Compare the best LED light bulbs

States are slowly phasing out older incandescent bulbs for newer LED bulbs. These efficient bulbs often cost more up front, but they’re more efficient, lasting longer over their lifetime — and saving you money in the long run.

Top LED light bulbs

Name	Avg. price (USD)	Wattage equivalent	Color	Dimmable?	Brightness (lumen)	Average life	Purchase
Philips LED Scene Switch E27	$	6.5W / 9W	Daylight, Soft white, Warm glow	No	800	15,000 hours
Feit Electric Vintage Style LED	$	4W	Soft white	Yes	300	15,000 hours
Ikea Ledare E26	$3.99	8.6W	Warm white	Yes	600	25,000 hours
Bioluz A19	$13.99 6 pack	40 W	Warm white	No	450	25,000 hours	Buy now
Sunco Lighting G25	$29.99	40W	Cool white, warm light, daylight	Yes	450	15,000 hours	Buy now
Gordon & Bond Vintage Edison	$22.99 4 pack	4W	Pleasant warm	Yes	300	20,000 hours	Buy now
GE Daylight A21	$24.99	75W	Daylight	No	1,100	15,000 hours	Buy now
Torchstar G25	$19.99	60W	Warm white	Yes	500	22.8 years	Buy now

What are LED light bulbs?

LED light bulbs — or light-emitting diodes — are designed to last longer and run more efficiently than older incandescent models. In fact, countries all around the world begun phasing out the use of incandescent bulbs in favor of bulbs with lower electricity usage.

Pros

Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, LED lights:

Cons

You’ll find a few disadvantages to LED light bulbs. As with all bulbs, color intensity and light output can decrease over time. Also, some people find the color of the LEDs to appear too blue.

However, many manufacturers now make vintage-style LED bulbs to replicate the look of traditional incandescents.

Downsides to LED light bulbs include:

What to look for when buying an LED light bulb

When choosing a light bulb, consider the number of lumens, the temperature of the light and its ability to dim.

• Lumens

  Bulbs used to be measured by the amount of power they used in watts. Newer LED bulbs use less power and are now measured by their brightness. Lumens refer to how much light a bulb produces.

  When replacing an incandescent bulb with an LED, translate the current bulb wattage to lumens:

  Watts	Lumens
  25W	250
  40W	500
  60W	800
  75W	1,100
  100W	1,600

• Color temperature

  You can choose from three primary color temperatures for your LED light bulb: soft white, cool white and daylight.

  Color temperature	Degrees	Description	Best for
  Soft or warm white	2,700 Kelvin	Mimics the yellow tones of a sunrise or sunset to result in a cozy feel.	Bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms
  Cool or bright white	4,100 Kelvin	Brighter than soft white bulbs to give rooms a more energetic and awake feel.	Kitchens, garages, workspaces and bathrooms
  Daylight	5,000 Kelvin	Designed to replicate the bluish white of a midday sun.	Accent lighting and reading areas

• Dimming

  Not all LED bulbs are compatible with built-in dimmer switches. If you have an in-wall dimmer switch, look for LED bulbs that are dimmable.

• Smart lights

  Smart lights allow you to control your lights with your phone, tablet or computer. Some smart bulbs allow you to dim the lights or change the color temperature of the bulb using a Bluetooth connection. To control your lighting with voice commands, look for lights that are smart speaker capable so that you can connect them to your Google Home or Amazon Echo smart speaker.

Bottom line

LED light bulbs can help you save on your electric bill, because they’re more efficient than older incandescent bulbs. But you might not be a fan of the bluish glow that some types emit. Before switching out the bulbs in your home, compare your options to find the best fit for your household.

Frequently asked questions

• What are some alternatives to LED light bulbs?

  Incandescent light bulbs are still available in the US. Other types of light bulbs include halogens, fluorescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps, mercury-vapor lamps and Edison bulbs.

• Can I put an LED light bulb in any fixture?

  Yes, as long as the LED light bulb uses less wattage than your lighting fixture. To replace a tube or other special type of light with an LED bulb, make sure you’re using the correct size and fit. Consult a professional for advice if you’re unsure.

• Can LED lights cause a fire?

  Possibly, but it’s unlikely. LED lights reduce the risk of a house fire, because they don’t get nearly as hot as other types of bulbs. Carefully check the safety of your wiring and fittings, and take other necessary safety precautions to prevent fire.