An outdoor lighting pole is a structural component that happens to carry a light. It takes wind load on a lever arm, transfers it to a foundation, keeps water out of the wiring, and does all of that for decades in weather. Choosing one is therefore a structural and corrosion decision first, and an aesthetic one second — in that order, because the order is what people get wrong.
Artay Lighting has cast aluminium in its own die-cast foundry in Istanbul since 1999, fabricates hot-dip galvanized steel poles alongside it, and exports to more than 33 countries. This guide covers the types, the heights, the materials, the standards that govern them, and what it costs to have a pole made in a form that is not in anyone’s catalogue.
In this guide, we’ll cover outdoor pole types, typical heights, materials and coatings, essential technical specifications, and a simple checklist to help you choose correctly.
What are outdoor lighting poles used for?
Outdoor poles are used anywhere you need consistent night-time visibility, safety, and long-term durability:
- Streets, boulevards, and highways (street lighting)
- Parks, promenades, and walking paths
- Parking lots and commercial zones
- Residential communities and campuses
- Ports, logistics areas, and industrial zones
- Sports facilities and open public spaces
Types of outdoor lighting poles
Choosing the right type depends on area size, wind exposure, luminaire weight, and the lighting plan.
1) Street lighting poles
- Designed for roads and vehicle-focused illumination
- Commonly single-arm or double-arm configurations
- Height selection is tied to road width and spacing
Browse models in our Street Lighting category.
2) Park & pathway poles
- Lower heights for pedestrian comfort and visual harmony
- Often paired with glare-controlled optics
- Chosen for uniform light distribution without harsh hotspots
3) Parking lot poles
- Higher mounting to cover wide areas with fewer poles
- Requires careful wind and foundation design
- Often uses stronger luminaires and wider optics
4) Decorative outdoor poles
- Selected for plazas, promenades, and premium landscapes
- Appearance is part of the project identity
- Must still meet structural and durability requirements
Typical heights for outdoor lighting poles
Use these ranges as a practical baseline (final selection should follow the lighting design and photometrics):
- 3–5 m: parks, pedestrian zones, pathways, landscaped areas
- 6–8 m: residential streets, smaller roads, community areas
- 9–12 m: boulevards, main roads, wider streets and open areas, large commercial zones, parking areas and industrial sites
Materials: galvanized steel vs. aluminum
Galvanized steel (hot-dip galvanized)
- Strong, reliable, and cost-effective for outdoor projects
- Excellent base corrosion protection when properly galvanized
- Compatible with powder coating for premium finishes
Aluminum
- Naturally corrosion resistant and lightweight
- Useful where transport/handling advantages matter
- Common in premium and decorative outdoor installations
Real durability is not just the metal: it’s also surface preparation, galvanizing quality, and the coating system used for the environment.
Coatings & finishes for outdoor environments
Outdoor poles face UV exposure, rain, salt, and abrasion. Choose a finish system that matches the climate and project expectations.
- Hot-dip galvanizing: core protection against corrosion
- Powder coating: aesthetic finish + added protection
- Multi-layer paint systems: recommended for harsh climates (coastal/industrial)
What to specify:
- Color (RAL code if needed)
- Surface texture (matte / satin)
- UV resistance expectations
- Maintenance/touch-up approach for long-term appearance
Key specifications to check before you buy
1) Wind load and structural calculation
Wind engineering matters more as pole height and arm outreach increase. Confirm structural compliance for the project location.
2) Base plate, anchor bolts, and foundation detail
- Foundation must match wind load + height + luminaire weight
- Ask for anchor bolt pattern and base dimensions
3) Arm/bracket type and outreach
- Outreach affects beam distribution and glare control
- Match pole geometry to luminaire photometrics
4) Access door, wiring, and grounding
- Serviceability matters (door quality, position, and size)
- Safe cable routing and grounding provision should be clear
5) Luminaire compatibility
- Spigot/top diameter compatibility
- Mounting method and tilt adjustability if needed
Which standards govern an outdoor lighting pole?
