What are UFO LED High Bays vs. Linear High Bays?
UFO LED high bays are the round, saucer-shaped fixtures you see hanging in warehouses, gyms, and auto shops. They typically use a single, centralized LED board with a dome lens or reflector, throwing light in a circular pattern—usually a 60° to 120° beam angle depending on the optics. Mounting is simple: hook, chain, or pendant. They're compact, lightweight for their lumen output, and a direct drop-in replacement for old metal halide round fixtures. Airflow around the heatsink is excellent, so they run cool. Downside? They can create a bit of a "cone" of light directly underneath, leaving aisles slightly darker if spacing isn't tight.
Linear high bays look like long rectangular bars—four, six, or eight feet. They spread light more evenly across wide aisles and open floor plans because the LEDs run the full length. That means fewer dark spots between fixtures. Linear high bays are the go-to for retail big-box stores, production lines, and cleanrooms where uniform illumination matters more than punchy spot brightness. They hang flush to the ceiling or on cables. Installation is more involved than a single UFO, but you get smoother coverage and less glare when you're walking underneath. Choose UFO for high-bay spot lighting in high racks; choose linear for washing an entire floor with even light.
