Typical Foot-Candle Levels for Indoor Sports Facilities

Lighting plays a decisive role in athlete performance, spectator experience, and overall safety within indoor sports environments. Whether designing a new facility or upgrading outdated fixtures, understanding expected foot-candle levels is one of the most important steps in achieving a professional-quality space. Foot-candles measure the amount of light that reaches the playing surface, and different sports require different illumination standards based on the speed of play, size of the playing area, ball visibility, and spectator needs. While governing body guidelines vary, the ranges below represent widely accepted expectations for competitive indoor sports facilities across the U.S.

Indoor Soccer

Indoor soccer typically requires moderate but evenly distributed lighting. Because the ball moves quickly and tends to travel high, uniformity is essential. Most facilities target between 30–50 foot-candles for standard play, with competitive or professional environments favoring the upper end of this range.

Basketball

Basketball demands higher illumination due to fast movement, quick decision-making, and a relatively small but highly active playing surface. High school gyms commonly aim for 50–75 foot-candles, while collegiate and professional courts often increase to 80–100 foot-candles to support broadcast visibility and enhanced clarity for players and officials.

Volleyball

Indoor volleyball requires excellent vertical illumination to track fast-moving balls during serves and volleys. Typical facilities aim for 50–70 foot-candles, with competitive or televised events pushing toward 75–100 foot-candles to maintain consistent visibility throughout the full height of play.

Indoor Lacrosse

Due to the speed of the sport, the size of the playing floor, and the movement of the ball against large backgrounds, indoor lacrosse performs best with 50–80 foot-candles. Higher ceilings benefit significantly from indirect LED systems that help eliminate glare and shadows.

Indoor Baseball / Softball

Training facilities for indoor baseball, softball, and batting centers usually target 70–100 foot-candles on hitting surfaces. Pitching tunnels and fielding zones may vary but generally remain within a similar range to ensure consistent tracking of the ball.

Tennis

Tennis demands excellent horizontal and vertical visibility as players track balls at high speeds and varying trajectories. Recreational tennis courts typically aim for 50–70 foot-candles, while collegiate and tournament facilities often require 85–100+ foot-candles depending on competitive level and broadcast needs.

Pickleball

Indoor pickleball has rapidly rising expectations for lighting quality as the sport continues to grow. Most dedicated facilities target 40–60 foot-candles, with high-level competitive environments reaching 60–80 foot-candles to enhance ball visibility, minimize shadows, and support high-speed rallies.

Padel

Padel courts require balanced horizontal and vertical illumination due to glass walls and rapid ball deflections. Typical ranges fall between 50–70 foot-candles, with advanced clubs or competitive environments moving toward 75+ foot-candles for improved clarity and reduced glare against the walls.

Designing for Consistency, Not Just Brightness

While foot-candles provide an important baseline, a successful LED lighting design must also deliver exceptional uniformity, proper color temperature, minimal glare, and alignment with the sport’s specific needs. Poorly distributed light can undermine even high foot-candle levels, causing visual strain, shadows, and inconsistent playability.

Indirect LED systems—especially those designed specifically for sports environments—are increasingly preferred for their ability to deliver high-quality, evenly distributed illumination across the entire playing surface.

How Sports Interiors Can Support Your Facility

Sports Interiors provides the industry-leading LED Indirect Lighting System, engineered specifically for indoor sports environments. Our team develops customized lighting solutions tailored to each sport’s foot-candle requirements, ceiling height, structure type, and visual performance expectations. Whether you are constructing a new facility or upgrading an existing one, we can design a complete lighting package for your consideration, including layout recommendations, photometrics, and energy-saving strategies.