How to Choose the Height of a Lighting Pole

What pole height depends on

• the purpose of the area: park, courtyard, street, road, car park, sports ground;
• the width of the lit strip: carriageway, pavement, path;
• the luminaire type and light distribution: wide or narrow beam;
• the required illuminance and uniformity under DBN V.2.5-28:2018;
• surrounding obstacles: tree crowns, buildings, power lines;
• the wind region and the luminaire load, which determine the diameter and wall thickness of the shaft.

Mounting height and the width of the lit strip

The higher the luminaire is mounted, the wider the lit strip, but the lower the illuminance under it at the same power. A practical rule of thumb for streets and roads: for a one-sided layout the width of the lit strip does not exceed the mounting height, for a staggered two-sided layout about one and a half times the height, for an opposite two-sided layout up to two heights.

These ratios are only a guide for a preliminary choice. The final height and spacing are confirmed by a lighting calculation for a specific luminaire.

Pole layouts and spacing

• one-sided: narrow roads and paths;
• staggered two-sided: wide roads, even light;
• opposite two-sided: wide roads and highways;
• central: median strip, large areas.

Spacing between poles is usually a few mounting heights: in parks and pedestrian zones poles are lower and closer together, on roads taller and further apart. For more on pole spacing, the practical rule and worked examples, see Distance Between Street Lighting Poles.

Example: pole spacing for a 7 m wide street

A practical rule for a preliminary estimate: pole spacing is roughly 3–4 times the luminaire’s mounting height (the exact factor depends on the specific luminaire’s light distribution curve and the required uniformity).

Take a local street 7 m wide (category C under DBN V.2.5-28:2018) with poles on one side only. For that layout the mounting height should be at least the carriageway width, i.e. roughly 7–8 m, so the UMO-7 or UMO-8 range fits. Spacing at 3–4 times the height works out to roughly 21–32 m. The final spacing and luminaire power are confirmed by a lighting calculation for the chosen model.

Poles at intersections and pedestrian crossings

At intersections, pedestrian crossings and public-transport stops, the required luminance is higher than on the adjacent stretch of street, whatever the category (see Street and Road Lighting Norms). Spacing there is usually reduced, or a separate pole with a dedicated luminaire is added right at the crossing. Requirements for pole placement at a pedestrian crossing itself are covered in Pedestrian Crossing Lighting.

Typical pole ranges by height

A tall pole: what changes

As height increases, wind load and the moment at the base grow, so a larger diameter, wall thickness and foundation are needed. A pole taller than 12 m is made of several sections with a telescopic joint, and an inspection hatch and, if required, a ladder are provided for servicing. Height also affects the choice of foundation: see the article Lighting pole foundations.

Common mistakes when laying out poles

• too large a spacing “to save money”: illuminance drops below the norm between poles and dark gaps appear;
• the same pole height on stretches of different width, so narrow sections end up over-lit and wide ones under-lit;
• ignoring trees and buildings that will later shade the light output;
• no extra pole or luminaire at an intersection or crossing;
• height chosen without checking the wind region: a pole designed for one region may fail the check in another.

What to send for height selection

Send a site plan with the widths of roads and paths, the luminaire type and parameters (if already chosen) and the construction region. We propose the pole height and spacing and calculate the design and price. If you prefer, fill in the technical specification form for a lighting pole.

For how much each height and range weighs, see the article Lighting Pole Height and Mass: Table by Range. A rough selection by these rules is available in the lighting pole selection calculator.

For the characteristic wind pressure value W0 for your city, see the article Wind Regions of Ukraine: W0 Table.