hexagon grid. All three can work. The right choice depends on your work, the room size and your power.
Below, we compare the three, work through a fitting count for a 6 x 6 m workshop and show where each one makes sense. If you only store tools, you may not need a hexagon grid at all.
Before: a garage workshop with only the door-opener light
After: the same space with a Hex Lights grid system
Jump to: The three options · Which to pick · Fitting count · Common problems · HexSpace kits · Buyer reviews · Power · Verdict · FAQ
What is the difference between LED battens, shop lights and hexagon lights?
Most Australian workshops once ran on fluorescent tubes. LED battens replaced them, then linked shop lights and grids added new ways to cover a ceiling.
LED battens are slim linear fittings, usually 1.2 m or 1.5 m long, fixed flat to the ceiling. Most are wired into the lighting circuit, which is a job for a licensed electrician. Some plug-in versions exist.
LED shop lights are linkable fittings, often around 1.2 m long, hung on chains or screwed to the ceiling. Many plug into a power point, and you can link several from one plug, up to the limit printed on the fitting.
Hexagon lights are LED tubes joined into a honeycomb grid by connectors. One kit covers a large patch of ceiling, so light reaches the work from many directions at once.
High bay lights are made for tall warehouse ceilings. At garage height they act as a few very bright points. Our high bay comparison covers that choice in more detail.
| Light type | How light spreads | Best workshop use | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED batten | Lines of light, with darker bands between rows unless they are spaced closely | Storage, a single bench, tight budgets | Hardwiring needs a sparky; bare tubes can glare under a low ceiling |
| LED shop light | Strong under the run, dropping off towards the walls | One bench or one bay, quick plug-in setups | Link limits, chains and cords at head height |
| Hexagon grid | Light from many tubes across a wide area, with softer shadows | Whole-room work: cars, woodwork, detailing prep | Higher upfront cost; overkill for a small storeroom |
Long LED battens (top left and right) beside a hexagon grid on one garage ceiling.
Whatever you buy, check the RCM mark on the product itself and the warranty terms.
Which one should you pick for your workshop?
- Storage and the odd job. Battens. Two or three are often enough.
- One bench along a wall. Battens or shop lights fixed over the front edge of the bench, not behind you. Light from behind puts your own shadow on the job.
- Work across the whole floor. A hexagon grid. When you walk around a car, a table saw or a project in the middle of the room, you need light from more than one side.
- A long, narrow workshop. Long hexagon kits such as the 8 Long Grid (3780 x 1650 mm) or the 11 Long Grid (5330 x 1680 mm) follow the shape of the room.
Light behind you, over the bench, or across the ceiling. Where the light sits matters as much as brightness. Simplified illustration.
How many fittings does a 6 x 6 m workshop need?
Here is a worked example for a 36 m² double-garage workshop with a ceiling under 4 m. Our design guidance is about 600 to 800 lumens per square metre of floor for general workshop use, and about 1,000 for bench work and car work. Ceiling height, wall colour and layout change the result.
At 1,000 lumens per m², this room needs roughly 36,000 lumens.
How we worked this out: kit lumens come from our product specifications (rated watts multiplied by 110 to 120 lm/W). The per square metre figures are a planning rule of thumb, not a measurement or a lux reading. For battens and shop lights, a common rule of thumb is to keep rows no further apart than the mounting height, so light overlaps at the bench. A grid works the same way, with tubes on several sides of you.
| Option | Rated output | Fittings for about 36,000 lm | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED batten (example rating) | 4,000 lm each | 9 battens | Each wired into the lighting circuit |
| LED shop light (example rating) | 5,000 lm each | 8 fittings | Linked runs, often from more than one power point |
| HexSpace 23-Grid | 58,080 to 63,360 lm | 1 kit, 4200 x 3900 mm | 528W |
| HexSpace 39-Grid | 93,720 to 102,240 lm | 1 kit, 5300 x 5000 mm | 852W |
Top view of the same 6 x 6 m workshop: 9 battens in 3 rows, 8 shop lights in 2 linked runs, or one 23-Grid (3.9 x 4.2 m). Simplified illustration, not a lighting calculation.
The batten and shop light ratings above are examples. Use the lumen figure on the box of the product you are considering.
Nine battens also mean nine fixing points and a wiring run. A 23-Grid covers a 4.2 x 3.9 m area in one piece, with headroom for dark walls. The 39-Grid suits a room you want lit close to the walls, such as a workshop with benches on three sides.
What are the most common workshop lighting problems?
- Why is my bench in shadow? The main light sits behind you, so your body blocks it (see the side view above).
- Why do the corners stay dark? One row of fittings down the middle of the room leaves the walls and shelves underlit.
- Why do timber and paint colours look off? Low colour rendering. Our guide to CRI and colour accuracy explains why it matters.
