How to Choose the Right LED Light

A question we often get is, "What beam pattern for my LED Light Bar should I get?". Well here is a little insight that we hope will help in making your decision.

Extreme LED Light Bar Beam Pattern

The Difference between Spot, Flood, and Combo

Spot, Flood, or Combo?

Spot

A spot beam has a narrow beam spread of only 8º. This is great for task-specific lighting. For example, when you want nighttime road or trail visibility you want the light focused and intense in a particular area. The spot pattern is great for that.

Flood

Flood has a wide 90º beam pattern so the light is more spread. When you want to light up a wide area, like your campsite, or a work area, the flood is the right choice.

Combo

When you want versatility, the Combo is a good choice. It gives a mix of spot beam pattern LEDs and flood beam pattern LEDs all within the same light. The trade-off is that you are not splitting up the beams so neither the flood nor the spot beams produced are as bright as a dedicated spot or beam light.

The Best?

Well that all depends on your specific situation and budget. If you can afford it, a great combination to have is a dedicated spot coupled with a dedicated flood. For example, it is typical for us to outfit a Jeep Wrangler with a 20" spot LED light bar mounted on the bumper which is used for road/trail visibility. Then have either a couple of 6" flood LED light bars mounted at the lower corners of the windshield or a really nice set up is a 40" LED light bar mounted across the top of the windshield.

Frequently Asked Questions

What beam pattern for my LED Light Bar should I get?

That all depends on your specific situation. A great combination to have is a dedicated spot coupled with a dedicated flood. For example, it is typical to outfit a Jeep Wrangler with a 20 inch spot LED light bar mounted on the bumper which is used for road/trail visibility. Then have either a couple of 6 inch flood LED light bars mounted at the lower corners of the windshield. For maximium visibilty, add a 40 inch LED light bar mounted across the top of the windshield.

What is the difference between Spot, Flood, and Combo Beam Light Bars?

A spot beam has a narrow, direct beam of light while a flood light is a more widespread output of light. A combo beam is a combination of both, giving you visibility on the road ahead as well as the sides of the vehicle.

Are there wider beam configurations that flood beam?

If you are looking for more widespread light than a flood light, consider a scene light. Scene lights are made to light up a wide area, making them perfect for anything from offroading to camping.

Meet the Author: Extreme LED has been helping offroad enthusiasts with their LED lighting needs since 2011. We have built our company to provide you with the best experience from shopping to customer support and ultimately use and longevity of our products. Our high-performance LED Light Bars & Pods are covered by our Lifetime Warranty and with free shipping over $100, you can rest assured that you are getting a high-quality product that will provide long-lasting lighting for your vehicle.