Outdoor recessed spotlights

A canopy, veranda, carport or roof overhang deserves the same clean ceiling as indoors. Every spotlight on this page is IP65: fully dust-tight and protected against a water jet from any direction. That makes them suitable for a sheltered outdoor ceiling, where rain and damp can reach but the spotlight does not hang in the downpour.

Where you can use them outdoors

Think of the ceiling of a canopy or garden room, a veranda, a carport or the underside of a roof overhang by the front door. The spotlight sits in the ceiling and shines downwards, so rain does not fall straight onto it. Want light on a wall without any cover? Then choose an outdoor wall light made for that, such as the COB Kubus CCT (IP65). Where the line between sheltered and exposed lies is explained in Can an IP44 light hang outdoors?

The spotlights we recommend for outdoors

Four spotlights are explicitly described as suitable for outdoors. The Ferro is IP65 for bathroom and outdoor use, has a recess depth of only 32 mm and a colour switch with four settings up to 5700K daylight. The Cielo gives 400 lumens from 4 watts and is intended for bathrooms and canopies. The Privo is a tiltable fitting in cast aluminium for a covered terrace, in which you fit a GU10 bulb of your choice. And the Movo has a built-in motion sensor.

Light that switches on by itself

The Movo switches on as soon as there is movement within 5 metres, and then gives 600 lumens. For a carport or a back path that is handier than a switch you have to find in the dark, and it does not burn all night. Prefer a light on the wall? The Senso wall light also has a sensor and is IP54, suitable for a veranda.

The driver has to stay dry

Spotlights such as the Lesto, Lyvo and Warmo carry two IP ratings: IP65 for the spotlight, IP20 for the driver. The visible side can handle damp, the driver above the ceiling cannot. In a closed canopy with a dry space above the ceiling that is no problem. If damp can blow in freely, as with an open eave, find a dry spot for the driver. What the two digits mean exactly is explained in How waterproof is IP65 exactly?

Less light than you think

Outdoors you need far less light than indoors, because your eyes are already adjusted to low light in the dark. Most spotlights here give 325 to 600 lumens each. Two or three weaker spotlights spread across a canopy work better than one bright one, and because they shine downwards, they do not shine into the neighbours' windows. The calculation is in How many lumens do you need for outdoor lighting?

White or black ceiling

Under a dark canopy a white spotlight stands out like a dot. Nearly all spotlights on this page come in matt white and matt black, and the Lesto also in silver, copper, gold and bronze. On most of them you choose the light colour with a small switch on the spotlight: 2700K, 3000K or 4000K.

Also called outdoor spotlights or canopy spotlights

You will find them as outdoor recessed spotlights, outdoor ceiling spotlights, canopy spotlights, veranda spotlights or IP65 outdoor LED downlights. The same IP65 spotlights are also listed under bathroom spotlights, because water resistance matters there too.

Frequently asked questions

Can a recessed spotlight hang outdoors in the rain?

A spotlight in an outdoor ceiling is sheltered and shines downwards. IP65 is more than enough for that. For a wall that takes driving rain, choose an outdoor wall light with IP65 instead of a recessed spotlight.

Is IP44 enough under a canopy?

Under a canopy it usually is, because only splashing water gets there. We only offer IP65 here, so you do not have to think about driving rain or a garden hose either. The difference is explained in What is the difference between IP44 and IP65?

Can I dim these spotlights outdoors?

Yes. The spotlights with built-in LED are dimmed with a Triac dimmer, also called leading edge. With the Privo it depends on the GU10 bulb you fit. The Dovo set runs on 12 volts and is dimmed with the remote control.

Where do I put the driver under a canopy?

Above the ceiling, in a dry spot where water cannot collect. On most spotlights the driver is IP20 and must stay dry, even though the spotlight itself is IP65.