Best Overall
Feit Electric 8.8W Dimmable LED Light Bulb
Best Bang for the Buck
EcoSmart 9W Non-Dimmable LED Light Bulb
Best Smart
Wyze 800 Lumen 90+ CRI Smart LED Light Bulb
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While changing light-colored bulb may be an easy line , discover the correct one to screw into a lamp or swooning fixedness can be puzzling . From coloration temperature to brightness to smart capabilities , there ’s a lot to turn over . spark bulbs that produce affectionate luminousness can help set the ambience in a chamber or aliveness room , while easy bulbs that emit cool firing are ideal for kitchen , home power , and other space that take undertaking light . There are also smart bulb you may control remotely and change to almost any temperature or gloss via a smartphone app .
To make sense of it all , I explore more than two dozen light bulbs , comparing specs and substance abuser reviews to identify eight of the most highly acclaimed light bulb on the marketplace . I then put those eight bulbs through a series of run in my base to find out which are the best low-cal bulbs — here ’s what I found .
How We Tested the Best Light Bulbs
I used several criteria to evaluate the eight twinkle bulbs I included on my leaning . First , I consider clear quality by measure how nearly each bulb ’s color temperature equate its description as well as how accurately it supply the natural color of the objects around it . For colouring material bulbs , I assess how accurately the light bulb produced vibrant colors at deviate weak levels . I also assessed the performance body of each bulb by looking for flickering or buzzing at full brightness . For dimmer electric-light bulb , I tested each one ’s power to extend to lower light level , take billet of any flickering or plateauing , which is the point at which a incandescent lamp terminate to dim to low-down brightness level level . For smart medulla , I evaluated ease of induction and use along with any programming and scheduling features available on its accompany smartphone app .
Testing Stats
Our Top Picks
My selection of the top light bulbs ranges from basic budget - friendly options to eminent - end impudent light bulb . Note that Ease of Use and Reliability ratings only applied to smart medulla oblongata .
Our Ratings : Quality5/5;Color5/5 ; Ease of UseN / A ; ReliabilityN / A ; Value4/5
Excellent color accuracy and a steady performance make this foot my favorite of the bunch . At 2700 K , this electric light bring forth a very warm light that ’s easy on the eyes and ideal for living rooms or bedrooms . It ’s also one of the good abstemious lightbulb I screen in term of color truth . With its 90 + Color Rendering Index ( CRI ) rating , it maintain the natural colour of the objects it crystalise .
I did receive this light incandescent lamp to be perceptibly dimmer than bulbs that are on the high oddment of the temperature spectrum , making it undesirable for task kindling . If a oeuvre light is what you ’re after , Feit Electric offers this light bulb in daylight and bright white .
Along with its exact lighting , this bulb also performs quite well . It dims without any noticeable flickering and manoeuvre taciturnly with no detectable buzzing or humming at any light level , even when leave on for hours . At about $ 3 a bulb , this bulb is more low-priced than other received LED bulbs , defecate it an excellent value . And something that set it apart from the rival is that it ’s also denounce for damp locations .
Get the Feit Electric fall bulbs atThe Home Depot .
Our Ratings : Quality5/5;Color3/5 ; Ease of UseN / A ; ReliabilityN / A ; Value4.5/5
Those after a budget - price bulb for stock light fixtures that are n’t unite to a dimming shift will want to regard EcoSmart ’s 9 - watt LED Inner Light bulbs .
At 5000 K on the vividness scale of measurement , the EcoSmart bulb volunteer a smart bloodless day color ideal for task lighting . They use 9 Isaac Watts and produce the equivalent weight of a 60 - W incandescent light bulb , or 840 lumens of brightness .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
I was impressed with how bright these light bulbs were . That , pair with their cool colour temperature , makes them a great selection for a kitchen , garage , laundry way , or any other place that requires job lighting . With an 80 CRI evaluation , these are not the most color - precise light bulbs I tested . They do give aim around them a slenderly blueish tincture . While that was n’t a deal - ledgeman for me , it may be for others .
The EcoSmart conduct Light Within bulbs operate quietly with no detectable randomness when used in a normal lamp . They offer an fantabulous value ; at a little over a dollar a bulb when purchased as a 16 - incandescent lamp time value battalion , this is one of the most affordable light-emitting diode options out there .
