6 Best DJ Lighting Picks for 2024

We go over several best DJ lighting options as well as what types of best DJ lights to be aware of. PLUS what DJ lighting techniques can be performed with them.
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We’ve tested dozens of lights, speakers, and DJ gear from all over the lighting and audio world in the last year. We’ve also talked to a host of DJs and manufacturers, to gather all the research on what makes the best DJ kit.

We also regularly survey our social media community asking what they consider to be the best DJ gear.

We’ve combined all that data and the DJ gear we picked below is trusted by us and has proven to be some of the best DJ lights you can choose.

Best DJ Lighting: Top Picks

When it comes to DJing, everyone is quick to think of the obvious things. Most people know about the importance of controllers and turntables, mixers, and scratching skills.

However, if you were to ask people what the top 20 important aspects were of DJing, almost none of them would even think to put DJ lights on the list. That’s insane when you think about it.

DJing can be just as much visual art as it is an auditory one. After all, when you go to a club or party event, you don’t see the “DJ” just press “play” on a music player and call it a day. Yes, some of it has to do with the spur-of-the-moment experiences, but just as much also pertains to the fact that the crowd can visually see the DJ performing.

As such, you can certainly imagine that, if seeing a guy spinning a few records is important for the audience’s experience, the numerous and different-colored dancing DJ lights have got to be essential.

The issue is knowing what to look for.

Below, we’ve gone over several high-quality DJ lighting setup options as well as what types of best DJ lights to be aware of and also what techniques can be performed with them.


1. ADJ Inni Spot Pro – Editor’s Pick

best dj ligh

The ADJ Inni Spot Pro is a moving-head light. Moving head DJ lights are one of the most effective DJ lights to inject a lighting atmosphere into a DJ show. These lights have an exceptional and stand-out impact when used in groups, especially when synced with music through a DMX controller.

One of the great things about this model is that the Inni Spot Pro is actually one of the more affordable moving headlights on the current market.

It has a bunch of functions and is well worth the price.

This DJ light functions on six rotating gobos, giving it a vast range of motion and agility. The ADJ Inni Spot Pro can deliver up to 540 degrees of pan and 270 degrees of tilt.

The 8-color and single-spot design also includes additional effects such as strobe, shutter, prism lighting, pulse, and shake.

However, there is a drawback.

Moving heads are considerably more expensive than other DJ lights, which may be an issue for consumers with budget constraints

Editor's Pick
ADJ Products POCKET PRO LED Lighting, Black
$249.00
Pros:
  • Excellent Range of Motion
  • Large range of effects
  • Moving head design
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Multiple heads provide a better experience
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03/27/2024 04:55 pm GMT

Read this next: 6 Best Budget Wireless Microphone Picks


2. Chauvet DJ Shocker Panel LED Lights – Best Premium Choice

best dj lights

Without a doubt, outside of laser lights, strobes are easily one of the most effective ways to get a party going.

Seriously, if you manage to get them moving with the beat in the club, you almost can’t help but get lost in what’s happening, taking the show fully to the next level and beyond. The problem is that, like many things, it doesn’t work nearly as well if you’re not using a quality item.

Luckily the Chauvet DJ Shocker Panel LED is that quality item.

Including four separate and discrete control zones, the Shocker Panel takes what would normally be a standard lighting feature (strobe lights) and takes it to a whole other level of uniqueness.

This is done thanks to the Shocker Panel’s super powerful LED DJ lights, ensuring that you give off a frame-by-frame strobing effect to further enhance the visual experience for your audience while not beating them over the head with the same standard throbbing that strobe lights can be known to do if the DJ isn’t careful.

Even if you’re not a technical expert or a master at light programming, you can still use the Shocker Panel. It comes complete with several preset sequences in addition to the more hands-on DMX hard-controlled method.

Still, things like the “chaser” and “slave/master” sequences are performed without your direct input, meaning you really can have fun while letting the light do all the work for you.

Lastly, the Shocker Panel is also nigh on indestructible, due to its die-cast housing, which was developed in mind for the intense parties and events at clubs and bars.

