The Brightest and Most Energy-Efficient: A Guide to the Best LED Light Bulbs on the Market

If you’re in the market for affordable light bulbs that offer both visual appeal and long-term energy savings, LED bulbs are the way to go. Cree’s Exceptional Light Quality A19 bulbs are an excellent option for general-purpose lighting needs. For a warm and inviting atmosphere, opt for soft white LED bulbs, which come in 60W and 40W versions. Alternatively, if you prefer a cooler, more focused light for tasks such as reading or working, Cree’s daylight LED bulbs, also in 60W and 40W versions, are a great choice. What’s more, these bulbs are compatible with dimmer switches, and their color accuracy enhances the overall look and feel of your home’s decor, furniture, and even food. You won’t have to worry about flickering or buzzing with these bulbs, making them a reliable and practical choice for any household.

Philips Dimmable Frosted A19 LED Bulbs (4-Pack)

According to our experts, Philips is the best option for a standard E26-base screw-in lightbulb that closely mimics the warmth and dimming of an incandescent bulb. They have a high color rendering index (CRI) of 90, which is the baseline number that experts recommend when buying bulbs. The bulbs have a five-year life span and are known for their reliable, non-buggy performance. Interior designer Olivia Stutz reports that her clients have been extremely satisfied with the price and performance of Philips LEDs, which emit a nice soft light that closely resembles that of an incandescent bulb.

Philips LED bulbs are available in different brightness levels, including an ultrabright 1,600-lumen bulb and an 800-lumen bulb, to suit your preference and needs. In a test, the 1,100-lumen bulb was used to replace an inexpensive Feit Electric LED bulb in a bedroom floor lamp, which had been bought several years ago. The new Philips bulb produced a bright, cheerful light that was cooler than a peachy old-school halogen bulb, but still warm enough to make the previous bulb seem dull by comparison. The bulb’s ambient dimming function worked well for bedroom light, fading smoothly from bright, sunny white to dim peach with no flickering or buzzing.

Amazon Basics Soft White A19 LED Light Bulb 6-Pack

If you’re looking to upgrade your home lighting to LED bulbs at an affordable price point, consider the Amazon Basics light bulbs. These non-dimmable bulbs come in a convenient six-pack and offer a lifespan of up to 15,000 hours, which can help you save money on energy bills. The bulbs are energy-efficient and require no time to warm up, providing full brightness right away with just a flip of the switch.

With a color temperature of 2700 Kelvins, these bulbs emit a soft white light that creates a warm and cozy atmosphere, making them ideal for living rooms, dining rooms, or bedrooms. Additionally, these bulbs are made of durable plastic and can even be used for outdoor lighting. If you prefer a different color temperature, the Amazon Basics bulbs also come in daylight and clear soft white options.

These bulbs have a wattage of 10.5 watts and a brightness of 800 lumens, and they have an arbitrary (A19) bulb shape. One potential downside to these bulbs is that their soft white color may give a room a slightly yellow hue. Additionally, they are non-dimmable, so if you need to adjust the lighting level, you will need to use a different type of bulb. However, overall, the Amazon Basics light bulbs offer a great value and are a reliable option for upgrading to LED lighting in your home.

Luxrite A19 LED Light Bulb 60W Equivalent

This LED light bulb from Luxrite is a great option for those who want to save money on their energy bills. With a 60-watt output, 25,000-hour lifespan, and soft white tone, it can replace your old light bulbs while also being energy efficient. This bulb is Energy Star-certified and has an efficacy of 88.9 lumens/watt.

Available in soft, natural, and cool light colors, this bulb can be purchased in a 4-, 6-, 12-, 16-, or 24-pack to ensure you always have a spare. However, this bulb is not suitable for those looking for a CFL bulb.

At the time of publishing, a 4-pack of these bulbs costs $13.

Product Specs: Bulb Type: LED Lumens: 800 Watts: 60 Color: Soft white (2700K)

Cree BR30 Floodlight LED

There are many options for energy-efficient BR30-shaped LED bulbs on the market, but the 65-watt replacement bulbs from Cree and Philips are the top choices. They emit around 650 lumens of light and use less than 10 watts of energy, making them highly efficient and affordable. These bulbs are also dimmable and work well with dimmer switches. For higher ceilings or areas with fewer bulbs, consider the 100-watt bulb replacement BR30 LEDs, also made by Cree and sold at Home Depot for a little over $10 each. These bulbs provide even more brightness and are a great deal for those who need them. As of writing this, Home Depot has a sale on Cree bulbs with a two-pack of 65-watt replacement bulbs for less than $6, which is a great value. If it were up to me, I would choose these bulbs for my own home.

Sylvania LED Bulb

The Sylvania LED Bulbs cater to the importance of different lighting needs, making spaces more enjoyable. Whether it’s additional brightness during the day or full lighting in dark areas, these LED bulbs are an excellent option. They are energy-efficient and can save up to 85% on your yearly electricity bills compared to other bulb types. These bulbs operate at a safe temperature and do not emit radiation. You can choose the wattage and number of bulbs you require. With their lasting durability, you won’t have to replace them anytime soon. These bulbs offer a variety of designs and high-quality durability, making them the best overall LED bulbs on our list.

Pros:

• Available in different wattages
• Lifespan of up to seven years
• Energy cost savings
• Reduces eye fatigue

Cons:

• Non-dimmable

Buying Guide: The Best Smart LED Light Bulbs

What is the Function of a Smart Light Bulb?

Smart light bulbs provide a level of flexibility and interactivity that traditional bulbs cannot match, including the ability to schedule timers and remote control options. They are also more convenient to use, as it is easier to tap a smartphone screen than to get up and walk over to a wall switch. Apart from keeping the area lit, the majority of the bulbs reviewed offer the ability to schedule or remotely control them, making it easier to save on energy costs or remember to turn off the lights before leaving the house. Some bulbs utilize geofencing, which works with the GPS in your phone to automatically switch the lights on or off when you arrive or leave home. Furthermore, color-changing bulbs are ideal for setting the mood, and some can even synchronize with specific movies and TV shows. Certain bulbs are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s HomeKit, or Google Assistant, allowing you to control your home lighting with your voice. Additionally, some of the bulbs on this list can be integrated with security cameras, thermostats, and other smart home devices. By using IFTTT compatibility, you can create recipes that trigger your lights to react to specific events, such as phone notifications or changes in the weather.

FAQs

What are the three types of LED light bulbs?

LED light bulbs come in different categories according to the type of chip used. The three types are dual-inline package (DIP), surface-mounted diode (SMD), and chip on board (COB). The SMD variety of LED light bulbs is the most common, but COB LED light bulbs offer very bright light with less energy consumption. DIP LED bulbs were the original type and are still used today, but less frequently in consumer lighting applications than the other two types.

How do you dispose of light bulbs?

You can dispose of incandescent and halogen bulbs in your household trash. You should recycle LED light bulbs should since the microchips inside this type of bulb contain small amounts of heavy metals. CFL and fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and should always be recycled. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers information and resources on where to recycle light bulbs.1

What happens if you use a light bulb with lower wattage?

If you use a light bulb with a wattage lower than the recommendation for your light fixture, you can expect less light output. However, it will not harm the fixture because of using a lower wattage bulb. “Technology improvements are constantly occurring, which provide greater light while using lower energy,” says Knopfler. “It is much more accurate to look at the lumen output than the wattage.” Keep in mind that using a bulb with a greater wattage than the fixture’s rating is a safety hazard.