Get the EcoSmart nondimmable light medulla atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Our valuation : Quality5/5;Color5/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Reliability5/5 ; Value4.5/5
If you apprise set the kindling to suit various moods and indigence , then the Wyze smart light bulb is a perfect mates . I was amazed at how equally and accurately it produces depart temperatures of light , from bright blanched task lighting to tender and subtle mood light . These quality give the Wyze ignitor electric light tremendous versatility . I could imagine using it for everything from kitchen project dismount to a night - light on a sleeping room nightstand . And the Wyze app allows you to create scenes and set agenda to fit various time of day .
One of the big frustrations with wise bulb is their tendency to unplug from the user ’s home Wi - Fi internet . That was n’t the case with the Wyze bulb . Over several sidereal day of use , I did n’t have any drop - offs from my home internet , which is something I ca n’t say about other smart bulb I ’ve tested .
Photo: homedepot.com
While these Wyze igniter bulb offer unbelievable quality and public presentation , it ’s important to note that they do n’t come cheap . At about $ 10 a electric-light bulb , they are among the pricier LED smart bulbs out there . That say , the timber of brightness level they produce , pair off with their static performance , make them deserving the extra expense .
Get the Wyze bright white light bulbs atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWyze .
Best Ambience
Philips Hue 9.5W E26 Smart LED Light Bulb
Our Ratings : Quality5/5;Color5/5 ; Ease of Use5/5 ; Reliability5/5 ; Value3.5/5
The Philips Hue electric light offers substance abuser the near - limitless power to customize its gloss temperature , giving it tremendous versatility .
It also uses a Bluetooth joining , so there ’s no delay between selecting a colour on the app and catch it change on the bulb , something that I did n’t get with Wi - Fi – quick impertinent bulb that take a pulsation or two to change colors after selecting them on the app . With this “ tangible - time ” link , I was capable to move my finger around the people of color roulette wheel or temperature cake on the app to get the perfect chromaticity or temperature .
Photo: amazon.com
The Hue bulb is pricey , but it produces richer colour than budget - price colour - change LED LED light bulbs I ’ve test , and the color remain vivid even at lower loose levels .
The downside of the Hue is that if you need to control it from afar or set docket , you ’ll need to buy a Hue Hub from Philips to enable those features . Some may also not wish the nontraditional shape of this Bluetooth light electric-light bulb . That said , if you do n’t beware paying a small more for it , the Hue offer incredible color - switch performance .
Get the Philips Hue light electric-light bulb atAmazon .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Daylight
Sylvania 8.5W Daylight Non-Dimmable LED Light Bulb
Sylvania electric-light bulb contrive a bright daylight glow that ’s astonishingly cushy and pleasant compared to some of the harsh bulbs I tested . With a colour temperature rating of 5000 K , they radiate a cool color that makes them ideal as a bedroom read light or in a kitchen or laundry room correct for task lighting . Unlike some other daylight bulbs I prove , the brightness did n’t feel harsh on the eye , even after spending several hours working under it . They also accurately furnish the true color of surrounding object , and the light they roam blends seamlessly with ambient daylight from nearby window .
The bulbs emit no sound , though it ’s important to manoeuvre out that they have a nondimmable rating . They let loose a noticeable hum when put on a dimmer switch , even when the switch was at scummy ability .
At a bit under $ 2.50 apiece , Sylvania ’s light bulb are a little costly for a light bulb that is nondimmable . However , the timbre of visible radiation they put out makes them worth the extra cost .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Sylvania light bulbs atAmazonorWalmart .
Best Dimmable
Philips 9.5W Dimmable LED Light Bulb
Our rating : Quality5/5;Color4/5 ; Ease of UseN / A ; ReliabilityN / A ; Value3.5/5
LED brightness level bulbs are notoriously peckish when officiate on a dimmer switch , often waver , blink , or failing to dim evenly . That ’s not the type with the Philips dimmable light-emitting diode brightness bulb . During examination , I experienced no plateauing or flickering whatsoever . I was able-bodied to dim it down to extremely abject light level , which is typically only possible with anold incandescent light bulb . There were also no sudden fault in light yield while moving through the dim arc . The bulb dims swimmingly and gradually , allowing for very minute change in cleverness .
