Five Basic Things to Know Before Buying a Light Bar

Are you looking to purchase a light bar? Possibly this is the first light bar that you ever bought, and there is a couple things to take into consideration. Before you buy, it helps to nail down five things: where you want to put it and what size makes sense, how you're going to mount it, how you want to wire and control it, whether white or amber fits the conditions you drive in, and what all of that is going to cost when it's said and done.

Where You Want to Put It and What Size Makes Sense

The first step is to determine where you want to install your light bar. There are several common mounting positions, such as a roof rack or the roof itself, the front bumper, or inside the bumper for a more discreet appearance. Some setups place the light bar behind the grille, and in some cases, a light bar can also be mounted on the hood.

It is also important to consider what you are trying to illuminate. A light bar mounted on the roof or roof rack is generally better suited for longer-distance visibility. If your goal is to improve illumination closer to the front of the vehicle, a bumper-mounted or hood-mounted option may be more appropriate.

In addition, the mounting location often affects both size and cost. Roof-mounted or roof rack-mounted setups typically use larger light bars and therefore require a higher budget. For example, if you plan to install a long light bar on the roof rack or roof, a 50-inch model can be a practical option, such as 54 Series 50-Inch Dual-Control LED Light Bar. If you prefer a front-bumper or behind-the-grille installation, you will usually choose a smaller and more affordable light bar, and a 31-inch option can be suitable for front bumper mounting, such as 31-Inch Amber Backlit Combo Beam LED Light Bar. In short, the key is to decide on the installation location first, and then select the size that best fits that position.

How You're Going to Mount It

Once you have decided on the installation location and the appropriate light bar size, the next step is to determine the mounting method. Most light bars are supplied with standard L-shaped brackets that can be adapted to many mounting positions. However, whenever vehicle-specific brackets are available, they typically provide a better fit and alignment. This can also help reduce or avoid drilling into body panels, which may otherwise increase the risk of water intrusion, corrosion, or long-term wear.

In practice, roof rack systems often support dedicated mounting brackets designed to attach directly to the rack and the light bar, resulting in a cleaner installation. Similarly, many aftermarket bumpers are manufactured with integrated mounting provisions for light bars, which can simplify the process and improve overall stability.

How You Want to Wire and Control It

After the mounting approach has been determined, the next consideration is wiring and control. In general, there are two primary options. One approach is to route a single switch into the vehicle interior, which may require drilling a pass-through and positioning the switch where it is convenient to operate. The other approach is to use a dedicated switch panel system, and the preferred choice typically depends on how many auxiliary lights you intend to run.

If you plan to operate only one light bar and do not expect to add other lighting in the future, a single in-cabin switch can be a straightforward solution. However, if you anticipate running multiple accessories—such as additional light bars, rock lights, or light pods, a switch panel can provide a more organized and scalable setup. With a switch panel, accessory circuits can be consolidated into a centralized under-hood control module, reducing clutter and helping avoid disorganized wiring. It also allows multiple outputs to be managed from a single panel inside the cabin, often with several switch positions available for future expansion.

In a typical switch panel configuration, wiring from each accessory is routed to a protected power distribution point (such as a fused control box) under the hood, with a main power feed connected to the battery through an appropriate breaker or fuse. From there, a single control harness is routed into the cabin to the switch panel. This arrangement makes it easier to turn circuits on and off, label each function clearly, and keep the installation visually cleaner and easier to service over time.

For roof-mounted or roof rack-mounted light bars , a wire-hiding channel can also be used to route the cable neatly along the windshield edge and down into the engine bay, rather than drilling through the roof to pass wiring inside the vehicle. If you choose this type of routing method, it can help protect the wiring, reduce exposed cable runs, and support a more finished appearance.

Whether White or Amber Fits the Conditions You Drive In

The next decision is selecting the light bar's color temperature. In most cases, the primary options are white and amber. Some buyers choose based on appearance or to match other lighting on the vehicle, but each option also serves a functional purpose, and the right choice depends on how and where the vehicle is used.

A practical way to decide is to consider your local environment and typical driving conditions, including weather and airborne particles. White light is a common all-around option and is generally perceived as brighter than amber. However, amber can be more effective in certain conditions where visibility is reduced by glare.

If you mainly drive in relatively clear and dry conditions with minimal snow or heavy precipitation, a white light bar can be a suitable choice. In contrast, if you frequently encounter rain, snow, fog, dust, or desert-like environments with significant particles in the air, an amber light bar may perform better. This is because white light, with shorter wavelengths, is more likely to reflect off airborne particles and create backscatter, which can reduce usable visibility. Amber light tends to cut through these conditions more effectively, helping the light project forward rather than reflecting back toward the driver. Alternatively, you can choose a dual-color light bar such as our 54B Series Dual-Color Light Bars.

What All of That Is Going to Cost When It's Said and Done

The final consideration, and often the most decisive is overall cost, which can vary significantly. Light bars are available across a wide price range, and the total expense depends on your intended use, performance expectations, and budget. The decisions discussed earlier will also influence the final cost, including whether you choose a switch panel or a basic wiring harness with a single in-cabin switch, and whether you use vehicle-specific mounting brackets or standard L-brackets supplied with the light bar. When these components are considered together, the complete setup cost can differ substantially from one installation to another.

Closing

The lighting market offers a wide range of options, and the best choice depends on the vehicle, the installation position, and the performance requirements. As a professional automotive lighting solutions provider, we focus on B2B supply and solution support rather than retail sales. We offer OEM/ODM services to help distributors, brands, workshops, and fleet-focused customers develop the right auxiliary lighting configuration for their applications. We hope this guide has been helpful, and thank you for reading.