By Callum 
When you’re renovating-or just refreshing your space-the hardest part often isn’t paint-it’s getting the lighting right. The market is packed with options, but glossy photos often hide poor quality or weak customer service. We looked into it and put together an honest list of the best online lighting stores in Canada so that you don’t waste your time on questionable retailers.
There are plenty of solid brands in Canada, but they are all very different. Some specialize in smart lighting, some focus on working with large developers and commercial projects, and some have decades of heritage. We analyzed the market and selected the best Canadian lighting companies that really deserve trust and offer more than just fixtures.
Top Picks: Lighting Retailers & Manufacturers
We picked three standouts, each with a different strength. We compared their approaches, selection, and customer service so that you can choose your favorite.
1. Union Lighting & Décor
This is one of the industry’s heavyweights. Based in Montreal, this company is a go-to name for lighting in Canada. They’ve been around since 1914. It’s a third-generation family business. This is not just a store, but a huge design center that has survived all possible crises and stood the test of time.
Why are they #1? Because they’re the most well-rounded. This is the only participant in our rating that’s truly one-stop. Here you will find not only chandeliers, but also furniture, décor, and accessories.
Pros:
- Incredible selection: The selection is so wide that it covers pretty much every scenario – from budget refreshes to high-end projects.
- Expertise: Their team includes ALA-certified lighting specialists. They really understand how light affects a space.
- In-stock availability: With a 25,000+ sq. ft. showroom, many items are available to see in person-and often in stock.
- Top brands: They are official dealers of premium brands that are difficult to find elsewhere.
- Innovations: The company is actively developing smart home offerings, offering modern automation.
Cons:
- It’s easy to feel overwhelmed: It is difficult for a beginner to immediately navigate thousands of products without strong site filters.
- Shipping costs: Sending oversized furniture to remote regions can be expensive.
- Price segment: There are not many rock-bottom budget options here, the focus is on quality, and pricing skews mid-range to premium.
2. Liteline
#2 is for anyone who values reliability and an engineer-first approach. Liteline is one of the largest independent manufacturers that focuses on commercial/architectural lighting.
Why second place? They are ideal for solving specific technical problems. If you’re lighting a garage, office, or retail space, it’s hard to beat. But they’re more B2B-leaning than décor-focused brands, so it’s less about style, more about specs and performance.
Pros:
- Durability: Their products are designed for commercial use, so they last a very long time.
- Ease of installation: Electricians love this brand because it is easy to install.
- Made to match Canadian electrical standards: All equipment is perfectly adjusted to Canadian electrical standards.
Cons:
- Dry design: You won’t find exquisite crystal chandeliers for the living room here.
- Difficulty for a beginner: Product descriptions are often packed with technical specs.
- Customer experience is geared toward contractors: The service is more geared towards contractors than private clients.
3. Kuzco Lighting
Rounding out the top three is a brand that has become an icon of modern minimalism. Kuzco is all about clean lines, futuristic silhouettes, and strong modern design.
Why third place? It’s very beautiful, but niche. Their lamps look like art, but they don’t fit every interior. This is a choice for modern apartments and lofts.
Pros:
- Aesthetics: Their models often receive design awards. It’s really stylish.
- Technically strong: The use of advanced LED modules allows you to create ultra-thin shapes.
- Material quality: Metal and acrylic finishes look clean and high-quality.
Cons:
- Style limitations: In a classic interior, such light will look out of place.
- Repairability: Integrated LEDs are often impossible to replace if they burn out.
- Lighting only-no furniture or décor add-ons: There are no related products for home décor here.
How we chose the best lighting stores
It was not easy to determine the winner, because each store is good in its own way. We relied on facts, figures, and real homeowner needs.
Why did Union Lighting & Décor become a leader? The main argument is the ability to solve any customer problem. Picture this: you have a low ceiling. A regular chandelier can make the ceiling feel even lower, and recessed lights can feel too harsh on their own. Union offers a huge selection of semi flush mount lights – this is the perfect compromise that looks stylish and won’t get in your way. The competition has a much more modest selection in this category.
Another example is working with exteriors. Being based in Montreal, they’re used to real four-season conditions-snow, rain, freeze-thaw cycles-so their outdoor lighting options are built for it. Their éclairage paysager department offers solutions that are not afraid of either snow or rain, and at the same time look very elegant.
Here’s what we looked at when choosing:
- History and reliability: How many years the brand has been on the market.
- Selection breadth: Can you buy everything in one place?
- Support: Do they help you choose?
It is the combination of historical experience and modern selection that makes Union Lighting number one on our list.