The Philips dimmable light bulb also operates silently , whether functioning at max brightness or very low weak yield . wanton quality is also fantabulous with the Philips light bulb . Thanks to its high CRI rating , it renders colors around it accurately .
Photo: amazon.com
With a color temperature that fall well onto the warm side of the Kelvin scale , the Philips dimmable LED luminosity bulbs are a great option for creating mood lighting in a sleeping accommodation or support way . They ’re on the high-priced side at about $ 5 per electric-light bulb , but they ’re deserving it for their control , stability , and high level of coloration truth .
Get the Philips dimmable light bulb atAmazonorWalmart .
Best Calendabra
EcoSmart 4.6W E12 Dimmable LED Filament Light Bulb
EcoSmart candelabra bulbs offer the efficiency and long life of an LED bulb while boasting the elegant aesthetics of bulbs that are mean to be interpret . They feature a fine , bendy LED filament landing strip in place of the more utilitarian - looking square direct strips establish in most LED candelabra bulbs . This change gives the EcoSmart light bulbs a more fashionable appearance , whether the Christ Within is on or off . The bulb acquire a soft amber colouring material that ’s easy on the oculus and idealistic for creating an internal dinner party ambience .
When it come to dimming , the EcoSmart candelabrum bulbs ca n’t be slur as low as the stock incandescent bulbs that I already had in my chandelier , but they come pretty darn close , and they ’re better than other LED candelabrum bulbs I ’ve try . The EcoSmart bulbs also blur smoothly with no buzzing or blinking .
These bulb are costly even by LED criterion . Whereas most lead candelabrum bulb be between $ 3 and $ 4 a light bulb , the EcoSmart filament igniter bulb are almost $ 5 a bulb . But if you want the attractive looking of its bendy fibril and excellent dimming functioning , they ’re worth the splurge .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the EcoSmart dimmable light medulla oblongata atThe Home Depot .
Best Color-Changing
Wyze Bulb Color 1100 Lumen Color-Changing Smart Bulb
The Wyze color - change LED incandescent lamp is an telling light origin in almost every room . It produces copious , beautiful colors in virtually any chromaticity you could imagine . During examination , I witnessed no fading or red in the vibrancy of the colors , even when dim to very crushed brightness grade , which the bulb had no problem doing . There was no plateauing or flickering with the Wyze bulb while slur , and it manoeuvre in over silence with no hearable buzzing .
The Wyze app is rich and well-fixed to utilize . There ’s a color wheel that makes dialing in various hues easy , and there are additional controls for setting precise color temperature . The app allows for the origination of color and temperature scenes for everything from reading material and meal prep to play and picture show night .
The Wyze bulb is also one of the more true smart bulbs I ’ve examine . After using it for several days , I did n’t experience the annoying disconnection that are common with other smart bulbs I ’ve tried . While the Wyze bulb is pricey , its ability to fulfill just about anything you desire out of a light bulb draw it worth springing for .
Photo: homedepot.com
Get the Wyze color - change easy bulbs atAmazon , Walmart , orWyze .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing Light Bulbs
Size , shape , color temperature , lumens , and wattage are the primary ingredient to keep in mind when shopping for light bulbs .
Size and Shape
Light bulbs come in awide variety of form and sizes . The most common is the pear - shaped Type A scant bulb . Candle - shaped bulbs , Type C , primed privileged pendent . Other common bulb shapes include round , globe - elan Type G light up lightbulb and tubular Type T light bulbs .
When shopping for a light bulb , make indisputable it touch the socket size of it of the fixture or lamp . The stock screw - in trend bulb al-Qaeda are E26 , while small lighting bulbs , such as candelabra electric light , have base of operations that come in an E12 size . Less common bulb basis sizes include E17 , which is an intermediate size between E26 and E12 ; G4 , which has a foundation with two thole ; and GU10 bulbs , which have a twist - and - ignition lock base .
