Wall Pack Fixtures — How Do You Choose the Right LED Wall Pack?
Wall pack fixtures are exterior-grade LED luminaires mounted on the sides of buildings to illuminate walkways, parking areas, building perimeters, driveways, and entrances. Four distribution types, four IP rating tiers, and a wide range of wattages and color temperatures mean the right wall pack for one project is the wrong wall pack for another. This guide covers every variable that matters.
Key Takeaways
- Distribution type determines where the light goes. Forward throw covers more area but causes light trespass. Full cutoff is dark sky friendly and eliminates light trespass. Choose based on your site conditions and local ordinances.
- IP rating determines where the fixture can be installed. IP65 covers most outdoor applications. IP66 is required for washdown environments. IP67 is specified for dock areas and flood-prone locations.
- LED is the only technology worth specifying in 2026. LED wall packs use up to 80% less electricity than legacy HPS and metal halide systems, deliver instant-on light, require virtually no maintenance, and are available with selectable wattage and selectable Kelvin for on-site configuration.
Four Types of LED Wall Pack Fixtures
Every wall pack distributes light in one of four patterns. The distribution type is the most important decision — it determines footcandle coverage, light trespass, and dark sky friendly compliance for the installation site.
Forward Throw Wall Packs
Distributes light out and down from the building face. The widest coverage of any wall pack type — frequently used as wall-mounted area lights where pole mounting is not practical. Forward throw fixtures are not dark sky friendly and can produce light trespass onto adjacent properties. Specified for loading docks, parking lots, and large open perimeters where coverage takes priority over light trespass control.
Full Cutoff Wall Packs
The lamp is fully shielded — light is emitted only downward. No upward light emission. Dark sky friendly. Light trespass is eliminated or reduced to a minimum. The wall surface below the fixture is washed with light. Specified for residential-adjacent properties, facilities with dark sky ordinances, and any installation where neighbor or tenant complaints about light pollution are a concern.
Semi-Cutoff Wall Packs
A balance between forward throw and full cutoff. A partial shield limits upward light emission but does not eliminate forward throw entirely. These fixtures reduce light pollution without the tight distribution constraints of full cutoff. Not dark sky friendly. Specified for building entrances, canopies, and transitional zones where some forward throw is acceptable.
Up-Down Wall Packs
Distributes light both upward and downward from the fixture housing. Used to create a specific architectural lighting effect — typically to wash a building facade, highlight architectural details, or create a layered lighting appearance at an entrance or courtyard. Available in standard and custom RAL finishes.
IP Ratings for LED Wall Pack Fixtures
IP ratings — Ingress Protection ratings — measure how well a fixture is sealed against water and dust. For outdoor wall packs, the IP rating determines where the fixture can safely be installed and how long it will last in that environment.
IP65
Protected against dust and low-pressure water jets from any direction. Suitable for most outdoor wall pack applications — building perimeters, parking areas, and walkways.
IP66
Protected against dust and high-pressure water jets. Specified for car washes, industrial facilities, and locations exposed to heavy rain or pressure washing.
IP67
Protected against dust and temporary submersion in water up to one meter. Specified for dock areas, flood-prone locations, and wet industrial environments.
When in doubt, specify the higher IP rating. The cost difference between IP65 and IP66 is minimal compared to the cost of a failed fixture in a wet environment.
Not sure which IP rating or distribution type is right for your installation? An Access Fixtures lighting specialist will confirm the right specification for your mounting height, site conditions, and local ordinance requirements.
Contact a Lighting Specialist Call 800-468-9925LED Technology for Wall Pack Fixtures
LED is the standard for wall pack lighting. Compared to legacy high-pressure sodium and metal halide systems, LED wall packs deliver three decisive performance advantages.
- Energy efficiency. LED wall packs use up to 80% less electricity than HPS and metal halide equivalents. A 40-watt LED wall pack replaces a 150-watt metal halide fixture and delivers comparable or superior lumen output.
- Maintenance elimination. LED wall packs are rated L70 at 50,000 to 200,000 hours depending on the product family. No lamp replacements. No ballast failures. No re-lamping costs.
- Instant-on operation. LED fixtures deliver 100% lumen output at startup — no warm-up cycle. Critical for security applications where motion-triggered lighting must respond immediately.
When comparing LED wall packs, the variables that matter within the LED category are efficacy (lumens per watt), IP rating, rated life (L70 hours), selectable wattage, selectable Kelvin, surge protection rating, and CRI. Access Fixtures LED wall packs are available with wattages from 8w to over 200w, color temperatures from 2200K to 5700K, and IP ratings from IP65 to IP67.
Wall Pack Construction and Certifications
Outdoor fixtures must withstand rain, snow, heat, cold, and UV exposure over a service life measured in decades. Access Fixtures wall pack housings are constructed of die-cast aluminum and treated with a chromate conversion coating to deter corrosion. A powder-coat finish is applied over the chromate conversion coating for additional durability and color retention.
All wall packs should carry a wet location listing from one of three recognized certification bodies: UL (Underwriters Laboratories), ETL (Intertek Testing Services), or CSA (Canadian Standards Association). Any of the three certifications is sufficient. Confirm wet location listing — not just damp location — for any wall pack mounted outdoors.
Light Distribution and Light Pollution
Three components of light pollution affect wall pack specification decisions: light glare, light trespass, and sky glow.
