Outdoor Downlights at KES

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Outdoor Downlights

Downlights for soffits, porches and canopies

An outdoor downlight washes light down a wall or over a step, and it hides neatly in a soffit or porch ceiling. This page brings them together. See all our outdoor lighting for wall lights, lanterns and spike lights.

Recessed or surface mounted

The Astro Kos Recessed Exterior and Collingwood H2 Pro Extreme fit into the ceiling, while the Astro Kos II sits on the surface, standing about 85mm proud, which helps where there is no void above. The Astro Kos Round comes in 100mm and 140mm.

Ratings, finishes and coastal use

Most are rated IP65, and the rest IP44. Textured black, matt white and textured grey are all available, with solid brass from Astro's Jura. Coastal is named in the Jura, Kos Round and Collingwood Extreme titles. Many take a GU10 lamp, sold separately.

Outdoor Downlights Recommendations & Buying Advice

It depends on how sheltered the position is. Most here are IP65, which suits exposed positions, and a few are IP44, which gives protection against splashing and suits a covered porch. A soffit may seem sheltered, but wind can drive rain up into it. Choose the higher rating if you are not sure, and use a qualified electrician for outdoor wiring.

A recessed downlight sits within the ceiling, so it needs a void and a cut-out, and it leaves a neat finish. A surface-mounted model fixes to the ceiling, which helps on solid ceilings or where the void is too shallow. The Astro Kos II is surface mounted and stands about 85mm proud. Check the cut-out and depth on the product page before you decide.

There is no fixed rule, but about 1m to 1.5m is a useful starting point along a soffit for a wash of light down a wall. Wider spacing gives separate pools of light, which suits a run of pillars or windows. Think about what you want to light, and keep them away from bedroom windows. A dim test at night can save you moving them later.

Many here take a GU10 lamp, which you buy separately. Astro lists up to 6W LED on the Kos II. Others have a built-in LED, such as the Collingwood H2 Pro Extreme, so there is no lamp to choose. A warm white 2700K to 3000K usually looks best on brick and render. Check the listing for whether the fitting can dim.

Some can, and the product page will say. Astro lists the Kos II as IP65 for bathroom zones 1 and 2 as well as outdoor use. Do not assume every fitting has the same approval, as the IP rating is only part of the answer. A qualified electrician should confirm the zone and wiring. For more options, look at our bathroom ceiling lights.

Look for one the maker describes as coastal, such as the Astro Jura Coastal, Astro Kos Round Coastal or Collingwood H2 Pro Extreme. Salt air is hard on metal finishes, so the material matters as well as the rating. Rinse and wipe fittings from time to time, and check the product page for care and guarantee details before you order a fitting close to the sea.

When there is no ceiling, soffit or canopy to fix it to, or where you need to light a wide area. A wall light or floodlight suits those cases better. A downlight also gives little light outwards, so it may not help you see a person's face at the door. A lantern beside the door can do that better while the downlight lights the step.