How many watts is a 600×600 LED panel and how many m² does it light? Panel sizing for offices and shops

Short answer: A 600×600 LED panel is usually 36–48 W and gives about 3,600–4,800 lumens. In an office that needs 500 lux, one panel lights roughly 4–5 m², so a 20 m² office needs 4–5 panels. In corridors, stores and common areas that need less light, one panel covers 8–10 m². The exact number depends on ceiling height, wall and ceiling colours and the panel's lumen output.

Panel sizes

• 600×600 mm (actual size 595×595 mm): replaces a suspended ceiling tile; the most common size.
• 300×1200 mm: long offices and corridors, in the same grid system.
• 300×300 mm: small areas, bathrooms, entrances.
• 600×1200 mm: large areas needing more light.

The 595 mm size is for panels that sit in a 600 mm suspended ceiling grid. Recessing into a plasterboard ceiling needs a cut-out and mounting kit; concrete ceilings need a surface-mount frame.

How many panels? A simple calculation

Required lumens ≈ area (m²) × target lux ÷ loss factor. In practice, use 0.5–0.6 for losses (ceiling height, wall colour, dirt).

Example: 20 m² office, target 500 lux → 20 × 500 ÷ 0.55 ≈ 18,000 lm. With 4,000 lm panels, 18,000 ÷ 4,000 ≈ 4.5 → 5 panels.

Typical targets (EN 12464-1): office and desk work 500 lux, meeting room 500 lux, corridor 100 lux, stores 100–200 lux, classroom 300–500 lux, shop floor 300 lux and above.

Back-lit and edge-lit panels

• Edge-lit: LEDs sit along the edge and a light guide plate (PMMA) spreads the light. Slim and light, common in offices and homes.
• Back-lit: LEDs sit behind the panel facing the diffuser. Usually more efficient and robust, with a slightly deeper body.

Diffusers are opal or microprismatic PMMA; microprismatic diffusers reduce glare.

What to check for offices and shops

• Glare (UGR): screen-based offices call for UGR < 19. Plain opal panels usually do not achieve this; choose a low-UGR (microprismatic) panel.
• Colour temperature: 4000 K neutral white in offices, 3000–4000 K in shops and cafés.
• Colour rendering: at least CRI 80; CRI 90 is better for shops and design studios.
• Flicker: a good driver causes no flicker on camera or to the eye.
• Control: DALI or 1–10 V dimming with daylight and occupancy sensors reduces consumption.
• Emergency kit: can be added to panels on escape routes.

Consumption

A 40 W panel on for 10 hours a day uses 0.4 kWh; an office with 5 panels uses about 44 kWh a month (22 working days). Replacing old 4×18 W fluorescent fittings with LED panels cuts consumption substantially and ends tube replacement.

In Bursa, ENGN provides lighting calculations, panel selection and installation for offices, shops, schools and factories.

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