- Light glare is the harsh, uncomfortable brightness that poorly shielded fixtures produce — a driver visibility and safety concern in parking areas.
- Light trespass is light that exceeds the boundaries of the intended illumination area — forward throw wall packs aimed toward a property line are the most common source.
- Sky glow is upward-emitted light that illuminates the night sky — full cutoff wall packs eliminate sky glow by design.
Many municipalities and HOAs now require dark sky friendly fixtures for new commercial installations. Full cutoff wall packs meet this requirement. Forward throw and semi-cutoff wall packs do not. Confirm local ordinance requirements before specifying.
Kelvin Temperature for Wall Pack Fixtures
Color temperature determines how the light from a wall pack appears to the human eye. The right Kelvin temperature depends on the application and the adjacent environment.
Kelvin temperature chart — from 2200K warm amber to 6500K cool blue. Most commercial wall pack applications specify 4000K.
- 2200K and 3000K amber — dark sky friendly and wildlife-sensitive installations. Minimizes impact on nocturnal wildlife and sea turtle nesting areas. Required in some coastal municipalities.
- 3000K — warm white. Suited to hospitality, retail, and residential-adjacent applications where a welcoming atmosphere is the priority.
- 4000K — neutral white. The most common specification for commercial wall pack lighting. Strong color rendering, good visibility, and a clean appearance.
- 5000K — cool white. Preferred for security, industrial, and high-visibility applications. Maximizes perceived brightness under scotopic conditions.
Many Access Fixtures wall packs offer field-selectable Kelvin — 3000K, 4000K, and 5000K selectable on-site using the integrated control switch, with no tools required.
Vandal Resistant Wall Pack Fixtures
Vandal resistant LED wall packs use heavy-duty die-cast aluminum housings, tamper-resistant fasteners, and glass-free designs that leave nothing to break. IK ratings — impact protection ratings — measure resistance to physical impact. IK08 and IK10 are the most common specifications for vandal resistant wall packs. Specified for parking garages, transit facilities, schools, correctional facilities, and any location where fixture damage is a recurring concern.
Custom Colors and RAL Finishes
Access Fixtures wall packs are available in standard architectural bronze and black finishes, with custom colors specified using RAL codes. The RAL system — in use since 1927 — includes over 2,300 colors and 70 metallic shades. Custom RAL colors allow wall packs to match building trim, corporate brand colors, or existing site fixtures. Lead times for custom RAL finishes vary by product family — confirm with a lighting specialist at 800-468-9925 before ordering.
Not sure which wall pack type, IP rating, or optic is right for your project? An Access Fixtures lighting specialist will confirm the right fixture for your mounting height, application, and light distribution requirements. A photometric study is available for projects that require point-by-point analysis.
Contact a Lighting Specialist Request a Quote CUDL LED Full Cutoff Wall Pack — Type 4 optics, EXTREME-LIFE rated, BAA Qualified. Available in 19w, 28w, 42w, 65w, and 93w.
Frequently Asked Questions — Wall Pack Fixtures
You have questions about wall pack fixtures and LED wall pack lighting. We have answers. If your question is not covered below, call an Access Fixtures lighting specialist at 800-468-9925.
What is a wall pack fixture?
A wall pack is an exterior-grade LED light fixture mounted on the side of a building. Wall packs illuminate walkways, parking areas, building perimeters, driveways, and entrances. They are available in four distribution types: forward throw, full cutoff, semi-cutoff, and up-down.
What is the difference between full cutoff and forward throw wall packs?
A full cutoff wall pack emits light only downward — no light goes up or forward beyond the fixture housing. It is dark sky friendly and eliminates light trespass. A forward throw wall pack emits light out and down, covering a wider area but producing more light trespass and glare. Forward throw fixtures are not dark sky friendly.
What IP rating do I need for an outdoor wall pack?
IP65 is suitable for most outdoor wall pack applications — building perimeters, parking areas, and walkways. IP66 is required for locations exposed to high-pressure water jets, such as car washes or industrial washdown areas. IP67 is specified for dock areas and flood-prone environments where temporary water submersion is possible.
What Kelvin temperature is best for wall pack lighting?
4000K is the most common specification for commercial wall pack lighting — it delivers a clean, neutral white light with strong color rendering and good visibility. 3000K produces a warmer tone suited to hospitality and residential-adjacent applications. 5000K delivers a cool, bright white preferred for security and industrial environments. 2200K and 3000K amber options are available for dark sky friendly and wildlife-sensitive installations.
Are wall packs available in custom colors?
Yes. Access Fixtures wall packs are available in custom RAL colors. Standard finishes include black and architectural bronze. Custom colors are specified using RAL codes — a worldwide color standard with over 2,300 colors and 70 metallic shades.
What is a vandal resistant wall pack?
Vandal resistant LED wall packs use heavy-duty aluminum housings and tamper-resistant fasteners. The design eliminates exposed glass — leaving nothing to break. They are specified for parking garages, transit facilities, schools, and any location where fixture damage is a concern.
How do I choose between selectable wattage and fixed wattage wall packs?
Field-selectable wattage wall packs allow the installer to set the fixture output on-site using an integrated switch — no tools required. This eliminates the need to stock multiple SKUs for different wattage requirements and simplifies procurement for large projects. Fixed-wattage wall packs are appropriate when the specification is confirmed before ordering and no field adjustment is needed. Call 800-468-9925 to discuss which approach fits your project.