LED floodlighting for American football
DIN EN 12193 treats American football the same as football: 75 lx for training and recreation (Class III), 200 lx for competitions at medium level (Class II). The area is different, though: the field measures 109.7 × 48.8 m, plus the team areas out to the limit line. On a football pitch you should therefore check whether the end zones also get enough light.
As of:
Enquire about American football floodlightingWhat is different in American football
Longer than the football pitch
A full field is 109.7 m long and 48.8 m wide; a football pitch is usually 105 × 68 m. The end zones can therefore extend beyond the area lit so far.
Include the team areas
According to IFAF, the field extends to the limit lines, generally 18 feet, so around 5.5 m beside the lines.
League matches are brighter
For matches with spectators it must be considerably brighter than in training, because spectators are further from the action.
Light time sets the kick-off
IFAF recommends a kick-off at least four hours before darkness and counts the time at which the floodlighting must be off as part of this.
Sharing the pitch
If American football and football share the pitch, the standard values match, because both are in the same table.
GR ≤50
Glare rating, strictest level
10 no glare90 unbearable
Keeping the long pass in view
Quarterbacks, receivers and kickers often follow the ball high and over many metres. We set mast height, tilt and optics so that as few floodlights as possible lie in this line of sight.
- Mast height
- Tilt
- Optics
- Mast position
Light by playing level
| Average illuminance | Playing level | Lighting class | Uniformity | Glare rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75lx | Training, youth, recreation | Class III | U 0.5 | GR ≤ 55 |
| 200lx | League matches at medium level | Class II | U 0.6 | GR ≤ 50 |
What do the values mean?
Lux tells you how much light reaches the pitch. Uniformity shows how evenly it is distributed, and the glare rating how strongly the floodlights cause glare.
MoreLess
Illuminance (lx): How much light falls on a surface. 1 lx equals 1 lumen per square metre. For sports facilities, the average horizontal illuminance on the playing area is usually given.
Uniformity (U): Lowest divided by average illuminance. The closer the value is to 1, the more even the light.
Glare rating (GR): Assesses how strongly floodlights cause glare at outdoor facilities, on a scale from 10 (no glare) to 90 (unbearable glare).
Frequently asked questions
How many lux does an American football field need?
Under DIN EN 12193, at least 75 lx with a uniformity of 0.5 for training and recreation and 200 lx at 0.6 for competitions at medium level. For high-performance sport, the table gives 500 lx at 0.7.
Does the association prescribe lux values?
We are not aware of a lux value in the 2025 Bundesspielordnung (national league rules) of the German association AFVD, in the licensing statute or in the minimum standards of the GFL, and the IFAF rules do not give one either. Still, check the requirements of your league.
Does the field fit on a football pitch?
Often yes, but the length is tight. If the pitch is too short, IFAF allows the yard to be shortened to as little as 86.67 cm, and the entire field shrinks with it. For the lighting, the actual marking including the end zones counts.
What applies to flag football and youth?
According to IFAF, flag football is played on smaller fields, regularly 40 to 60 yards long and 20 to 30 yards wide, so up to around 55 × 27 m. We are not aware of separate lighting values for it. The training value for tackle football is a sensible benchmark: 75 lx at 0.5.
Why does the switch-off time matter?
IFAF recommends a kick-off at least four hours before darkness. Darkness is taken to be sunset or the time at which artificial light must be off. If a match starts late and too close to that time, playing time drops to at most 48 or 40 minutes.
What applies to light towards the neighbours?
The permit and the local authority regulate this. In Germany, the LAI guidance is the benchmark: in residential areas the guide value for brightening at the window is 3 lx until 10 pm and 1 lx after that. Clarify this early, before the mast positions are fixed.
Enquire about American football floodlighting
Location and contact details are enough. We will get back to you with a first assessment for your field.
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