Best Premium
CHAUVET DJ (CHDDJ) Strobe Light, Black (ShockerPanel480)
$213.89
Pros:
  • Includes wireless remote control
  • Well-built and sturdy
  • Good for novices
Cons:
  • Expensive
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03/28/2024 03:10 pm GMT

Read this next: The Best In-Ear Monitors (IEM Systems)


3. U’King Laser DJ Lights 5 Beam – Best Value

dj lighting

If you’re not able to get a multiple laser set, either due to the money or the potential frustration that comes with getting them all to play well with each other, the U’King Laser DJ lights may be something worth checking out.

This lighting setup comes with 5 separate beams, meaning you can do just about everything all from one device.

Hosting, red, blue, green, cyan, and yellow laser colors, the U’King Laser allows you to let your creativity fly freely while producing some pretty impressive light visuals. Even if you aren’t particularly creative, you can still have a great show.

There are over 100 different pre-programmed patterns with at least 300 different effects and graphics, meaning that you can keep your shows varied and fresh no matter how long your performance goes for.

The U’King has 4 different modes ranging from sound-based activation and automatic movements that don’t require your input, to the DMX mode’s deep and in-depth laser control options, to the “master/slave” mode, which essentially consists of lasers following after one another.

The DJ light setup does have a fairly notable drawback in the form of its noisy motor. Ideally, you’ll want to use it during the quieter points in your performance, where there isn’t a ton happening. If done there, you can make sure your sound stays great, your audience is mesmerized by the DJ lights, and you don’t have to worry about running the motors too hard.

Best Value
Four Beam Effect,Scan Pattern Lights, Party Lights by DMX Control
$69.99
Pros:
  • Includes over 400 patterns and effects
  • Includes 5 Beams offering
  • Great for beginners
Cons:
  • Quite noisy when running
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03/28/2024 02:20 pm GMT

Read this next: Best DJ Controller Under 300 Dollars


Some DJ Light Alternatives

If the three options above don’t work for you, don’t worry. There is still plenty of great best DJ lighting options on the market. 

Some of our other favorite options include:

4. Chauvet DJ PAR Can Wash Light

best dj lighting set up

First up on our list of impressive light setups is the Chauvet DJ PAR Can Wash Light. This setup works very much the same way that a painter would when it comes to handling their canvas. Here, they use a more moody foundation lighting often established with PAR light setups. As such, the Chauvet PAR offers all of those things plus more.

Including both programmable features as well as non-programmable features, the Chauvet PAR can string along just about any style or setup that you want, regardless of the style or the color. If you’re not a fan of the program-heavy DMX customization features, you can instead opt for the automatic or sound-activated features, both of which take the controlling entirely out of your hands.

Ultimately, the Chauvet PAR are slim, space-friendly, high-quality DJ lights that you can take with you just about anywhere. And wherever you do manage to take it to, the device shows itself as an essential and useful option through and through.

Chauvet DJ PAR Can Wash Light
$99.99
Pros:
  • Super Portable
  • DMX customization
  • LED lights won't get too warm
Cons:
  • Expensive
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03/28/2024 02:50 pm GMT

Read this next: Best DJ Controller for Under 500 Dollars


5. ADJ Starburst

home dj lighting

Regarded as a particularly powerful and immersive visual centerpiece, the ADJ Starburst can up the ante for any show almost immediately. Showering the audience in a plethora of shifting colors and amazing patterns, the ADJ Starburst is easily one of the more reliable and go-to devices a DJ can have at their disposal.

Made from 34 super-brilliant beams of DJ light, the ADJ Starburst acts very similarly to what you’d expect of a digital mirror ball. By programming a specific sequence in place while using the device’s 5 different LED colors, you can immediately transform your standard DJ performance into an interstellar party zone.

Ultimately, however, the stand-out feature for the device has got to be the bright-to-dim dimming function. This lets you create super smooth lighting transitions from bright to dark. What’s more, this can be used alongside the rest of the other features, meaning you can play with people’s visual perceptions as the DJ lights dance along. It’s seriously an awesome feature on an awesome device.

But comes with a price!

