Car Wash Lighting: Wet Location LED Fixtures for Bays and Canopies

Car wash lighting has to be rated for wet locations. The National Electrical Code (NEC) names vehicle washing areas in its definition of a wet location, so every fixture inside the bay needs a Suitable for Wet Locations marking, and a sealed housing rated IP65 or higher on the spec sheet is the practical choice. Use sealed vapor tight fixtures in the bays, wet rated canopy lights over covered entries, and wall packs or flood lights for the lot.

Why a car wash is a wet location

NEC Article 100 defines a wet location as one subject to saturation with water or other liquids, and gives vehicle washing areas as an example. NEC 410.10(A) then requires luminaires in wet locations to be marked Suitable for Wet Locations and installed so water cannot enter or collect in wiring compartments, lampholders or other electrical parts.

A damp rating is not enough inside a wash bay. Damp ratings are for covered areas with moderate moisture, not for places where water hits the fixture directly. Our guide to wet, damp and IP ratings covers the difference.

Reading the IP rating

The IP code comes from IEC 60529. The first digit is protection from dust and solids, the second is protection from water. These are the ratings you will see most on car wash fixtures:

Rating	Dust (first digit)	Water (second digit)
IP65	6: dust tight	5: water jets from a nozzle
IP66	6: dust tight	6: powerful water jets
IP67	6: dust tight	7: temporary immersion

What goes where

Area	Fixture type	What to check on the sheet
Self serve and automatic bays	Vapor tight fixtures	Wet location, IP65 or higher, sealed lens, operating temperature
Covered entry, pay station and vacuum canopy	Canopy lights	Wet location, whether the sheet limits it to covered ceilings, mounting to the deck
Building walls and drive lanes	Wall packs	Wet location, photocell option, distribution
Signs, lot and queue lines	Flood lights	Wet location, beam angle, mounting

Not sure whether a wall needs a wall pack or a flood? See wall packs vs flood lights. For target light levels by space, see our foot candle guide.

Fixtures we list that fit a wash bay or canopy

Each of these lists a wet location or IP65 rating in its spec data on our product page. Prices are as shown on our site on October 30, 2026.

Fixture	Use	From the spec data	Price
Gielight GL-ST01 4ft Vapor Tight 20-70W	Bays	IP65, wet location, 5 selectable wattages and 5 selectable CCTs	$36.50
TCP 4ft Vapor Tight SW2 18-32W	Bays	IP65 wet location rated, frosted PC lens, 0-10V dimming	$50.25
TCP 4ft Vapor Tight SW2 with PIR Motion Sensor	Bays that sit empty	Same IP65 fixture with a PIR motion sensor	$70.25
EDIPAI 4ft Vapor Tight G4 50W	Bays	IP65, 0-10V dimming, field selectable CCT, 7,500 lm	$55.50
Gielight GL-ST03 8ft Vapor Tight 60-100W	Tall or long bays	IP65, wet location, 8,400 to 14,000 lm	$73.00
EDIPAI LED Canopy Light G5 80W	Entry and vacuum canopy	IP65, photocell option, operating temperature -4°F to 104°F	$56.75
JEE LED Garage Canopy 40-75W	Entry and vacuum canopy	IP65, plug in motion sensor option	$48.75
Gielight GL-CP3 Canopy Light 40-100W, White	Covered canopy only	Wet location, covered ceilings only	$45.50

For longer runs, see 8ft strip lights and vapor tights. Our vapor tight guide and canopy light guide go deeper on each fixture type.

Controls for sites that run late

• Motion sensors in self serve bays and vacuum areas cut the light when nobody is there. Browse fixtures with occupancy sensors and read PIR vs microwave sensors.
• Photocells turn lot and canopy lights on at dusk and off at dawn. See dusk to dawn lights.
• Color temperature affects how clean a finished car looks under the light. Our color temperature guide explains 3000K, 4000K and 5000K.

A quick checklist before you order

• Suitable for Wet Locations on every fixture inside the bay.
• IP65 or higher on the spec sheet for anything in the spray zone.
• Operating temperature that covers your coldest nights if the bay is not heated.
• Canopy fixtures checked for a covered ceilings only limit.
• Sensors or photocells chosen for the hours the site runs.
• Voltage that matches the building.

Common questions

Is a car wash bay a wet location?

Yes. The National Electrical Code (NEC) definition of a wet location in Article 100 names vehicle washing areas as an example. NEC 410.10(A) requires luminaires in wet locations to be marked Suitable for Wet Locations and installed so water cannot enter or collect in wiring compartments, lampholders or other electrical parts.

What IP rating should car wash lights have?

For fixtures inside the bay, look for IP65 or higher on the spec sheet along with a wet location rating. Under IEC 60529, IP65 means dust tight and protected against water jets, and IP66 means dust tight and protected against powerful water jets. Neither test covers wash chemicals or a pressure wand held close to the lens, so mount fixtures out of the direct spray path where you can.

Can I use a canopy light at a car wash entrance?

Yes, if the fixture is wet location rated and the sheet allows the mounting. Some canopy lights, such as the Gielight GL-CP3, are wet location rated for covered ceilings only, so they belong under a roof or canopy, not on an open exposed surface.

Do LED fixtures work in an unheated wash bay in winter?

Check the operating temperature range on the spec sheet. The EDIPAI Canopy G5 sheet, for example, lists -4°F to 104°F. If your site gets colder than the listed range, ask the manufacturer before you order.

Light It Up Online