LED Bulbs versus Incandescent Bulbs

LED Light Bulb Brightness

Because incandescent light bulbs have been around for more than a century, most people use them as a point of reference, equating familiar wattages to degrees of brightness. Wattage is actually a measure of energy used and this isn't helpful when trying to gain a sense of the equivalent brightness of an LED light bulb. Lumens are the measure of brightness used for LED bulbs.

It’s important to understand that LED bulbs use significantly lower wattage to produce the same brightness as traditional incandescent bulbs. That means that while an LED may cost more to initially purchase, it costs much less to operate over time due to lower energy consumption. As LEDs emit more lumens while using less energy, substituting an LED light bulb for an incandescent allows a fixture to produce brighter light safely, without exceeding its maximum wattage rating. You can get a brighter light safely without the concern of the heat emission, the reason behind the traditional wattage rating shown on light fittings.

While nostalgic filament bulbs are beautiful, they are generally less efficient than other incandescents and will have a lower lumen output so are less bright for far higher energy consumption.

Additionally, LED bulbs last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Average incandescent burn hours : 1,500 - 2,000. Average LED burn hours: 15,000 - 27,000. The chart below shows equivalent LED bulbs required to produce as much light as incandescent bulbs

LED Bulb Wattage Comparison Chart

Your Bulb Dictates The Colour of Light

Light colour, also referred to as colour temperature, is measured in degrees Kelvin, and is unrelated to brightness. Incandescent bulbs typically have a correlated colour temperature (CCT) rating of 2700K to 3000K. They produce a warm white light, as shown on the scale below.

Due to the nature of LEDs they are available in a choice of tones; anywhere from warm tones (2700K) tones to cool daylight tones (5000K). If you want to match the classic warm white light of an incandescent, choose an LED bulb with a rating of 2700K.

Kelvin Light Scale Chart - Colour Spectrum of Light

LED Light Bulbs Frequently Asked Questions:

Can LED light bulbs be dimmable?

Yes. These days there is a large choice of dimmable LED light bulbs.

How long will a LED light bulb last?

LED light bulbs have a considerably longer lifespan than traditional incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs last in excess of 10 times as long as a traditional bulb. Incandescent bulbs generally last 1500 hours, LED bulbs generally last 15,000 hours.

Why is a LED light bulb flickering?

The two main reasons that a LED bulb flickers are the use of a non-dimmable LED light bulb on a dimmer circuit or a faulty diode.

What LED light bulb is equivalent to 40W?

A LED light bulb of 6W to 9W are generally considered the equivalent of a 40W incandescent bulb.

What LED light bulb is equivalent to 60W?

A LED light bulb of 8W to 12W are generally considered the equivalent of a 40W incandescent bulb.

What LED bulb is equivalent to 100W?

A LED bulb of 16W to 20W are generally considered the equivalent of a 40W incandescent bulb.