Metal halide lamps, a member of the high intensity discharge (HID) family, produce high light output relative to their size, making them a compact and powerful light source. Originally developed in 1965 for exterior and industrial lighting, metal halide technology today includes lamps suitable for nearly any lighting application.  Wattages range from 32 to 1500 watts, and a large number of envelope and base configurations are available. Because metal halide lamps are very bright point source, they require luminaires with good optical control.

Metal halide lamps use an arc instead of a filament, generating light by passing an electrical current from one electrode to another through a metal vapor to form an acr between the electrodes.  The Lamp will last an average of 6000 hours (approx. 2 years) - six times longer than a standard incandescent lamp - and up to 9000 hours (approx. 3 years) if used with an electronic control gear.