Metal Halide Lighting and LED Replacement
Quick answer
Metal halide is an older high-wattage lamp used in warehouses, shops, and parking lots. It gets dimmer as it ages, needs warm-up time, and uses a ballast. LED replacements use less power and turn on instantly.
Last checked: September 1, 2026
How to spot metal halide
Look for a large bulb inside a dome or shoebox fixture, a warm-up delay when switched on, and a ballast label.
- Common wattages are 175W, 250W, 400W, and 1000W.
- Lights take a few minutes to reach full brightness.
- After a power blink they may go dark and restart slowly.
Metal halide compared with LED
Compare the things that affect your bill and repair time.
- Energy use: metal halide includes ballast losses. LED does not.
- Maintenance: metal halide loses brightness over its life and needs lamp and ballast work.
- Controls: LED can dim and work with sensors. Metal halide generally cannot.
- Light quality: LED usually gives more even light on the floor.
- Restart: LED is instant on.
What to record before quotes
Write down the watts on the label, the number of lights, their height, and their run hours. Workers need those four numbers, and so do most rebate forms.
Common questions
- What LED replaces a 400W metal halide?
- It depends on the mounting height and the light level you need on the floor. A lighting layout, not a wattage rule of thumb, is the right way to decide.
- Can I just put an LED lamp in the old fixture?
- Sometimes. Retrofit lamps and kits exist. But program rules, warranty, and light quality can differ from a new fixture, so compare both options.
Want help with this project?
Tell us about the building. We will help you understand possible upgrades, rebates, savings, and the next step.