LED Wall Lights and Step Lights for Indoor and Outdoor

2x8W wall mounting LED light for outdoor facade lighting
2x8W wall mounting LED light for outdoor facade lighting

Comlite manufactures LED wall lights and step lights for corridors, stairwells, facades, terraces and decking. The range covers recessed and surface mounted fittings from 1W to 24W, up-and-down wall washers, asymmetric optics, and low-glare step lights, in single colour, RGB and RGBW.

Two decisions drive most wall light specifications: whether the fitting is recessed or surface mounted, and whether it sits indoors or out. Recessed fittings need cavity depth behind the wall and suit clean architectural lines; surface mounted fittings need no cavity and suit retrofit. Outdoors, the IP rating decides how long the fitting lasts.

Quick Selection Guide

  • By mounting: recessed fittings sit flush and suit new builds with known cavity depth; surface mounted fittings screw onto any finished wall and suit renovation.
  • By rating: IP20-IP44 for indoor dry and damp areas; IP65 for exposed outdoor walls; IP67-IP68 for step lights set into ground that holds water.
  • By beam: up-and-down washers for facade texture, asymmetric optics for pathways, shielded low-output fittings for step and deck edges.
  • By control: single colour for architectural schemes, RGBW where the facade changes colour.

We also build LED inground lights, LED landscape spotlights and IP68 underwater lights for coordinated project specifications. Read the complete specification guide below for IP ratings, cavity depths and glare control, or request a quote with your mounting details and finish requirements.

LED Wall and Step Lights: Complete Specification Guide

Comlite supplies recessed LED wall lights, LED step lights, LED wall washers and wall mounted fixtures for stairways, corridors, facades, patios and deck areas. Our wall and step range is IP65 rated, available with SMD and OSRAM LED sources, and supplied in both recessed and surface mounted formats.

Wall and step lighting is safety lighting that is judged on comfort. Get it right and nobody notices it; get it wrong and every user notices — glare on a staircase is a hazard, not an aesthetic issue. This page covers the specification choices that matter.

Recessed vs Wall Mounted

Recessed Wall Lights

Recessed fittings sit inside the wall so only the lens or trim is visible. They are specified where the fitting should disappear — corridors, stairwells, feature walls — and they are protected from impact because they do not protrude. The requirement is cavity depth behind the wall, so recessed fittings must be specified before the wall is closed. See recessed LED wall lights.

2x8W wall mounting LED light for outdoor facade lighting
2x8W wall mounting LED light for outdoor facade lighting

Wall Mounted Lights

Surface mounted fittings fix onto the wall face. They suit retrofits and solid walls where cutting a recess is impractical, and they offer more freedom in light direction — up, down, or up-and-down in a single fitting. See wall mounted LED lights and wall washers.

LED Step Lights: Anti-Glare Is the Whole Point

A step light exists so people can see where the next tread is. The failure mode is predictable: the fitting is too bright, positioned at eye level, and it blinds people walking up the stairs — which is worse than no light at all.

1x3W and 2x3W wall mounting LED lights for corridors and entrances
1x3W and 2x3W wall mounting LED lights for corridors and entrances

Three rules:

  • Light the tread, not the eye. Mount low, or use a fitting with a downward or shielded output.
  • Keep output modest. 1-3W is usually enough per step. More light does not mean safer steps.
  • Prefer warm white. 2700-3000K reads clearly at night without the harshness of cool white in a residential setting.

Browse LED step and deck lights.

LED Wall Washers

A wall washer is a wide, even beam that lights a vertical surface from top to bottom rather than creating a hotspot. They are used on facades, feature walls and reception areas, and they are unforgiving: any unevenness in output or colour temperature between fittings is immediately visible on a large flat surface.

For wall washing, consistency between fixtures matters more than output. Specify all fittings from a single production batch, and match colour temperature across the whole run.

Light Source: SMD and OSRAM Options

Our standard wall and step range uses SMD LED packages, which run cool and suit the shallow housings typical of recessed wall fittings. Selected models use OSRAM LEDs where a specification calls for higher efficacy, tighter colour consistency or a longer rated life. Tell us which of these your project requires and we will confirm the LED package, colour tolerance and rated life for each model.

IP Rating: Indoor vs Outdoor

  • IP20-IP44 — indoor dry and damp areas: corridors, stairwells, lobbies.
  • IP65 — outdoor and wet areas: exterior facades, patios, pool surrounds, bathrooms. This is the standard rating across our wall and step range.

Applications

  • Stairways and corridors — low-output recessed step lights, warm white
  • Building facades — wall washers and up/down wall mounted fittings
  • Patios and decks — IP65 step and deck lights, often paired with LED inground lights
  • Pool surrounds — IP65 minimum; for fittings at or below water level use our IP68 underwater range
  • Reception and feature walls — recessed wall lights and narrow-beam washers

Our Wall and Step Light Range

  • Recessed LED Wall Lights
  • LED Step & Deck Lights
  • Wall Mounted LED Lights & Wall Washers

Why Source from Comlite

Wall and step fittings are the least glamorous part of a lighting scheme and the most likely to be value-engineered — which is why they are also the most common source of callbacks. Comlite builds this range to the same sealing standard as our outdoor and underwater products: IP65 across the board, moulded cable entries, and stainless hardware on exterior models.

2x1W small type LED wall mounting landscape light
2x1W small type LED wall mounting landscape light
  • Recessed and surface mounted formats for new build and retrofit
  • SMD and OSRAM LED options with matched colour temperature
  • IP65 rated as standard, suitable for wet and exterior locations
  • OEM support: wattage, colour temperature, trim finish, beam distribution

Frequently Asked Questions

Should step lights be recessed or surface mounted?

Recessed step lights sit flush with the wall or riser and are protected from impact, but they require cavity depth and must be specified before the wall is closed. Surface mounted lights suit retrofit and solid walls.

How bright should a LED step light be?

1-3W per fitting is usually sufficient. The purpose is to define the tread edge, not to light the whole staircase. Over-bright step lights create glare, which is a safety hazard rather than a benefit.

What IP rating do I need for outdoor wall lights?

IP65 for exterior walls, patios and pool surrounds. Indoor dry areas can use IP20-IP44. For any fitting at or below water level, use an IP68 underwater fixture instead.

Can wall washers be used outdoors?

Yes, provided they are IP65 rated. The key specification concern outdoors is colour consistency between fittings, since uneven output is very visible on a large facade.

Request a Quote

Send us your mounting details, cavity depth and preferred finish, and we will recommend models and pricing. Project and OEM quantities welcome. Contact our team

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