LED panel lights have come a long way from the buzzing fluorescent troffers that used to light every Australian office. Today's panels are slim, efficient and almost glare free, and they are just as at home in a garage, laundry, rumpus room or home office as they are in a commercial fit out. This guide covers everything you need to know before you buy: sizes, brightness, colour temperature, mounting options and the panels we recommend right now.

What is an LED panel light?

An LED panel is a flat, rectangular or square light fitting, usually 10 to 30mm deep, that spreads light evenly across a frosted (opal) diffuser. Because the light comes from a large surface rather than a single point, panels give soft, even light with very little glare or shadow. That makes them ideal for spaces where you need to see clearly for long periods, such as offices, classrooms, workshops and kitchens.

There are two main types:

  • Edge lit (side lit): LEDs run around the edge of the panel and a light guide plate pushes the light forward. These are the slimmest panels.
  • Back lit: LEDs sit behind the diffuser and shine straight through it. Back lit panels are usually more efficient, lighter and more resistant to yellowing over time.

LED panel sizes explained

Australian panels are built to suit standard 600mm and 1200mm suspended (T-bar) ceiling grids. The actual panel is slightly smaller than its nominal size so it drops neatly into the grid.

Nominal size Actual size Typical wattage Best for
600 x 300mm 595 x 295mm 18 to 27W Hallways, small offices, laundries, walk-in robes
600 x 600mm 595 x 595mm 30 to 42W Office grid ceilings, shops, square rooms
1200 x 300mm 1195 x 295mm 30 to 40W Offices, garages, kitchens, the "skylight" look
1200 x 600mm 1195 x 595mm 45 to 60W Large open plan areas, warehouses with grid ceilings, feature skylights

For homes, the 1200 x 300mm panel is still our most popular size. It is long and slim, looks deliberate on a plaster ceiling, and lines up nicely with benchtops, workbenches and desks.

How many LED panels do I need?

A quick rule of thumb using a 4000 lumen panel (a typical 40W 1200 x 300mm):

  • Offices, study and workspaces: about one panel for every 7 to 8m² of floor. This gets you close to the 320 lux that Australian standards suggest for general office work.
  • Kitchens and laundries: about one panel for every 8 to 10m².
  • Garages, sheds and storage: about one panel for every 12 to 15m².

Ceiling height, wall colour and how detailed the work is will all shift these numbers, so treat them as a starting point. Space panels evenly and keep them roughly the same distance from the walls as half the gap between panels.

Choosing the right colour temperature

Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). The lower the number, the warmer (more yellow) the light. Panels are generally sold in three tones:

  • 3000K warm white: cosy and relaxed. Good for living areas and bedrooms, but uncommon in panels because most people choose them for task lighting.
  • 4000K cool white (neutral): clean, natural white without feeling clinical. The best all rounder for homes, kitchens, laundries and most offices.
  • 5000K to 6000K daylight: crisp and bright. Ideal for garages, workshops, warehouses, medical rooms and anywhere you need maximum clarity.

Not sure which to pick? Choose a CCT (tri colour) panel. These have a small switch on the fitting or driver that lets you change between colour temperatures after installation, so you can see what works in the room before you commit.

Other specs worth checking

  • Lumens per watt (efficiency): lumens tell you brightness, watts tell you running cost. A good modern panel delivers 100 lumens per watt or better.
  • CRI (colour rendering index): how accurately colours look under the light. CRI 80 is standard. CRI 90 and above makes skin tones, timber and food look noticeably more natural, which is worth having in kitchens, retail and studios.
  • Flicker free driver: cheap drivers can cause flicker that leads to eye strain and shows up as rolling bands on phone video. Quality panels use a flicker free driver.
  • Dimmable or not: most panels are non-dimmable. If you need dimming, look for a DALI dimmable model and check it is compatible with your control system.
  • Emergency backup: commercial spaces often need emergency lighting. Emergency panels include a battery that keeps the light on during a power failure.
  • Warranty: look for at least three years.

Recessed, surface mounted or suspended?

LED panels can be installed three ways:

  • Recessed into a grid ceiling: the panel simply drops into a standard T-bar ceiling grid. No extra parts needed.
  • Recessed into plasterboard: cut a hole in the plaster and fit a recessed plaster frame (trim kit) so the panel sits flush with a neat edge.
  • Surface mounted: a surface mount frame screws to the ceiling and the panel sits inside it. This is the go-to for concrete ceilings, apartments, or anywhere you cannot or do not want to cut a hole.
  • Suspended: hang the panel on wire suspension kits for a floating look in high ceilings, shops and studios.

