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Choosing an LED Bulb in Six Steps: Lumens, Color and Fit

Compare lumens, color temperature, socket size and fixture ratings before replacing a household bulb.

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Wikimedia Commons · Mj-bird / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0. Hitachi LED light bulb LDA15D-G E26 cap. Original image unchanged. · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported ↗

Incandescent bulbs were commonly compared by watts, but with LEDs, watts describe power use rather than brightness. The US FTC and ENERGY STAR recommend comparing lumens. Socket types, voltage and labels vary by country, so follow the markings on your fixture.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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1. Check the existing setup safely. Switch off and let the bulb cool. Read the fixture's voltage, socket type and maximum permitted wattage. Leave any wiring work to a qualified professional.
2. Start with lumens (lm), not watts. As a rough comparison, ENERGY STAR lists about 450 lm for an old 40W incandescent, 800 lm for 60W and 1,100 lm for 75W. These are light-output comparisons, not the LED's actual power consumption.
3. Compare color temperature in kelvin (K). Choose warmer yellowish or cooler whitish light to suit the room and your preference. Higher K values generally appear cooler or bluer.
4. Match the base and dimensions. Screw bases such as E26 and E27 may look alike, but regional and electrical requirements vary. Follow the specification on the existing fixture and its instructions.
5. Check for dimmer and enclosed-fixture compatibility. If your lamp has a dimmer or a sealed shade, verify that the bulb packaging specifically permits that use and meets the fixture's limits.
6. Compare energy use and stated life on the package. Among bulbs of similar brightness, consider lower wattage. Stop using the lamp and seek inspection if you notice flickering, unusual heat or an abnormal smell.

US Federal Trade CommissionShopping for Light Bulbs ↗FTC consumer guide: lumens represent brightness; watts power; Lighting Facts explains brightness, energy, lifetime, color appearance and mercury. US label examples are not mandated worldwide.ENERGY STARLearn About Brightness ↗Official light-output comparison: approximately 450, 800 and 1100 lumens corresponding to old 40, 60 and 75 W incandescent lamps; brightness distinct from watts.US Department of EnergyPurchasing Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs ↗DOE explains LED versus incandescent lumen/watt comparisons and warns LED size can cause fit problems in small fixtures.Wikimedia CommonsHitachi LED light bulb LDA15D-G E26 cap ↗Exact photo: Mj-bird, own work, CC BY-SA 3.0; original JPEG checked. Not an LED selection chart.Wikimedia CommonsCommons: Reusing content outside Wikimedia — technical ↗Technical guidance explicitly permits direct hotlinking but requires compliance with each image's license and attribution.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

Further reading

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