Downlight Cutoff Angle, UGR and Deep-Recessed Trims

Published cutoff-angle, shielding-angle, UGR and deep-regressed trim specs (Halo, Halo Commercial, Juno, WAC Lighting, Nora Lighting, Elco Lighting) for recessed downlights near a bed, checked 2026-09-29.

recessed downlight (deep-recessed trim)

For a bedroom ceiling with a fan, does a recessed downlight or a deep-recessed trim reduce glare directly over a bed, and what cutoff angle, shielding angle or UGR value keeps the fixture comfortable to look up at from the bed?

Tech Specs
BrandProductModelTrim typeCutoff angle degUgrBeam angle degLumensWattageCct (K)DimmingIc ratedNotesPriceSource
Juno (Acuity Brands)Wafer WF6 Deep Regressed Baffle DownlightWF6 DREG B ALO20 SWW5 90CRI MW M6deep-regressed baffle, canless wafer---800/1050/1300 lm (switchable)16 W2700/3000/3500/4000/5000 K (switchable)Triac ELV/TE to 5%Yes--img.acuitybrands.com
Halo (Cooper Lighting Solutions / Eaton)RLD6 Deep Baffle Retrofit LED TrimRLD6069301EWHRdeep baffle retrofit trim50--600 lm8.5 W3000 Kphase-cut (ELV/TE) to 1%---cooperlighting.com
Halo Commercial (Cooper Lighting Solutions / Eaton)HC6 LED 6 in Downlight, Narrow DistributionHC6 series (narrow reflector)regressed open reflector, commercial downlight-11.7narrow--2700/3000/3500/4000/5000 K (selectable)----cooperlighting.com
Halo Commercial (Cooper Lighting Solutions / Eaton)HC4 LED 4 in Downlight, Narrow DistributionHC4 series (narrow reflector)regressed open reflector, commercial downlight-12.2narrow--2700/3000/3500/4000/5000 K (selectable)----cooperlighting.com
WAC LightingOculux Architectural 3.5 in LED DownlightR3CRN-11-927 (round housing/trim family)fixed regressed reflector, IC-rated airtight35--up to 980 lm-2700/3000/3500/4000 K (selectable)-Yes--waclighting.com
Nora LightingIolite Round Deep Cone Regress Downlight TrimNIO-4RNDC30XWW/10deep cone regress reflector----10 W3000 K---$77.40shineretrofits.com
Elco LightingKoto Pex 4 in Round Deep Reflector TrimELK4118 (Koto module system)deep reflector trim, regressed--25/38/60 deg (18 deg optional)-------elcolighting.com

Guide

Cutoff angle is the angle, measured from the horizontal at the fixture, above which the LED source is no longer directly visible inside the reflector; ERCO's lighting-technology glossary defines cutoff angle this way and separately defines shielding angle as the angle from horizontal to the edge of the visible light-emitting surface (erco.com). Deep-regressed or deep-recessed trims set the LED module or lens further up inside the housing than a flat trim, which raises this cutoff/shielding angle without adding a separate diffuser; Halo's RLD6 Deep Baffle trim publishes a 50-degree optical cutoff from this construction (cooperlighting.com) and WAC's Oculux Architectural trim publishes a 35-degree visual cutoff (waclighting.com). Where a manufacturer instead publishes Unified Glare Rating (UGR), as Cooper Lighting does for the Halo Commercial HC6 and HC4 downlight series (UGR 11.7 and 12.2 for their narrow-distribution reflectors), a lower UGR number indicates less discomfort glare for an occupant looking up toward the fixture, which is the viewing geometry created by a bed positioned under a downlight.

FAQs

How does a recessed downlight avoid glare when it is installed directly over a bed?

A trim with a higher cutoff angle keeps the LED source out of the upward sightline of someone lying in bed; WAC Lighting states a 35-degree visual cutoff for its Oculux Architectural trim and Halo states a 50-degree optical cutoff for its RLD6 Deep Baffle trim (waclighting.com; cooperlighting.com, checked 2026-09-29).

What is a deep-regressed (deep-recessed) trim and how does its cutoff angle differ from a flat trim?

A deep-regressed trim sets the LED module or lens further up inside the housing than a flat trim, which raises the cutoff angle; Juno's WF6 DREG canless wafer downlight and Elco's Koto Pex 4 in deep reflector trim (25/38/60-degree field-changeable beam optics) both use this regressed-reflector construction (img.acuitybrands.com; elcolighting.com, checked 2026-09-29).

What UGR (Unified Glare Rating) value indicates low glare for a downlight?

Cooper Lighting publishes UGR 11.7 for the Halo Commercial HC6 LED narrow-distribution downlight and UGR 12.2 for the HC4 LED narrow-distribution downlight; lower UGR numbers indicate less discomfort glare for an occupant looking up at the fixture (cooperlighting.com, checked 2026-09-29).

Does a deep-recessed/regressed trim replace the need for a diffuser or shield?

ERCO's glossary defines cutoff angle as the angle above which no direct view of the lamp is visible in the reflector and shielding angle as the angle from horizontal to the edge of the visible source; regressed reflectors on products such as Elco's Koto Pex trim and Nora's Iolite deep cone regress trim increase this shielding angle by recessing the source itself, rather than by adding a diffuser (erco.com; elcolighting.com, checked 2026-09-29).

Resources

  1. Acuity Brands / Juno Lighting - WF4/WF6 DREG ALO SWW5 spec sheet
  2. Cooper Lighting Solutions - HALO RLD6 Deep Baffle Series spec sheet
  3. Cooper Lighting Solutions - HALO Commercial HC6 spec sheet
  4. Cooper Lighting Solutions - HALO Commercial HC4 spec sheet
  5. WAC Lighting - Oculux Architectural downlight collection
  6. Elco Lighting - Koto Module with 4 in Pex Deep Round Reflector Trim
  7. Nora Lighting - NIO-4RNDC product page
  8. ERCO Lighting knowledge - Cut-off angle
  9. ERCO Lighting knowledge - Shielding angle
  10. ERCO Lighting knowledge - UGR (Unified Glare Rating) method
  11. The Home Depot - Halo RLD6069301EWHR-CA product listing
  12. Shine Retrofits - Nora Lighting NIO-4RNDC30XWW/10 product listing
  13. Sonic Electric - Elco Pex 4 in Round Deep Reflector Trim ELK4118B listing
adjutrix