Short answer: high masts are usually 15–40 m tall and carry 4–16 floodlights on a crown. Space them at about 3 to 4 times their height, and choose the height from the area: 20–25 m for interchanges and truck parks, 30–40 m for port yards. Above about 20 m, specify a lowering system so lamps are serviced at ground level, and design mast and foundation for the site’s wind speed.
A high mast lights a large area from few points, with fewer poles in traffic, less glare for drivers and lower maintenance than many short poles. Its cost is concentrated in steel, foundation and the lowering gear, so the specification decides most of the price.
Key numbers
- Typical heights: 15–40 m; common tender heights are 16, 20, 25 and 30 m.
- Spacing between masts: roughly 3–4 times the mounting height, so 75–100 m for 25 m masts.
- A recent port tender in Aqaba, Jordan, asked for 30 and 40 m masts with 6, 8 or 12 floodlights and a double-drum winch lowering system.
- Kenya’s Eldoret street lighting PPP, in contract negotiation in 2026, includes about 90 high masts alongside some 12,000 LED street lights.
1. Height and crown by application
| Application | Typical height | Floodlights per crown | Usual lighting target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorway interchange, roundabout | 20–30 m | 6–12 | Conflict-area class, often C1–C2 |
| Container port yard, terminal | 30–40 m | 8–16 | Port authority requirement, often 20–50 lux |
| Logistics yard, truck park | 20–25 m | 4–8 | 10–30 lux |
| Community sports ground | 15–25 m | 4–8 | Recreational level, about 100–200 lux |
| Public square, market | 15–20 m | 4–6 | 10–20 lux |
| Rural community lighting, Africa | 15–20 m | 3–6 | Area lighting, often solar or hybrid |
Our engineering guidance from project specifications we have seen. Stadiums for broadcast or league play need sports-specific towers and a photometric design to the sport’s rules, not a standard high mast.
2. Spacing and layout
Spacing follows from height, beam angle and the uniformity required. A useful starting point is 3–4 times the height between masts, with each mast covering a radius of about 2–2.5 times its height. Place masts outside the traffic lanes, behind barriers, and where a maintenance vehicle can reach the base. On interchanges, masts at the outer edge of loops light the ramps without sitting in the slip roads.
Asymmetric floodlights aimed outwards spread light further than symmetric ones. Ask for the photometric layout with the actual floodlight IES files, and check uniformity as well as the average.
3. Lowering systems
| Option | How it works | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed crown | Floodlights fixed at the top; serviced by a lift platform | Masts up to about 20 m where a platform is available |
| Lowering, non-latching | Winch lowers the crown on wire ropes, which carry it permanently | Lower cost; ropes stay under load |
| Lowering, latching | The crown locks at the top and the ropes are unloaded | Preferred for tall masts and windy or coastal sites |
Specify the winch type (single or double drum, motor or hand-operated), the wire rope material, a safety brake, and a portable power tool so one winch serves many masts. A lowering system lets a two-person team change lamps without a crane, which matters in places where hiring one is slow.
4. Mast structure and foundation
- Section: polygonal tapered steel, in sections joined by slip joints, with a base flange and anchor bolts.
- Design loads: basic wind speed and terrain category for the site, the crown’s projected area and weight, and seismic loads where relevant. EN 40-3 and ASCE 7 are common references; state which one the tender requires.
- Coating: hot-dip galvanized inside and out to ISO 1461; for coastal ports, set the coating to the corrosivity category, as in our galvanizing guide.
- Foundation: designed from a soil report, usually a reinforced concrete pad or pile cap. Anchor bolt templates should arrive before the mast.
- Access: a lockable door at the base for the winch and electrics, and lightning protection with an earthing system.
5. What to put in the tender
| Item | Example of a complete line |
|---|---|
| Height and number | 12 masts, 30 m mounting height |
| Crown and floodlights | 8 × LED floodlights per crown, asymmetric, IES files supplied |
| Lighting target | Average 30 lux, Uo ≥ 0.4 over the yard, layout attached |
| Lowering | Latching, double-drum winch, portable power tool |
| Structure | Designed for basic wind speed Vb = __ m/s to EN 40-3, calculation report supplied |
| Coating | Hot-dip galvanized to ISO 1461, corrosivity category C4 |
| Power | Grid supply with photocell and timer, or solar / hybrid with stated autonomy |
FAQ
What height is a high mast light?
Usually 15–40 m. Masts of 20–30 m are the most common for road interchanges; ports often use 30–40 m.
How far apart should high masts be?
About 3 to 4 times the mast height, then confirmed by a photometric calculation with the chosen floodlights.
Do I need a lowering system?
Above about 20 m, or wherever lift platforms are hard to get, yes. A latching type is preferred for tall masts and windy sites.
Can high masts run on solar power?
Yes, for moderate outputs. A solar high mast needs a large panel array and battery, so it suits community and yard lighting more than ports that need high lux all night.
How we help
We supply high-mast lighting from 15 to 40 m with fixed or multi-tier crowns, together with street lighting poles and LED luminaires for the approach roads. Send us the area, the lighting target and the site wind speed.
Send your high-mast specification
Sources: published high-mast tender specifications (including a 2025–2026 Aqaba port tender); Kenyan press and county reports on the Eldoret street lighting PPP (2026); EN 40-3 and ASCE 7 for structural design references; ISO 1461 coating; EN 13201-2 conflict-area classes. Height, spacing and lux ranges by application are our own engineering guidance. Related: pole height and spacing, road lighting classes.