Rent spotlights

Whether you want to rent, hire, or borrow a spotlight, it all means the same thing: you pay the rental company for the days the lights are in use and don't have to worry about storage or maintenance. For one or two events a year, renting is cheaper than buying, and you can choose the right device for each event from a large selection. Our spotlight rental service offers a wide variety of equipment: LED spotlights, LED floodlights, LED spots, outdoor PARs, battery-powered models, blinders, and theater spotlights with Fresnel lenses, suitable for events with up to about 500 guests.

As a rental company, we are personally present at 28 locations in Germany and Austria, so there is usually a spotlight rental shop near you, each with a dedicated contact person. You can pick up the equipment for free and receive a brief orientation, or have it delivered and set up. The rental fee includes insurance and the included accessories; for most devices, this means mounting brackets, safety cables, and power cords.

All rental prices are gross prices. Renting a spotlight and picking it up yourself costs nothing extra. Upon request, our service includes delivery and setup for €59 per hour or part thereof, as well as on-site support. This is worthwhile if someone needs to operate the lights during the performance. Booking is done online: enter your city and dates, select available equipment, with no deposit and no email inquiry required. You don't need to ask for information: details about each device and the daily rental rate are listed on the page beforehand.

There are limitations. We do not rent out followspots or large film lights. No spotlight can compete with daylight; a facade only truly comes to life at dusk. And if you are looking for string lights, it is cheaper to buy them than to rent them. However, fog and haze effects are perfect for stage lighting, as they make every beam of light visible.

‍

What are you illuminating: a facade, a tree, an object, or a stage?

Every goal requires different lighting and therefore a different spotlight, whether for a garden party, a trade fair, or an event in a hall. The choice depends on the goal, not the device. The size of the area, the distance, and whether there is a power outlet nearby are the deciding factors.

Facade and wall

LED bars and PARs with a wide angle are placed on the floor, close to the wall, and shine upwards at an angle. This makes the surface evenly bright instead of showing individual circles. Such floor spots can mix corporate colors directly on the device.

Tree and garden

A PAR can at the base of a trunk, aimed upwards, makes the canopy glow, just like permanently installed garden spotlights. For tall trees, use a narrow beam like the 15° of the Typhoon True Par Kid. If there is no power outlet in the garden, a battery-powered spotlight with an IP65 rating will help.

Object, logo, and cake

A pinspot creates a small, bright point of light: on a wedding cake, a logo display, a sculpture, or a mirror ball. With a 4.5° beam, the point remains so small that almost no light falls on the guests nearby.

Stage and lectern

Two Fresnel lenses positioned at an angle from the front illuminate faces without harsh shadows, and the barn doors limit the light to the stage area. According to the manufacturer, the ARRI 300 Plus provides 672 lux on stage at a distance of five meters in spot mode.

‍

LED or conventional: when is an LED spotlight worth it?

Theaters still use halogen Fresnel lenses today, while events mostly use LED spotlights. Both have their place. The light source determines the color temperature, power consumption, and heat. LED technology has changed many things; the table compares the ARRI 300 Plus with typical LED devices available for rent.

‍

‍

Halogen lamps have an advantage that LEDs still have to replicate: their color spectrum contains all colors without gaps, which is why skin tones and fabrics look natural. This is measured using the Color Rendering Index (CRI): the closer it is to 100, the more realistic colors look in photos and videos, and incandescent light is naturally at the top. When dimmed, it gets warmer, like a candle. An LED Fresnel lens combines a soft light circle with low power consumption and low heat. For color, facades, and anything under the open sky, there is no way around LED spotlights, especially since most rental LED spotlights can also be controlled via DMX.

‍

Battery and outdoor use: which spotlights can go outside?

Outdoors, the protection rating is what counts. The first digit of the IP rating indicates protection against dust, the second against water: IP65 means dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction, while IP20 means protection against fingers but not against water. However, "weatherproof" is not a free pass for continuous operation: Stairville describes IP65 as suitable for temporary outdoor use—meaning for an evening in the rain, not for the entire summer in a flower bed.

‍

‍

A battery-powered spotlight is worth it wherever a cable would be in the way: by a tree in the middle of the lawn, a pillar in a hall, or on a path where guests are walking. According to the manual, the Chauvet Freedom Par T6 is designed for indoor use only; for a garden without an outlet, the BEL6 IP Bar HEX is the right device. If a weatherproof spotlight is connected to the mains, the connection to the outlet must also remain dry. For all other devices, check with the venue before using them outdoors; they can also provide all the details about the equipment.

‍

Setup and stands: how do you position spotlights?

Spotlights can be placed on the floor, on a stand, or hung from a crossbar. You don't need any tools or prior experience for setup, just a stable surface and a power outlet within reach. You can find suitable lighting stands and stands with crossbars under Stands.

On the floor

With its bracket—often designed as a double bracket—a PAR can sit at an angle on the floor and shine upwards. Such an LED floor spot illuminates a wall, facade, or tree from below, without needing a stand at all.

On a stand

Lighting stands usually end in a spigot, known as a TV spigot, onto which you slide the spotlight's mounting bracket and tighten it. Assembly requires no tools. For multiple PAR cans at the same height, there are stands with crossbars.

Secure mounting

If a spotlight is hanging or standing above people's heads, a safety cable secures it in addition to the clamp. Make sure tripod legs are fully extended, and run cables down along the tripod leg.

Aligning

First, set the direction, then the beam. With a Fresnel lens, turn the focus until the circle fills the stage, and close the barn doors where you don't want any light. You can select the color on the device or via remote control.