LED fixture mounting options, explained
The right fixture can still be the wrong order if the mount does not match the wall, pole, ceiling, or grid you have. Mounting is one of the first things to check on a product page, alongside voltage and the location rating. This page explains the common commercial mounts in plain language so you can match a fixture to the site, then confirm the details on the product itself. If you are planning a full space, include the mount in your lighting layout request.
Poles, tenons, and slip-fitters
Many parking lot and roadway fixtures sit on a pole. A slip-fitter slides over a tenon at the top of the pole or on an arm. That is a common mount for parking lot lights, shoebox lights, some LED flood lights, and LED street lights. The tenon size and the fixture’s slip-fitter have to match, and the pole has to be able to carry the fixture and the wind load at the site. Shop steel light poles as a pair with the head whenever you can, or have an existing pole checked before you assume it will work.
Other pole hardware includes arms, bullhorns, and adapters. Those pieces are specific. If a product page lists a mount, that is the mount the fixture is sold with or designed for. Do not assume a wall fixture will bolt onto a pole, or that a slip-fitter fixture will sit flat on a wall, without the right accessory. Post top lights use a different pole-top interface than a shoebox area light, and they are usually mounted lower, along walks and entries, often with bollard lights nearby.
Yoke, trunnion, and wall mounts
A yoke mount is a U-shaped bracket that lets you aim the fixture, which is common on flood lights. A trunnion mount also allows aiming, often from a flat surface or a pad. Wall packs are typically made to mount on a wall or a junction box and wash light down and out along the building; see LED wall packs and, for aimed coverage, LED flood lights. Confirm whether the fixture is a full cut-off style, whether it includes a photocell, and whether the box or surface you have can support it. Outdoor ratings are covered in IP ratings and wet locations, and dusk-to-dawn or motion options are covered in photocells and motion sensors.
Hooks, pendants, surface, and grids
High bays often hang from a hook, a loop, a pendant stem, or a chain kit. UFO high bays and linear high bays are not always interchangeable on the same hanging hardware, so check the product page and our high bay buying guide. Some shop and strip fixtures are surface-mounted to a ceiling; see LED shop lights and LED strip lights. Architectural linear lights may be suspended as a continuous row. In a drop-ceiling grid, LED troffers have to match the opening — typically 2x4, 2x2, or 1x4.
Low outdoor ceilings and fuel islands use a different attachment again. Canopy lights may sit in or on a canopy or soffit. Vapor tight lights are often surface-mounted with a sealed housing. In every case, the mount, the wiring method, and the location rating have to work together. Ceiling height guidance for warehouses is in our warehouse lighting by ceiling height guide, and lot height and coverage are in the parking lot lighting guide.
If you are not sure which mount you have, a clear photo of the existing fixture, the pole top, or the junction box is one of the most useful things you can send when you contact us. More terms are defined in the lighting glossary, and this explainer sits with the others on our lighting resources page. Voltage is a separate check — see 277V and 480V LED lighting before you order. Every fixture is backed by our 5-year warranty and 60-day returns. Orders ship in 1–3 business days per the shipping policy.