ADJ Starburst
$319.99
Pros:
  • 34 beams of light
  • Easily customizable
  • Dimming function
Cons:
  • Expensive
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03/28/2024 02:15 pm GMT

Read this next: Best Controller For Virtual DJ: Our Top Picks

What We Like:

  • 34 beams of light
  • Easily customizable
  • Dimming function

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Expensive

6. Aoellit DJ Lights

best mobile dj lighting

Last on our list is the Aoellit DJ Lights. A great option for those interested in a moonflower-styled setup, the Aoellit DJ lights can be used to play around with the dance floor to create some truly marvelous visual scenes.

Made with 30-watt RGB lights, Aoellit can transform a standard venue setting’s walls and floors into something downright mesmerizing. There, they can put out hundreds upon hundreds of different display patterns and sequences, remote control, and entirely independent of a “DMX” setup.

The Aoellit lights come in numerous different techniques and lighting styles. For example, if you’re not interested in programming a specific and customized pattern, you can defer to the automatic mode or the sound-activated method. The Aoellit lights even include the master/slave mode, where the DJ lights follow after one another in a relatively simplistic pattern.

The DJ lights have both laser and strobe functionalities to them while also being super compact and easy to take with you no matter where you go or what the nature of the venue is.

Stage Lights 36 DJ LED Par Light RGB Party Lights Uplights
$76.99
Pros:
  • Great for beginners
  • Durable & Compact
  • Remote controlled
Cons:
  • Sound-activated programs are not very sensitive
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03/27/2024 08:35 pm GMT

Read this next: Best 4 Channel DJ Controller Picks (And Why You NEED to Use One!)


DJ Lighting Guide

Since we’ve had a chance to look over the ideal options for DJ lighting, we’ll now spend a bit of time looking over some of the common DJ light products available. After all, there are way more DJ light options than the five listed, and any of these different types of techniques can dramatically alter the way your show is produced.

Below, we’ll jump into some lighting effect types that are worth considering.

Motorized DJ Lights

Motorized DJ lights are a great way to create a fully immersive visual experience for your audience. Simply by mounting some lights along various fixtures (tripods, on-stage mounts etc), motorized DJ lights can be used to react in real time to the beat of the music.

Based on the type of lights you have, this can mean that they spin, tilt, pan, or perform various other dynamic movements, adding to your show’s quality.

If the DJ lights are set to a sound-based activation (more on that later), they won’t need direct programming and instead can be linked together with the beat of your music.


Effect Light

Effect lighting is a fairly broad category that can mean a lot of things based on the nature of the lighting effects themselves. They can be used to create incredible displays on the dance floor that pull largely from the moonflower lamp setups. These different lighting effects can create dizzying displays and vary greatly based on their design.

This type of lighting can be used as a way to compliment your existing lighting setup or also as a way to add an extra bit of liveliness to an otherwise dull performance display.

Lasers

One of the more well-known staples of club lighting, lasers act pretty much exactly as you’d expect; as lasers. However, instead of being death rays, laser lamps fire a concentrated beam of superfine DJ light.

And while it isn’t that impressive on its own, when combined with a smoke machine, it can make the laser light visual while also stretching out across the venue itself.

No, lasers are probably not the most essential lighting option out there, but it is immediately one of the most noteworthy and recognizable. Other lighting visuals may look cooler, but everyone knows the party is started when the lasers come out.

The one big drawback with lasers is that they come at a high price tag and you really need to understand how to use them properly. Maybe lasers to a professional.

Strobes

Last on the list here are the strobe lights. Like lasers, strobes are fairly well-known and can instantly get people on their feet and having the time of their life – if done correctly.

Using either a high-watt Xenon lamp or some super-powerful LED lights, strobes can emit a strong DJ light pulse that can turn an otherwise standard location into something else entirely. Especially when matching the strobe pulses to a beat, it almost becomes impossible not to lose yourself in the rhythm and flow.

Controlling DJ Lights

Now that we’ve had a chance to go over the different options when it comes to getting or deciding on your best DJ lights, it’s important to see how you’re going to be able to control and manipulate these lights while you’re DJing.

All of these methods are incredibly effective at adding that extra excitement to your show while not distracting you too much from your main focus of DJing.