Most panels use an external driver with a flex and plug lead, which makes replacement simple once a plug base is in place. In Australia, any new lighting circuit or plug base must be installed by a licensed electrician.

The skylight trick

One of our favourite uses for panels at home is to fake a skylight. A large panel recessed flush into a plaster ceiling, especially in a dark hallway, ensuite or walk-in robe, reads as a bright window to the sky. To get the look:

  • Use the largest panel the space allows: 1200 x 300mm for hallways, or 1200 x 600mm for a bigger room.
  • Choose 4000K for a soft, natural daylight feel, or 5000K for a bright, sunny look.
  • Pick a back lit panel with a smooth opal diffuser so the light looks even edge to edge.

Our favourite LED panels right now

1. Pixel Skyrise LED Panel 1200 x 300mm, 40W, CRI 90

Pixel Skyrise 1200 x 300mm LED panel light with a slim matt white aluminium frame

The Pixel Skyrise is the panel we now recommend first, and it is the best value panel in our range. It puts out 4000 lumens from 40W (100 lumens per watt) and, unusually for a panel at this price, has a CRI of 90, so colours look rich and true rather than flat. It has an aluminium frame, a wide 120° beam, a 50,000 hour rated life and a 3 year warranty.

  • Available in 4000K cool white or 5000K daylight
  • Drops straight into a 1200 x 300 grid, or recesses into plaster
  • Pair it with the Pixel Skyrise surface mount frame for concrete or solid ceilings

2. Pixel Skyrise LED Panel 600 x 600mm, 42W

Pixel Skyrise 600 x 600mm square LED panel light with a slim matt white frame

The square version of the Skyrise, made for standard 600mm office grid ceilings. The Skyrise 600 x 600 delivers 4200 lumens from 42W with the same slim matt white aluminium frame and 120° beam, in 4000K neutral white or 5000K daylight. If you are refitting an office, shop or classroom on a budget, this is the one to look at.

3. Haneco Matrix G4 1200 x 300mm CCT

The Haneco Matrix G4 is a step up for commercial, education and healthcare jobs. It is designed for low glare to reduce eye fatigue over a long day, has tri colour (CCT) adjustment, and is cyanosis compliant, which makes it suitable for medical spaces where accurate colour rendering matters. For square grids, the Matrix G3 600 x 600 lets you switch both colour and wattage (25 to 36W).

4. SAL S9754 MK II CCT Panel

The SAL S9754 MK II comes in every common size, from 600 x 300mm (18W) right up to 1200 x 600mm (48W, 5200 lumens), with a DIP switch to choose 3000K, 4000K or 5700K. If you need emergency lighting, the same panel is available as an emergency backup version. SAL plaster recess frames and suspension drops are also available.

5. Domus PANEL-312 Trio or DALI Dimmable

Need dimming? The Domus PANEL-312 is available as a switchable TRIO (3000K, 4000K or 5700K) or as a DALI dimmable model for buildings with lighting control. It uses a flicker free driver with a harmonic filter, so it will not show rolling bands on video calls or recordings. It also comes in 300 x 300, 600 x 300 and 600 x 600 sizes, with matching plaster trim frames.

6. Vibe Skylite 150 Backlit Panel 1200 x 600mm, 60W

For the skylight look on a bigger scale, the Vibe Skylite 150 is a large 1195 x 595mm back lit panel putting out 6000 lumens, with three switchable colour temperatures. It can be recessed or surface mounted and is a direct replacement for old fluorescent troffers.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put an LED panel in a plaster ceiling?
Yes. Cut the opening to suit and use a recessed plaster frame (trim kit) for a flush finish, or fit a surface mount frame and avoid cutting a hole at all.

Are LED panels good for homes?
Yes. They are a great choice for garages, laundries, kitchens, home offices, rumpus rooms and dark hallways, anywhere you want bright, even, low glare light.

What is the difference between a troffer and an LED panel?
A troffer is the older style of recessed office fitting, originally built for fluorescent tubes, usually with a louvre or prismatic cover. An LED panel is the modern, much slimmer replacement with a flat diffuser and better efficiency.

Can I replace my old fluorescent troffers with LED panels?
Yes. Panels are made in the same standard grid sizes, so they drop straight into the existing ceiling. Have an electrician disconnect the old fitting and connect the new driver.

Are LED panels dimmable?
Most are not. If you need dimming, choose a DALI dimmable panel such as the Domus PANEL range and confirm it suits your control system.

How long do LED panels last?
Quality panels are rated for 30,000 to 50,000 hours. At 10 hours a day that is roughly 8 to 13 years of use.

Ready to choose? Browse our full range of LED panel lights, or contact our team for help working out how many panels you need for your space.