Watts and Lumens
Watts valuate the full amount of Department of Energy a light bulb take in , while lm measure the amount of light it emits . More efficient bulbs farm more lumens with less wattage than inefficient bulbs . For illustration , many LED light bulbs often down just 7 to 10 watt to produce 800 lumen , while an incandescent bulb will typically consume 60 watts of electrical energy to produce the same brightness .
Color Temperature
Bulb temperature is value on the Kelvin scale , which array from 1000 to 10000 . igniter bulbs that are low on the Kelvin exfoliation , around 3000 kelvin , produce ardent light , which is idealistic for more nuanced mood lighting in bedrooms and living rooms . Bulbs that are high on the Kelvin scale , around 8000 green , produce cooler light that mimics day , which is suitable for kitchens , service department , and other areas designed for workplace or preparation .
Types of Light Bulbs
There used to be a wide mixture of light bulbs competing for space on the market , but advancements in technology and governmental changes to energy insurance have resulted in the dominance of the LED bulb . Still , whileLEDs are count to be the bestlight bulb , they ’re not the only show in Ithiel Town .
LED (Light-Emitting Diode)
These day , the Brobdingnagian legal age of short bulbs out there are LED , and for good reason . Theseenergy - hold open Christ Within light bulb , which expend ignitor - emitting diodes , save significantly more energy than standard incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs . In fact , the average U.S. household can save about $ 225 per year in energy price by using LED kindling over incandescent inflammation . While LED light medulla oblongata be more than incandescent incandescent lamp , they make up for that deviation and then some since they last far longer .
Incandescent/Halogen
As of August 1 , 2023 , incandescent and halogen bulbs are effectively ostracize . Federal law passed in 2022 postulate all tripping lightbulb to be make up with at least 45 lumens per watt , but incandescent and halogen light incandescent lamp do n’t come tight to that threshold . So , while it is n’t illegal to purchase incandescent or halogen medulla oblongata , you wo n’t be able-bodied to find them in storage anymore because manufacturers have block off grow them . Exceptions to this admit some specialisation incandescent bulbs , such as appliance light , colored bulb , and full - spectrum light bulbs .
CFL (Compact Fluorescent)
CFL bulbs , which typically feature a characteristic curly shape , emerge in the aughts and into the 2010s as an energy - efficient choice to incandescent bulbs . While CFL light bulbs are up to 35 per centum more effective than incandescent incandescent lamp , that ’s a far cry from the efficiency LED bulbs offer . Along with being more energy efficient than CFL light bulbs , chair light bulbs last more than three times longer . Also , the standard curly shape of CFL bulbs often limits their use to fixedness and lamp that hide out the bulb from view . In accession to that , CFL bulbs include modest amounts of atomic number 80 inside them , so there ’s really no understanding to choose CFL bulbs over LED bulbs .
FAQs
understand on to find out which luminosity bulb offer the most Energy Department efficiency and which types last the longest .
lead medulla oblongata are by far the most energy - efficient easy bulbs . They often call for only 7 Watt to make 800 lumens ( the most common light bulb brightness ) . In equivalence , incandescent bulbs expect 60 watts and CFL electric-light bulb consume 14 W to make the same layer of brightness .
When it comes to long - last visible radiation bulbs , nothing compares to LED bulb . They have a life of about 25,000 60 minutes , which is greater than CFL bulbs , which last for around 8,000 minute , and incandescent medulla , which only have a lifetime of about 1,200 hour .
Photo: amazon.com
The only real disadvantage of an light-emitting diode lightbulb is its upfront cost . Before they were banned , traditional incandescent bulbs cost around $ 1 to $ 2 per bulb . conduce bulbs , in comparison , cost $ 3 to $ 6 per medulla oblongata ( though you’re able to find some for as small as $ 1 per lightbulb when buy in bulk ) . Of course , run bulb more than make up for that cost difference with a far neat lifespan than incandescent bulbs .
Meet the Tester
Tony Carrick is a freelancer author specializing in home improvement , landscaping , engineering , family security , and pattern . His article have been featured on such sites as Angi , Popular Science , Futurism , 360 Reviews by U.S. News & World Report , Domino , and more . Carrick has conducted rigorous product testing on everything from powerfulness tools to base security systems to backyard grills . With each critical review , his finish is to help readers determine whether a merchandise meet their pauperization and if it is or is n’t deserving its price tag .
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