You build good lighting for an outdoor kitchen in three layers: directed task lighting above the worktop, warm white mood lighting at 2700 to 3000 kelvin around it, and lights with the right protection rating for where they go. With these three layers you can chop safely in the dark, and the garden stays inviting until well past midnight. Here you'll find concrete guide values for lumens, kelvin and IP ratings, so you know exactly what to pick up at the DIY store.
Start with task lighting above the worktop
Task lighting is the layer that determines your safety: you want to see what you're chopping. For kitchens as workspaces, the German lighting initiative licht.de cites basic lighting of at least 500 lux, based on the workplace lighting standard DIN EN 12464-1. Outdoors, that's easy to convert, because lux is lumens per square metre.
A worktop 60 cm deep and 3 metres wide has an area of 1.8 square metres. So you need about 900 lumens of directed light to reach the level of a workplace.
In practice, an LED strip under the edge of the roof or a few spotlights directly above the worktop work most pleasantly. Mount the light in front of you or vertically above the worktop, so the chopping area stays bright and your shadow falls behind you. That sounds obvious. Yet it is exactly what goes wrong most often.
And choose dimmable task lighting if you can: when cooking you want full light on the chopping board, and when sitting afterwards a soft glow that doesn't pull anyone out of the conversation.
Build mood lighting in layers around it
For atmosphere around your outdoor kitchen, you need surprisingly little light. Take a look at the guide values for each area:
| Application | Guide value |
|---|---|
| Borders and mood lighting on the patio | 50 to 150 lumens per light |
| Garden paths and walkways | 100 to 200 lumens per light |
| House wall and entrance | 50 to 300 lumens per light |
| Trees and accents | 100 to 400 lumens per light |
| Driveway or dark corner | 200 to 800 lumens per light |
| Security light with motion sensor | 700 to 1,300 lumens or more |
For all this mood lighting, choose a colour temperature of 2700 to 3000 kelvin. Warm white makes Douglas fir look golden and faces look soft. Light from 4000 kelvin upwards quickly feels cold in a green garden, as if you were grilling in a car park.
If you're unsure, we consider 3000 kelvin the safe all-rounder, not least because plants keep their natural colour in it. If you'd like to style the rest once the lighting is sorted, you'll find our tips for styling your outdoor kitchen in a separate article.
Choose the protection rating to suit the spot
The protection rating (IP) tells you how well a light withstands dust and water, and that is exactly where a lot goes wrong with outdoor lighting. Hanging an indoor light under the roof feels harmless, until the first autumn arrives.
| Rating | Withstands | Where |
|---|---|---|
| IP44 | Splashing water from all directions | Only in sheltered spots, under a roof or on a covered house wall |
| IP65 | Water jets, including from the garden hose | Exposed spots, façade, above the worktop |
| IP67 | Temporary immersion for up to 30 minutes | Recessed ground lights, spots where water collects |
| IP68 | Continuous immersion | Pond or pool |
For an outdoor kitchen, IP65 is the logical standard. You'll sometimes hose down the worktop too and want to be able to aim freely while you do. IP44 is enough if the light really hangs somewhere dry, and dry here means: on a rainy day in October as well.
Sort out power and controls beforehand
Thinking about electricity is less fun than choosing lights, but it determines the result. In our outdoor kitchens you can have a pop-up socket fitted in the worktop. Handy for the cable of a speaker or a floor lamp, and there's no need for an extension lead across the garden.
Permanently installed lighting belongs on its own outdoor circuit with an RCD, and you split task lighting and mood lighting across separate switches or a smart home system. Lights that switch on automatically at sunset take the last chore out of the evening.
As for solar lights: in a sunny spot they're a good choice for a path. Under a roof or in the shade their output drops, and the task lighting above the worktop should always run on mains power.
The mistakes that spoil your evening
We see three mistakes again and again. Too much light: a garden that is equally bright everywhere feels restless. Build in layers instead and dim whatever can be dimmed. Light in your eyes: mount spotlights so the beam falls on the worktop or path and misses the faces of your guests at the table.
And everything on one switch: you want to be able to turn off the task lighting while the festoon lights stay on, otherwise the whole party suddenly sits through dessert as if in an operating theatre. Good lighting makes your outdoor kitchen the meeting place where everyone gathers, even after midnight.
Frequently asked questions
How many lumens do you need in an outdoor kitchen?
In an outdoor kitchen you need about 500 lumens per square metre for the worktop, derived from the 500 lux that licht.de cites for kitchens as workspaces. For mood lighting around it, 50 to 150 lumens per light is enough, and 100 to 200 lumens for walkways. It's best to switch task lighting and mood lighting separately.
Which colour temperature should you choose for outdoor lighting?
For outdoor lighting around an outdoor kitchen, choose warm white light at 2700 to 3000 kelvin. This colour temperature suits Douglas fir and creates an inviting atmosphere on the patio. Light from 4000 kelvin upwards quickly feels cold and clinical in a garden. If in doubt, 3000 kelvin is the safest choice.
What protection rating does outdoor kitchen lighting need?
Outdoor kitchen lighting needs at least IP44 in sheltered spots and IP65 in exposed spots. IP65 withstands water jets, including hosing down the worktop with the garden hose. For recessed ground lights where water can collect, choose IP67; IP68 is only needed for a pond or pool.
Is LED lighting suitable for an outdoor kitchen?
LED lighting is the most suitable choice for an outdoor kitchen: economical, dimmable and available in every colour temperature. Pay attention to the light's protection rating, though, because it's the housing that makes an LED weatherproof. Also choose LED strips that are built for outdoor use: they keep their light colour for years.
Can a Varetti outdoor kitchen have lighting and power?
On request, a Varetti outdoor kitchen gets power via a pop-up socket in the worktop. You can use it to plug in a light, a speaker or the thermometer charger, with no loose extension leads. Put permanent task and mood lighting on a separate outdoor circuit. Our kitchens arrive fully assembled; your electrician connects the electrics.