If you work with timber, our woodworking bench lighting guide goes deeper. For a garage that is mainly a garage, see our garage comparison of battens and hexagon grids.
Where do HexSpace kits fit in a workshop?
HexSpace designs and supplies hexagon lighting systems for Australia and New Zealand. Our team has over 13 years of experience in the lighting industry. Our hexagon kits are SAA and RCM certified, and HexSpace is a registered EESS Responsible Supplier (E20158), which you can check on the national EESS database. Past projects include kits supplied for Jetts Fitness, IGA, and Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Toyota dealership spaces.
Our hexagon kits use aluminium housing, high-brightness SMD LEDs with CRI above 90, 110 to 120 lm/W efficiency and a 50,000+ hours rated life, with a Class I earthed design and an earth wire. The warranty is 5 years for residential use and 3 years for commercial use. Prices below are for the 6500K option, checked on 15 October 2026.
| Kit | Size (mm) | Power | Light output (approx.) | Price from (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-Grid | 2360 x 1650 | 144W | 15,840 to 17,280 lm | $369 |
| 8-Grid | 2400 x 2600 | 210W | 23,100 to 25,200 lm | $629 |
| 11-Grid | 3275 x 2375 | 276W | 30,360 to 33,120 lm | $729 |
| 14-Grid | 4085 x 2375 | 342W | 37,620 to 41,040 lm | $929 |
| 23-Grid | 4200 x 3900 | 528W | 58,080 to 63,360 lm | $1,299 |
| 39-Grid | 5300 x 5000 | 852W | 93,720 to 102,240 lm | $2,599 |
A garage set up as a workshop, with hexagon grids over the bench wall and the floor.
For a single-garage workshop, most people choose between the 5-Grid and the 14-Grid. For a double-garage workshop, look at the 23-Grid to 39-Grid, or two kits from the 5-Grid to 14-Grid range. For colour, we suggest 6500K daylight for workshops and 5000K if the space doubles as a home gym or hangout. See every size in our hexagon kits for workshops.
What do buyers say?
Anson L. bought a 7-Grid and said the light is super bright and clean, and the garage feels like a proper workspace now. Damian R. also bought a 7-Grid. His electricians hardwired it, and he said it makes a massive impact.
How are hexagon kits powered?
Our kits support both plug-in and hardwire installation. Kits with a single power lead come with a plug lead as standard, so once the grid is assembled and fixed in place, you can plug it into a power point and switch it on. How a kit connects depends on its size and your space, so ask us about the power setup for the kit you choose. If you want the lights hardwired into your wiring, that must be done by a licensed electrician.
For ceilings above 4 m, a suspension wire kit is available, sold separately. The best install method depends on your space, so talk it through with your electrician. Our install guide shows the options.
So, battens, shop lights or a hexagon grid?
Choose battens for storage and a single bench on a budget. Choose shop lights for a quick plug-in setup over one work zone. Choose a hexagon grid when you work across the whole room and want light from many directions. If you may add a second kit later, plan the ceiling space and power point positions now, so a second kit can be added later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are LED battens or hexagon lights better for a workshop?
It depends on the work. LED battens are fine for storage and a single bench, and they cost less. If you work across the whole room, on cars, timber or detail jobs, a hexagon grid spreads light over a wider area from one kit, so shadows are softer.
What is the difference between an LED shop light and an LED batten?
A batten is a slim fitting fixed flat to the ceiling and usually wired into the lighting circuit by a licensed electrician. A shop light is a linkable fitting, often hung on chains, and many plug into a power point.
How many lumens does a workshop need?
As HexSpace design guidance, plan for about 600 to 800 lumens per square metre of floor for general workshop use, and about 1,000 for bench work and car work. A 6 x 6 m workshop at 1,000 lumens per square metre needs roughly 36,000 lumens. Ceiling height, wall colour and layout change the result.
How are hexagon light kits powered?
Our kits support both plug-in and hardwire installation. Kits with a single power lead come with a plug lead as standard, so once the grid is assembled and fixed in place, you can plug it into a power point and switch it on. How a kit connects depends on its size and your space, so ask us about the power setup for the kit you choose. If you want the lights hardwired into your wiring, that must be done by a licensed electrician.
What colour temperature is best for a workshop?
We suggest 6500K daylight for workshops, detailing and car work. Choose 5000K if the space doubles as a home gym or hangout. Each colour temperature is a separate kit, not an adjustable setting.
Plan the right lighting for your workshop
Browse Workshop Kits Installation Guide Get a Custom QuoteLast updated: 15 October 2026. Kit data comes from our product specifications and prices from our product pages on that date. Written by the HexSpace team. HexSpace designs and supplies hexagon lighting for Australia and New Zealand, and our hexagon kits are SAA and RCM certified. Questions? Contact us.
