The short answer, the one you're looking for: expect approximately one hexagon per 1.5 m² of ceiling. That's 13 hexagons for 20 m², 20 for 30 m², and 33 for 50 m² in a garage where serious work is done.
The rest of this article explains where this figure comes from, when it should be increased, and why most kits sold online are undersized for the area they claim to cover.
Where the 1 hexagon per 1.5 m² rule comes from
A hexagonal panel doesn't illuminate a circle: it illuminates a grid. The hexagons touch each other along their sides, and it's this continuity that eliminates shadowed areas. As soon as you space them out, you get exactly what you wanted to avoid: light and dark bands, and a cast shadow as soon as you lean over an object.
The density then depends on what you do under this light:
- Garage and mechanical workshop: 0.55 hexagons per m² — you need to read screw references and see under a hood.
- Detailing: 0.80 hexagons per m² — the highest density, because you need to reveal varnish defects.
- Barber and salon: 0.70 hexagons per m² — no cast shadows should fall on the chair.
- Ambiance, showroom, gym: 0.50 hexagons per m² — you're illuminating a scene, not a workbench.
The table: your area, your number of hexagons
| Area | Garage / workshop | Detailing | Barber | Ambiance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 m² (one car) | 8 hexagons | 12 | 11 | 8 |
| 20 m² | 11 | 16 | 14 | 10 |
| 30 m² (two cars) | 17 | 24 | 21 | 15 |
| 40 m² | 22 | 32 | 28 | 20 |
| 50 m² | 28 | 40 | 35 | 25 |
These numbers assume a ceiling height of approximately 2.50 m. Above 3 m, add 50%: light dissipates with distance, and a workshop with a 4 m ceiling is nothing like a home garage.
Why market kits are often undersized
Many listings sell a six-hexagon kit claiming it covers a 30 m² garage. Do the math: six panels for 30 m² means one hexagon for 5 m². You'll have a nice pattern on the ceiling in photos, but the room will remain dim around the edges.
A useful reflex before buying: divide the advertised area by the number of panels in the kit. If the result exceeds 2 m² per hexagon, the kit is sold for its appearance, not for its illumination.
Is one large kit better than two small ones?
Always a single set. Two separately purchased kits almost never have the same tint or diffusion, even when the product sheet claims the same color temperature. On the ceiling, the difference is obvious: one half of the garage slightly yellower than the other.
Our rule is simple: we never mix two series of panels in the same room. If you plan to expand later, get the larger size immediately.
What if my garage isn't a rectangle?
The hexagonal grid adapts better than a straight ruler to an irregularly shaped room: you follow the ceiling shape instead of aligning bars. Two points of attention:
- Start tracing from the area where you work the most, not from the geometric center of the room.
- Keep 30 to 40 cm between the last hexagon and the wall, otherwise the grazing light will highlight all imperfections in the plaster.
What to remember
- One hexagon per 1.5 m² for general use, 0.80 per m² for detailing.
- Ceilings above 3 m: +50%.
- Only one set of panels, never two mixed series.
- Beware of kits that claim a large area with few panels.
Do you know your area and ceiling height? See white hexagonal LED kits — configurations are classified by the number of hexagons, just pick the row in the table that corresponds to your room.
