On this page
What Is LFI?
LFI (Lighting Fair) is one of North America’s largest and most influential architectural and commercial lighting exhibitions. Organised by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), it brings together manufacturers, importers, designers, specifiers and contractors from across the United States and North America.
The show is famous for the LFI Innovation Awards, which showcase the industry’s latest product designs, new technologies and new service concepts. It also offers hundreds of hours of CEU / LU / HSW accredited courses — from LED cost control to capital updates — that professionals use to maintain their industry credentials. It is a B2B trade-only event: consumers are not admitted, and no retail sales take place on site.
Key Facts
- Tyyppi: B2B architectural & commercial lighting trade show
- Organisers: IES & IALD
- Focus: Architectural, commercial, outdoor & smart lighting
- Region: United States & North America
Tip
Show cities and dates rotate every year. Confirm the exact dates, venue and free-entry requirements on the official LFI website before booking travel.
Historically the show has drawn hundreds of exhibitors from more than 70 countries and tens of thousands of professional visitors, making it the single best place in North America to see the full lighting supply chain under one roof.
Why the US Lighting Market Matters
The United States is the world’s largest lighting market and one of the most demanding. Several structural drivers make it worth your attention:
Retrofit boom
Millions of commercial buildings, offices, retail spaces and homes are still being retrofitted from traditional lighting to LED. This drives steady, large-scale demand for strips, profiles and linear systems.
Strict compliance culture
US buyers expect UL / ETL certification, FCC compliance, Energy Star listings and (for projects) LM-79 reports and IES photometric files. Suppliers who can deliver win the project.
Design-led commercial market
US retail, hospitality, office and public-space projects care about aesthetics, CRI and optical quality as much as price. Premium, design-grade products sell well.
North American gateway
From the US, importers distribute across the country and into Canada, Mexico and Latin America — a single hub for the entire North American market.
Who Should Attend
LFI is most useful if you are:
- Lighting importers and distributors — looking for OEM/ODM brands, private-label programs and factory-direct pricing for the US and North American market.
- Electrical wholesalers — sourcing SKUs with UL / ETL compliance and reliable lead times for the American installation trade.
- Architects and lighting designers — specifying LED strips, profiles and linear systems for commercial, architectural and residential projects.
- Electrical contractors — comparing complete systems for large tenders across the US and Canada.
- Brand owners — scouting contract manufacturers and benchmarking product quality and pricing from Chinese exhibitors.
How to Prepare as a Buyer
Walking the show cold wastes days. Before you fly to the US:
1. Define your project list
List the projects you are quoting — office retrofits, retail chains, hospitality — and the technical specs each needs (voltage, CRI, IP rating, CCT, control protocol).
2. Pre-book meetings and seminars
Email the suppliers you want to see weeks in advance. Reserve the CEU / LU accredited seminars that match your spec — they fill up fast.
3. Compare compliance documents
For the US market, ask every booth for UL / ETL listing, FCC compliance, and (for projects) IES photometric files, LM-79 reports and IES TM-24 lifetime reports.
4. Go straight to the source after the show
Brands on the show floor typically mark up 30–60%. The same products are usually made by Chinese OEM factories. Take photos, part numbers and catalogues — then contact the factory directly.
Why Source LED Lighting from China (and Why Lightstec Makes Sense for the US)
Most of the lighting brands you will meet at LFI are designed in the US but manufactured in China. Working directly with the factory cuts out the middleman and gives you shorter lead times, customisation and private-label flexibility.
Lightstec is a China-based manufacturer of LED-nauhavalot, LED-alumiiniprofiilit, LED lineaariset valot, LED neon flex and matching drivers and sensors, with over 13 years of experience shipping to the US and the wider North American market.
US-compliant documentation
UL / ETL listing support, FCC compliance. IES photometric files, LM-79 reports and IES TM-24 lifetime reports available on request for your US tenders.
Built for US projects
24V strips and drivers that match US electrical standards. High-CRI options for US retail, hospitality and premium design.
Complete system, one supplier
Strip + profile + diffuser + driver + connector + sensor in one carton. No more chasing three factories to make one linear lighting system work.
OEM / ODM friendly
Custom PCB length, CCT, CRI, brand printing and custom packaging. Small MOQs for trial orders, factory-direct pricing for volume.
Recommended LED Products for the US Market
If you are attending LFI to build your product range, these are the systems US specifiers ask for most. Click any product to view specs and request a quote:
Planning to source LED lighting after LFI?
Send us your project list, target quantities and required certifications. We will reply within 24 hours with factory-direct pricing.
UKK
When and where is LFI held?
LFI rotates between major US cities every year. Exact dates and the venue change every edition — check the official LFI website for the current schedule before you plan your trip.
Is LFI open to the public?
No. LFI is a professional B2B trade show open only to lighting industry visitors. Consumers are not admitted, and there is no retail sales activity on the floor.
Why is the US important for the lighting industry?
The United States is the world’s largest lighting market, driven by a large commercial retrofit boom and a strict compliance culture. From the US, importers distribute across the country and into Canada, Mexico and Latin America.
Can I buy samples and ship them back from the show?
Some booths sell small samples, but most international brands only quote project orders. For real pricing and samples, contact the factory directly after the show. Lightstec ships free samples to US buyers for qualified projects — just get in touch.
Do Chinese LED suppliers meet US compliance requirements?
Reputable factories do. Always ask for UL / ETL listing, FCC compliance, and (for projects) IES photometric files and LM-79 reports. Lightstec ships to the US and the wider North American market with full documentation for every order.