ENERGY STAR labels make it easy to find the LED that’s right for you.
With more energy-efficient lighting options than ever, use these tips to help you choose the right bulb:
Lighting Shopping Tips
1. Choose ENERGY STAR® bulbs
These bulbs have been tested for quality and performance.
2. Look for Energy Trust signs
Participating retailers have placed signs next to qualifying LEDs with discounted pricing.
3. Read the Lighting Facts label
All bulbs have a Lighting Facts label that tells you what you need to know about the bulb: brightness, color tone and energy use.
Bulb brightness
- A bulb’s brightness is measured in lumens, which tells you how bright the bulb is; the higher the number, the brighter the light
- Watts only tell you how much energy a bulb uses
- Most packaging will tell you the wattage equivalent of an LED to a standard incandescent, but it’s best to choose a bulb based on lumens, not watts, to get the right light
- A 10-watt LED can provide 800 lumens, which is the same amount of light as a standard 60-watt incandescent bulb, but the LED uses much less energy
To find the right bulb for your needs, choose the lumen level that relates to the incandescent wattage you’re replacing, and then choose the bulb that uses the fewest watts.
| Light output (lumens) | 450 | 800 | 1,100 | 1,600 |
| LED bulb (watts) | 5 | 10 | 12 | 17 |
| Halogen incandescent bulb (watts) | 29 | 43 | 53 | 72 |
| Standard incandescent bulb (watts) | 40 | 60 | 75 | 100 |
Color tone
- LED color tones range from warm to cool
- Color tone, or light appearance, is measured in Kelvin
- Lower Kelvin numbers, around 2,700K, have a soft, yellow light and are good for bedrooms and living rooms
- Mid-range Kelvin numbers, around 5,000K, have a bright, white light and are good for work areas and kitchens
- Higher Kelvin numbers, up to 6,500K, have a crisp, daylight appearance and are good for focused task areas or reading lights
Energy use
LEDs provide the same brightness, or lumens, as traditional bulbs, but use
much less energy.
Dimmer compatibility
LEDs that are dimmable will feature the word “dimmable” right on the front of the package. However, not every bulb works well with every dimmer switch. If you don’t find a good match with your current dimmer, consider changing the switch, or return the bulb and find a different one. Many bulb manufacturers will provide a list of recommended dimmers on their website, or talk to your local retailer for advice on the right dimmer/bulb combination for your home.