DMX Controller

Short for Digital Multiplex, the DMX Controller is a specific protocol technique that is used to connect your lights while running them through a control console. This method is almost directly opposite to the Automation technique as you are assuming direct control over your lights, completely deciding the patterns they assume, if there are any pauses, and how they factor in if there are in different colors.

Automation

The “Automation” technique works less like a “technique” and more like a feature with several presets already established. Unlike other lighting techniques, Automation works just by letting your DJ lights operate entirely free from your control.

This is great for DJs that are trying to focus on the music and don’t want to think about the DJ lights as much.

For others, this is a bit of a simplified method of having lights operate without you needing to do anything with said lights.

While this may not be an ideal technique for those that want a good amount of control over their lighting setup, it’s a great option if you’re just getting started.

Master & Slave

A “master/slave” mode may sound a bit strange at first, but it’s not nearly as off-putting once you know what’s happening.

When it comes to your lighting, a single solitary DJ light (the master) leads several other DJ lights (the slaves) throughout the established pattern. This is meant to create a sort of “trailing effect” between the lights, which can be quite visually arresting when properly performed.

Sonic Activation

As mentioned earlier, some DJ lights feature sound activation. This means that they can operate entirely based on the bass playing even if you’re not doing anything to directly control them.

Sound-activated DJ lights are a great method of controlling your lights without any linking or programming on your part. Instead, you can keep your crowd entertained with the pumping bass beat and the flashing lights moving alongside them via remote control.

Read this next: What is a DMX Terminator? Why Should You Use It?

FAQs

What is DJ lighting and why is it important?

DJ lighting encompasses a range of equipment and methods employed to enrich the visual aspect of a DJ performance or event. It encompasses a diverse array of lighting fixtures, including lasers, strobe lights, moving heads, and LED panels. The significance of DJ lighting lies in its ability to create an immersive ambiance, and inject enthusiasm and energy into the atmosphere!

What are the different types of DJ lighting fixtures available?

There is a wide selection of DJ lighting fixtures that serve to enhance the visual aspect of performances. These DJ lights cover various types and encompass distinct characteristics. For instance, there are par cans that emit focused light beams, moving heads that possess the ability to pan, tilt, and alter color, strobe lights that produce intense flashes for a strobe effect, LED panels featuring multiple LEDs capable of showcasing an array of colors and patterns, and lasers that generate vibrant beams of light programmable to undergo movement and pattern changes. DJs can leverage these different types of fixtures to create captivating and dynamic visual displays during their performances.

What is important when setting up DJ lighting?

When it comes to setting up DJ lighting, there are several very important considerations that shouldn’t be overlooked. Firstly, the size of the venue is a crucial factor as it determines the number and power of lighting fixtures required to effectively illuminate the space. Safety measures should always be taken into account, including proper power distribution, securely mounting the lighting fixtures, and adhering to safety guidelines to prevent any potential accidents or damage during the performance. Lastly, understanding and managing the budget is important to prioritize and select the appropriate types and quantity of DJ lighting fixtures within the available resources. In other words, don’t overdo it…or, on the other hand, underdeliver.

Best DJ Lighting: Summary

It may be a bit of an underrated aspect, but remote control lighting can make all the difference in performance, especially once you get to the higher levels of DJing and want to make your name known. Even if you’re just getting started with DJing and haven’t had a chance to do a lot of gigs, adding in a DJ light setup can be a great way of keeping the crowd entertained in addition to your music.

By seeing what the top DJ light setups available are, what to look out for when buying your DJ lighting setup, as well as the different techniques used to control the DJ lights, you should now be able to dramatically improve the entertainment aspect of your DJing performance tremendously.

While this doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be a top-performing DJ, it does mean that you’ll be able to greatly impress with your DJLED lights-controlling skills

Dexter has worked in the music business since the early 1990s. He has been a keen tech writer for many years and is still regularly involved in promoting prominent electronic music events in Ibiza and the UK. Dexter also specializes in managing and growing digital marketing platforms for leading international DJs, event brands, and venues. He relocated to Croatia from Ibiza six years ago but has continued his industry involvement whilst living on the electronic music party Island of Pag. Alongside music, Dexter is a cat nut and a through-and-through family man!

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