Street Light Pole Design: parts, loads, drawing and how a pole is specified
A street light pole looks simple, but its design is a chain of decisions. How high must the light be? What loads does the pole carry? How big must the tube be, and how is it protected? This guide walks through that chain in plain language. It includes two drawings, six tables, a tube strength calculator and a design brief builder.
By Surya Traders, Govindpura Industrial Area, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Facts come from the sources linked in the text and were read on 19 October 2026. This is general guidance, not a structural design. A qualified engineer must design and approve poles and foundations for a project.
What pole design really means
People often say “design” when they mean one of two things. First, a lighting designer decides where the light must fall. Second, a structural designer decides what the pole must be to hold that light safely. Both matter. For this reason, they must agree on the height, the arm and the weight of the fitting.
Table 1 splits the job into five decisions. The first is a lighting decision. The next two are structural. After that comes protection, and the last decision turns everything into a drawing you can approve.
Surya Traders is a manufacturer in Bhopal. Our About page says the company was established in 2003. Our street light pole range lists series from 3 m to 12 m. For example, you can choose single-arm, double-arm or custom arm layouts. Our tubular pole range also adds straight, tapered and swaged designs.
| Decision | The question | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Light | How high must the light be, and how far apart must the poles stand? | Our height and spacing guide and the standards guide. |
| Loads | What weight and wind must the pole carry? | Section 4 of this guide. |
| Section | How big must the tube be, and how thick the wall? | Section 5, and our 410 SP table guide. |
| Protection | How is the steel protected from rust? | Our MS vs GI comparison. |
| Drawing | What exactly will be made, and what will the foundation hold? | Section 6, and our foundation drawing guide. |
If you are still choosing between pole families, start with our types of street light poles guide. This guide assumes you already need a steel pole. Here, you learn how it is designed.
Parts of a street light pole
Drawing 1 names the seven parts of almost every street light pole. A good quote describes all seven, because a pole is only as good as its weakest part. The foundation is also shown. The reason is simple: the pole and the foundation must match.
- 1Luminaire: the light fitting
- 2Arm or bracket
- 3Shaft: straight, tapered or swaged
- 4Cable opening
- 5Base plate
- 6Anchor bolts
- 7Foundation, designed by your engineer
| Part | What it does | What to ask your supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Luminaire | Gives the light. Its weight and the area it presents to the wind load the pole. | Fitting model, weight and mounting size. |
| Arm or bracket | Holds the luminaire out over the road at the chosen angle. | Arm length, angle and the mounting detail. |
| Shaft | Carries the arm and fitting up to the mounting height. | Height, diameter, wall thickness and shape. |
| Cable opening | Lets the cable reach the fitting from below. | Where it is, how big it is and how it is protected. |
| Base plate | Spreads the pole’s load into the foundation. | Plate size, thickness and hole pattern. |
| Anchor bolts | Hold the base plate to the foundation. | Bolt size, number and projection above the concrete. |
| Foundation | Holds the whole pole in the ground against wind. | Who designed it, and for which soil and loads. |
For more detail on the lower three parts, read our foundation design and drawing guide.
Shaft shapes: straight, tapered and swaged
The shaft is the longest part of the pole. Therefore, its shape decides most of the look and much of the strength. Our tubular pole page lists straight, tapered and swaged designs, and Table 3 explains the three in plain words. However, none of them is best in every case. The right shape depends on the height, the load and your tender.
| Shape | What it is | Where you will meet it |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | A tube with the same diameter along its length. | Simple street and garden poles. |
| Tapered | A shaft whose diameter reduces gradually from the base to the top. | Poles where a slimmer top is wanted. |
| Swaged | A shaft made of tube sections of different diameters, stepped down and joined. | Tubular poles named in tenders under IS 2713, such as the 410 SP series. |
Does your tender name a swaged pole such as 410 SP? If so, our 410 SP table guide shows how to read the designation and its table. In addition, our tubular pole manufacturer guide explains what to check in the tube, the joints and the finish.
Loads: what the pole has to carry
A pole must carry two kinds of load. One is its own weight, plus the weight of the arm and fitting. The other is wind, which pushes sideways.
The Structural load article on Wikipedia explains how codes treat loads. They multiply each load by a factor and combine the results. As a result, the design strength stays above the maximum loads expected. Your engineer takes those factors from the code, not from a supplier’s brochure.
- 1Wind on the fitting, high above the ground
- 2Wind on the shaft along its length
- 3Weight of the fitting, arm and pole
- 4The base, where the bending effect is largest
| Load | Where it comes from | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Self weight | The pole, arm, fitting and any attachments. The Structural load article on Wikipedia calls loads that stay relatively constant dead loads. | Pole height, wall thickness, fitting weight. |
| Wind on the shaft | Wind pressure on the exposed side of the tube. The same article lists wind among environmental loads. | Height, diameter, shape and the site. |
| Wind on the fitting | Wind pressure on the luminaire and arm, which sit at the top. | Fitting size and shape, and the mounting height. |
| Other attachments | Extra items such as a camera, a sign or a banner bracket. | Anything added after the design is fixed. |
The Bending moment article on Wikipedia defines a bending moment as an internal force couple caused by applied external forces. Now think of a pole fixed at its base. A sideways force at some height creates a bending moment that grows toward the base. This is basic statics. For that reason, the base plate, the bolts and the foundation get so much attention.
Engineers also use tools such as the Shear and moment diagram article on Wikipedia. With it, they find the forces along a member and choose its size and material.
