completed simple PVC lightstand

A simple PVC Light stand

Updated: February 20, 2023

Make a simple PVC light stand to grow vegetable, flower, and herb transplants for your garden. The 4-ft. long shop light will illuminate approximately 3.5 sq. ft. of growing area; enough to grow 20-100 transplants depending on spacing and individual cell size.

Materials and cost to build a table-top PVC light stand
(doesn't include a table, soilless media, containers, seeds, etc.)		 Costs are
estimated
All-season shop light fixture for 32 watt T-8 tubes  (ready to use with power cord and pull switch) $20.00
(2) T-8 tubes; 32 watt  $9.50
10-ft. long, 1 ½ in. diameter pvc pipe    $6.00
(2) 1 ½ in. slip Tee  $2.50
(2) 1 ½ in. 90º elbow  $2.00
(4) 1 ½ in. end caps  $3.00
Extra chain and hooks $4.00
Total  $47.00

It will cost about $9 to operate the shop light from March 15 to June 1: 32 watts x 2 bulbs x 16hrs x
70days = 71.7 kw x $.12/kilowatt-hour = $8.60.

  • 10 ft. piece of PCV pipe

    Use a marker to divide 10-ft. pipe into seven pieces: (1) 52 in.; (2) 18 in.; (4) 8 in. There will be no waste. Cut the pipe into the seven pieces with a hacksaw.

  • Seven pieces of PVC pipe in 3 different lengths arranged on the ground along with four PVC end caps, two elbow joints, and two T joints.

    Here are the seven pieces plus fittings.

  • A person holds an assembled PVC stand leg, shaped like an upside-down T for added stability. The leg is composed of a T coupling with short PVC pipe pieces on either side and a taller PVC pipe piece with an elbow coupling on top.

    Build the ends by pushing two 8-in. pieces (feet) and one of the 18-in. pieces (upright) into one of the “T” fittings. (You can use pvc primer and cement to make a permanent light stand or push the pieces for easy takedown.) Repeat to build the other end.

  • A person holds an assembled PVC stand leg, shaped like an upside-down T for added stability. The leg is composed of a T coupling with short PVC pipe pieces on either side and a taller PVC pipe piece with an elbow coupling on top.

    Insert the elbows on top of the two uprights and place the four end caps over the ends of the “feet

  • connecting the longer piece of PCV pipe into the elbows

    Connect the ends by inserting the 52-in. piece into the elbows.

  • shop lights for the PCV light stand

    This is the shop light box. It came with a power cord and pull chain.

  • box of the light bulbs

    T-8 indoor fluorescent tubes (cool) are a good choice. They produce plenty of light and are more energy efficient than older T-12 tubes.

  • light stand with the light fixture

    T-8 tubes are only 1-in. in diameter; ½-in. slimmer than older T-12 tubes.

  • A person puts an S-hook into the links of a metal chain that is wrapped around a PVC pipe.

    You can raise and lower your shop light with metal chains and hooks.

Light fixture should be as close as possible to the seed trays
Keep the shop light only 1-2-in. above the tops of your plants. This will make your transplants stocky and strong.
You can raise the temperature and speed germination and growth by covering the light stand with a piece of clear plastic.

Related information

Grow Lights for Starting Seeds Indoors

Still have a question? Contact us at Ask Extension.