What to Look For in a Light Bulb
Type
There are four common types of light bulbs used in homes. However, many areas are phasing out three of them due to their lower energy efficiency.
- Light-Emitting Diode (LED): LED bulbs are the most popular type of light bulb today and for good reason. They’re highly energy-efficient, don’t contain mercury, won’t heat during use, and provide bright light with a slightly cool cast. You’ll find LED bulbs in every size, shape, and color.
- Incandescent: Once the mainstay of light bulbs, today, incandescent light bulbs are on the way out and are no longer available in many communities. While inexpensive to purchase, incandescent bulbs use a lot of electricity and don’t last nearly as long as LED bulbs. Plus, they generate considerable heat during use. Incandescent bulbs do work with dimmer switches and give a warm light that many people prefer to the cooler light of an LED bulb.
- Compact Fluorescent (CFL): Another type of light bulb that’s now on the way out, CFL bulbs are more energy-efficient than incandescent light bulbs but not as efficient as LEDs. CFL bulbs take a few moments to reach their full brightness, which is not quite as bright as the light emitted by a LED bulb. One thing to note about CFLs: to help them last longer, leave them on for at least 15 minutes each time you turn them on. This will maximize the lifespan of the bulbs.
- Halogen: Already banned in California and soon to be banned in many other states as well, halogen bulbs are energy-efficient but not long-lasting. They give off an intense white light that works well in outdoor fixtures.
Size and Shape
While “standard” size light bulbs should fit in the majority of typical indoor lamps and light fixtures, you’ll want to check the specific shape code to confirm it will work for your needs. For the bulbs on this list we stayed primarily with A19, which denotes the standard rounded shape. Examples of other common shape codes include BR30 for more directional indoor recessed lights and PAR38 for outdoor flood bulbs.
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There’s another important code that indicates the size of the bulb’s base, which has to match or you won’t be able to physically screw it into the socket. The standard medium base is E26, but the smaller E12 candelabra base may sometimes come into play for chandeliers.
Watt and Lumens
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It used to be common to discuss the size of a light bulb through wattage. We still measure a bulb’s energy use in watts. With LEDs becoming standard, though, a bulb might produce a similar level of light using much lower wattage, so a separate measure of brightness becomes important. Enter lumens.
“The lumen count is more needed in today’s bulb language,” says Anthony James, Jr. of Just Bulbs. “The old incandescents people used to buy didn’t really have all the specs on the boxes. They might say ’60-watt soft white light bulb,’ and that was the most you got. In today’s light bulb world, we talk about LEDs specifically calibrated to a certain color. A certain wattage might give you ‘X’ amount of light, but companies can vary with that wattage rating.”
As an example, our best overall pick, the Cree 40W-Equivalent Soft White A19 Dimmable LED Light Bulb, uses 5.5 watts of energy but performs similarly to a 40-watt incandescent, producing 460 lumens of light. The 60-watt version of that bulb uses 10 watts and outputs 815 lumens. When comparing to 40- and 60-watt bulbs from other brands, both of those lumen counts are a tad higher than what you most commonly see.
Color Temperature
The color temperature of the light a bulb produces plays a major role in the mood and ambiance of your space. A warmer light is more yellow or amber in hue, great for making a living area feel comfortable and inviting. Cooler light includes more blue color and comes through as clear, bright white that helps you see what you’re doing in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms. You’ll often see this as a choice between soft white or daylight options.
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“Color temperature is where you want to go as the starting point,” says James. “Many people like the warm, cozy feeling from a color along the lines of 2700K, like what a regular light bulb color would be. Some companies call it soft white, some companies call it warm white. I would rather people learn the Kelvin rating because you get more accuracy when you use that number.”
Our dimmable bulb pick, the Feit 60W-Equivalent Bright White Dimmable A19 LED Light Bulb, demonstrates an instance where knowing its specific color—3000 kelvin—tells you that it’s not quite as yellowish as the more common 2700 kelvin “soft white.” On the other end of the spectrum, the typical 5000 kelvin “daylight” color provides cooler, whiter light ideal for functional areas of your home.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was originally written, researched, and updated by Erica Puisis, who writes about home products for The Spruce, specializing in interior design and plant care. She’s contributed to Forbes and smart home blogs like Smart Home Solver and TechDigg. The article was rewritten with updated research and products by Anton Galang, a freelance contributor who primarily covers tech-focused topics for The Spruce, including smart bulbs, outdoor lighting, and lamps. He has previously worked as a writer and reviewer for Lifewire and PC Magazine.
For additional insight from technical and general lighting standpoints, Galang spoke with Anthony James Jr., an electrician and lighting specialist at Just Bulbs, a light bulb store that has operated in New York City since 1980. Galang additionally researched light bulb options from over a dozen manufacturers for a comparison of their lighting performance, color and brightness options, visual style, and energy-efficiency ratings.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens