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How to Choose the Right Light Bulb for Every Fixture

one light bulb standing out from the crowd
How to Pick the Right Light Bulb for Every FixtureJasmin Merdan - Getty Images

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While the color you paint your walls and the sofa you buy are both important decisions to consider when designing your home, lighting is another element you don't want to leave on the back burner. The right lighting can make a dinner party unforgettable, a bedroom more relaxing, and a home office more productive. Surprisingly, good lighting is less about the fixture and position—task lamps vs. table lamps and overhead lighting vs. directional—and more about the light bulb types you choose. The lightbulb you decide to stick in your lamp can make or break the atmosphere in your space.

Types of light bulbs include a variety of brightnesses, hues (sometimes the entire rainbow), and sizes. The lighting aisle of any store can be overwhelming—except for at The Home Depot, where it's magical. That's why we're here to help you decide what to buy. Read on to learn everything you need to know about different types of light bulbs and how to choose the right one. As always, check your fixture's specifications the base type and max wattage.

Light Bulb Basics

There are two primary qualities to look for when choosing your type of light bulb: wattage and lumens.

Wattage

A light bulb's wattage measures how much energy the light bulb uses. Higher-wattage light bulbs require more energy, resulting in a higher electric bill. Of the most common types of bulbs, incandescent bulbs usually have the highest wattage requirements. But due to recent government restrictions on incandescent bulbs, you probably won't need one of those. LED bulbs are the modern alternative to incandescent because both bulbs emit the same amount of light—LEDs just use much less energy to do so.

Lumens

Lumens refer to how much light a bulb gives off. If a bulb has more lumens, it'll have a brighter light; fewer lumens means a dimmer glow. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends considering lumens instead of watts while shopping if your main concern is how dim or bright your home lighting will be. If your main concern is energy usage, shop based on wattage instead.

The Most Common Types of Light Bulbs

LED

LED stands for light-emitting diode. These types of bulbs are the most commonly available light bulb types as well as most popular right now. LED bulbs are beloved because they're cool to the touch (no matter how long your light stays on), extremely energy efficient, and contain no mercury, although they can be prone to issues like buzzing. The best LED light bulbs are "a near-dupe for classic soft white incandescents," according to one House Beautiful editor. You can even pick LED bulbs that closely imitate daylight, which is perfect for a kitchen or office.

Most if not all smart light bulbs are LEDs as well. Smart bulbs can often change color and connect to Google, Siri, and Alexa digital assistants.

Fluorescent

Often seen in commercial spaces such as malls, offices, schools, and grocery stores, fluorescent lights are most commonly available in rod form rather than bulb. These harsh, bright white lights are handy for utility spaces like garages and laundry rooms. They can last for up to 200,000 hours, making them a very long-lasting type of light bulb.

Incandescent

Before LEDs, incandescent bulbs were the most common household light bulbs out there. As we mentioned, the government has placed bans and restrictions on them due to their high energy usage. As of August 1, 2023, most incandescent bulbs are no longer available in the United States—with some exceptions, like appliance bulbs. Many appliance light bulbs, like in a fridge or microwave, are incandescent. As newer appliances are being released, incandescents are being phased out.

Halogen

Similar to incandescents, halogen light bulbs are banned in the United States. Halogen bulbs, while energy efficient, tend to have a shorter lifespan than other light bulbs—most burn out after about nine to 12 months of regular use. Halogen bulbs also emit UV rays when turned on. However, they do offer a warm glow that's ideal for mood lighting.

CFL

CFL stands for compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Similar to rod fluorescents, CFLs are the smaller household version. However, these are being phased out due to energy efficiency and will be completely out of production by 2025. These bulbs are known to flicker and buzz when warming up.

What a Light Bulb's Color Means

A good general rule of thumb is that the warmer the light, the lower the temperature. Warm white lights will always be cooler than blue-toned white lights. Color temperature is measured in degrees of Kelvin on a scale from 1,000 to 10,000. For ambient lighting, calmer spaces, and cozier vibes, opt for warmer-toned lights, which will fall lower on the Kelvin scale. For spaces where visibility is key (i.e., your office, kitchen, and inside your closet), choose cooler lights closer to 10,000 Kelvins.

What Light Bulb Sizes Stand For

  • A for Standard Household/Arbitrary

  • C for Candle

  • R for Reflector

  • MR for Multifaceted Reflector or Quartz Reflector Lamp

  • PAR for Parabolic Aluminized Reflector

  • G for Globe

  • T for Tubular

Types of Light Bulb Bases

  • E26 or E27: Most common and considered the standard for household use. Most lightbulbs you buy at the store will have this base.

  • E12: Called the candelabra base. If you have a chandelier or similar fixture, look for this base.

  • E17: Intermediate. Less common but found in small table lamps or ceiling fans.

  • G4 or GU24: Called a Bi-Pin base, this base has two points of contact. Commonly seen in kitchen lighting or undercabinet lights.

  • GU10: Also called a Twist-and-Lock base. You turn the bulb until it clicks into place rather than screwing it in.

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