IS 875 Part 3 covers wind loads on structures in India. Our standards guide shows where it sits among the other documents. Finally, add every extra attachment to the brief early. A camera or banner bracket added later changes the loads.
Diameter and wall thickness: why they matter
Two tubes can have the same wall thickness but very different strength. A wider tube resists bending much better. The Section modulus article on Wikipedia calls the section modulus a geometric property of a cross-section. Designers use it for beams and other bending members.
For a hollow circular section, the article gives the formula S = π(d24 − d14) / (32 d2). Here, d2 is the outer diameter and d1 is the inner diameter.
The calculator below applies that formula to two tubes. The example numbers are only for illustration. They are not sizes of any pole we make. The calculator also compares the steel used per metre, which relates to weight. For example, raise the diameter by 20 mm. Then raise the wall thickness by 1 mm instead. Which one gives more bending resistance for the extra steel?
Remember, this only compares two tube sections. It does not tell you whether a pole is safe. Stiffness matters too. The Deflection article on Wikipedia notes that codes limit deflection. It also says deflection depends on the material and the area moment of inertia. Therefore, a stiffer member bends less under the same load.
For tubular SP poles, the pole table in IS 2713 lists the sizes. Moreover, our 410 SP table guide lets you filter that table by length.
The pole drawing: what it must show
The drawing is the document you approve before fabrication starts. A quote without a drawing describes a pole in words, and words can be read two ways. Table 5 lists what the drawing should show. If an item is missing, ask for it before you approve.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Overall height and mounting height | Sets the light position and the wind exposure. |
| Diameter and wall thickness of each section | Decides the strength and the steel weight. |
| Arm length, angle and mounting detail | Must match the fitting you will fit. |
| Base plate size, thickness and hole pattern | Must match the foundation drawing. |
| Anchor bolt size, number and projection | Needed to build the bolt cage in the foundation. |
| Cable opening position and size | Decides where the cable goes in. |
| Finish and coating | Says how the steel is protected. |
| Weight, revision and date | Lets you check later that the right drawing was used. |
Our site says customers can share drawings, BOQs and pole schedules. Our team then replies in writing. If your engineer has already drawn the foundation, share it too, because the base plate and bolt pattern must match.
Our foundation guide shows what that drawing contains. Besides that, our price guide explains how the drawing and the quote fit together.
Design brief builder: describe your pole
The quickest way to get a drawing is to send a complete brief. Fill in what you know. Then leave the rest as “please advise”. The builder writes a message that you can copy or send to us on WhatsApp. Nothing is stored, because the text is built in your browser.
Design review checklist
Use this list before you approve a design. It works whether you are buying ten poles or a thousand.
- Check the mounting height and layout against the lighting design. See the standards guide.
- Confirm the fitting model, weight and mounting size.
- Get the wind speed or zone from your engineer.
- Look for section diameters and wall thickness on the drawing, along with the shaft shape.
- Match the base plate and anchor bolt details to the foundation drawing.
- Ask about the finish. Also plan a yearly inspection, as our maintenance checklist shows.
- See delivery cost, time and GST on each quote line. Our price guide explains the quote.
| Mistake | What can happen | Better practice |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing the pole before the fitting | The pole is under-sized or over-sized for the light | Fix the fitting model and weight first. |
| Ignoring wind on the fitting | The load at the top is under-counted | Give the fitting size and weight in the brief. |
| Copying a design from another site | Wind, soil or height do not match | Design for your own site. |
| Approving a quote with no drawing | Each side imagines a different pole | Approve a drawing before fabrication. |
| Mismatched base plate and foundation | Bolts do not line up on site | Use one bolt pattern on both drawings. |
| Adding attachments later | Loads go above the design | List every attachment before the design is fixed. |
Frequently asked questions
What is street light pole design?
It is a set of decisions that turns a lighting need into a pole. These cover the mounting height, the loads, the tube size, the rust protection and the drawing. Ideally, both a lighting designer and a structural designer take part.
What are the main parts of a street light pole?
The luminaire, the arm or bracket, the shaft, the cable opening, the base plate, the anchor bolts and the foundation. Drawing 1 in this guide shows all seven.
How thick should a street light pole be?
There is no single figure. The design sets the wall thickness, and it depends on the height, the fitting, the wind and the shaft shape. Therefore, ask for the thickness of each section on the drawing.
What is the standard height of a street light pole?
Our standards guide explains that IS 1944 (1970) suggests 9 to 10 metres for main roads. For secondary roads, it suggests 7.5 to 9 metres. Our street light pole range lists series from 3 m to 12 m. In the end, your lighting design sets the real height.
How is the weight of a pole decided?
Weight follows from the design. It depends on the length and diameter of each section, the wall thickness, the arm and the base plate. So, ask for the weight on the drawing. For tubular SP poles, you can also filter the IS 2713 table in our 410 SP guide.
Can I get a drawing before I order?
Our site says customers can share drawings, BOQs and pole schedules. Our team then replies in writing. So, ask us for a drawing, and confirm in writing what the quote includes.
Which standards apply to pole design?
Several documents apply, and each covers a different part. IS 1944 covers road lighting, and IS 1161 covers steel tubes. Likewise, IS 2713 covers tubular poles. IS 4759 covers zinc coatings, while IS 875 Part 3 covers wind loads. See our standards guide.
Who designs the foundation?
Your civil or structural engineer should design it for your pole, soil and site. To help them, share the pole drawing and the fitting weight. Our foundation guide also shows what the drawing should contain.
Need a pole design you can approve?
Send the height, the fitting, the wind speed from your engineer and the base type. Our team in Bhopal will then reply in writing.
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