Metal Halide to LED Replacement Chart: 250W, 400W, and 1000W Equivalents
Metal halide was the standard for warehouses, gyms, and parking lots for decades. Today, LED fixtures deliver the same or better light on the floor at a fraction of the wattage, with no warm-up time and no ballasts to replace. The most common question is which LED replaces the fixture you have now. Here is the chart.
Why Metal Halide Watts Don't Translate Directly
A 400W metal halide lamp is rated around 36,000 initial lumens, but you get far less than that on the floor:
- Ballast losses: the fixture draws about 450–460W from the wall.
- Lumen depreciation: metal halide can lose 30–40% of its output over its life.
- Wasted light: light goes in every direction, and the reflector loses some of it.
LEDs aim light where it's needed and hold their output much longer. That's why an LED with fewer rated lumens can still match or beat a metal halide fixture in practice.
Metal Halide to LED Replacement Chart
| Metal halide | Actual draw with ballast | LED replacement wattage | Typical LED lumens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 175W | ~210W | 60W–100W | 9,000–15,000 |
| 250W | ~290W | 100W–150W | 14,000–22,000 |
| 400W | ~455W | 150W–200W | 21,000–32,000 |
| 750W | ~820W | 250W–300W | 35,000–48,000 |
| 1000W | ~1,080W | 300W–500W | 45,000–80,000 |
Use the lower end of each range for open spaces with light-colored surfaces. Use the higher end for tall mounting, dark floors, or detailed work.
LED Replacements by Fixture Type
Indoor high bays (warehouses, gyms, shops)
- 250W MH: LED Highbay Fixture – 250W MH Replacement, 150 Watts or the 100W/120W/150W selectable UFO.
- 400W MH: LED Highbay Fixture – 400W MH Replacement, 200 Watts or the 150W/200W/255W selectable UFO (up to 40,000 lumens).
- 1000W MH: Ultra High-Output UFO – 300W/400W/500W selectable (up to 80,300 lumens).
Browse all UFO high bays and linear high bays.
Parking lot and area lights
- 250W MH: 100W/120W/150W selectable shoebox (277-480V) or the 100W/150W/200W selectable shoebox (120-277V).
- 400W MH: 200W LED shoebox (31,220 lumens) or the 200W/240W/300W selectable shoebox.
- 1000W MH: 300W/400W/500W selectable shoebox (up to 73,430 lumens).
See all shoebox and street lights.
Flood lights and sports lighting
For 1000W or 1500W metal halide floods on billboards, building faces, or fields, see our LED flood lights and stadium and sports lights.
Energy Savings Example
Take 40 fixtures running 400W metal halide, drawing about 455W each, for 12 hours a day. Swap them for 200W LEDs:
- That saves about 255W per fixture, or 10.2 kW in total.
- Over 12 hours × 365 days, that's about 44,700 kWh a year.
- At $0.12/kWh, you save roughly $5,360 a year in energy alone, before maintenance and rebates.
Your rate and hours will differ, so plug in your own numbers.
Retrofit Kit or New Fixture?
Retrofit kits reuse the existing housing. New fixtures replace everything. New fixtures usually give better optics and heat control, avoid working with old wiring, and are what many utility rebate programs prefer. If your housings are rusted, cracked, or yellowed, replace the whole fixture.
Before You Order
- Voltage: confirm 120-277V or 277-480V. Many older metal halide systems run on 480V. See our 480V fixtures.
- Mounting: hook, pendant, or chain for high bays. Slip fitter, arm, or trunnion for poles.
- Color temperature: 4000K or 5000K is typical. See our color temperature guide.
- Rebates: DLC-listed fixtures often qualify. Read the rebate guide.
Get Help Picking the Right Fixture
Steel Tech Lights has 17 years in commercial lighting, and every fixture we sell is backed by a 5-year warranty. Send us your layout, pole or ceiling height, and voltage, and we'll recommend fixtures and quantities. Call (888) 720-1137 or Get a Quote.
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