The EN 40 series is the reference for lighting columns: EN 40-2 for dimensions and tolerances, EN 40-3-1 for characteristic loads, EN 40-3-3 for verification by calculation, EN 40-5 for steel columns and EN 40-6 for aluminium columns. Hot-dip galvanizing is governed by EN ISO 1461, and the luminaires themselves by EN 60598-2-3. Road lighting performance is set by the EN 13201 series, and for Turkish municipal and TEDAŞ work, TEDAŞ type-project approval is the document that will be asked for.
Artay luminaires are CE marked, and manufacturing is certified to TSE under TS EN 40 for lighting columns and to ISO 9001 for quality management. Cast bodies are produced in EN AC-46000 (AlSi9Cu3) alloy with a chromate pre-treatment before electrostatic powder coating. Ask any supplier for the certificate together with its scope — a certificate covering luminaires does not cover columns.
What does a custom outdoor pole cost, and how long does it take?
There are two different questions here and most suppliers answer them as one. Changing the dimensions of an existing pole — height, diameter, wall thickness, arm length, door position, base plate pattern, RAL colour — carries no tooling cost and no minimum order. Changing the form means casting a shape that does not yet exist, which needs a die: 4,000–50,000 USD one-time depending on part size, minimum 1,000–2,000 units, the die cut in 4–6 weeks, first delivery 7–9 weeks after drawing approval, and repeat orders on that die in 3 weeks with no further charge.
Two limits worth stating plainly. We do not make high-mast poles, and we buy in extruded aluminium profile rather than extruding it ourselves — as most of this market does. What is ours is the die-casting and the tool shop behind it. If your quantity does not justify a mould we will say so and propose the form in fabricated steel or profile instead. The full commercial picture is on the OEM and private label page, and coastal projects have their own requirements in the coastal lighting poles guide.
How to choose outdoor lighting poles (simple checklist)
- Define the area type (street, park, parking, industrial)
- Select target height range based on coverage and spacing
- Choose arm/bracket type and outreach
- Pick material + coating system based on climate
- Confirm wind load and foundation requirements
- Lock luminaire compatibility and service access
- Standardize models for consistency and easier maintenance
Common mistakes
- Choosing height without lighting design: leads to poor uniformity or over-lighting
- Ignoring wind exposure: taller poles need proper engineering
- Weak coating choice: outdoor poles can age badly if the finish system is wrong
Need help selecting outdoor lighting poles?
Share your project location, target area type, preferred heights, and luminaire details. We can recommend a pole family and coating system suitable for long-term outdoor performance.
Related pole guides
- Street lighting poles — types, heights, galvanized steel and what a custom pole actually costs.
- Modern outdoor lighting poles — LED-ready pole designs and materials for streets, parks and new developments.
- Decorative lighting poles — styles and materials for parks, plazas and pedestrian zones.
- Modern lighting poles — design and material choices for public spaces.
- Lighting pole standards by country — eight export markets side by side: what each tender cites, where it is published and what crosses the border.
- Lighting pole materials — galvanized steel or aluminium, and what happens where they meet.
- What a lighting pole costs — mould economics, minimum orders and lead times in full.
- Garden and landscape lighting — mounting heights, EN 13201 P classes and the obtrusive light zones that decide a park scheme.
- EN 40 lighting column standards — what each part of the series actually covers.
Specifying bollards? Bollard lights: how to choose and specify them — why they are aluminium and not galvanized steel, glare control at eye level, and which standard actually applies.
Steel or aluminium? Lighting pole materials: galvanized steel or aluminium — coastal performance, chromate pre-treatment, and what happens at the joint where the two metals meet.
Not sure which type you need? Street lighting pole types: how to choose the right one — steel, extruded aluminium, die-cast and bollards compared on height, corrosion environment, EN 40 standards and what changes when the form is made to your own drawing.
Choosing a supplier? Street lighting pole manufacturers in Turkey: how to compare them — what nine Turkish manufacturers publish about casting, standards, certificates and lead times, and the five questions worth asking every supplier.
All of these poles are produced by the same manufacturer: Artay casts housings and pole components in its own die-cast foundry in Istanbul, which is why a form that exists in no catalogue can still be produced. See the LED lighting fixtures manufacturer in Istanbul behind these guides, or browse the full outdoor and street lighting product range.