When it is time to replace outdated light bulbs, finding replacements can be difficult. With the banning of incandescent bulbs in the United States, this process has been made more complicated. There are various factors to consider, such as the wattage and lumens of the previous bulb and the maximum wattage of the fixture. Read this article to learn more.
Wattage vs. Lumens For LEDs
The amount of electrical power a bulb consumes to produce light is measured in Watts. On average, LEDs consume about 80 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, meaning they will require significantly fewer watts to produce the same brightness. They also have a higher energy efficiency, leading to a longer lifespan and fewer replacements required, which will reduce the total costs over time.
The LED bulbs on our website list the actual wattage consumed and the wattage equivalence of incandescent bulbs to help you when shopping by comparison. For example, this LED bulb has a 60W equivalent specification, meaning that it emits the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb but is actually only 9 watts.


Lumens measure brightness. The more lumens a bulb emits, the brighter it will be, and vice versa. With the switch to LED bulbs, lumens help indicate how bright an LED bulb is compared to outdated bulbs at different wattages. For instance, an LED bulb emitting 1,000 lumens will have a lower wattage than an incandescent bulb emitting 1,000 lumens.


Shopping for Your Bulb
Since LEDs use a lower wattage to produce the same amount of light, lumens are a better measure of their brightness. We recommend comparing similar lumens rather than wattages when shopping for LED bulbs. The conversion from wattage to lumens is not always straightforward. Guides are available that estimate how many lumens you might need based on your current light bulb wattage. When you shop on our website, you will notice we list the equivalent wattage for our products to make this easier.
Understanding Maximum Wattage Ratings
It's tempting to exceed the maximum wattage rating when you want a brighter light. However, installing a bulb that exceeds socket wattage ratings can have adverse effects, such as catching fire or damaging the fixture's sockets or wiring. It’s also not necessary. You can install LED light bulbs with higher lumens than incandescent and halogen bulbs that won’t exceed the recommended wattages.
Certain light fixtures will recommend a maximum wattage rating for installed LED bulbs. For safety compliance, we recommend following these specifications when installing bulbs. The fixture should have the maximum rating listed. You can also check if the bulb you’re replacing lists the wattage.
Minimum Wattage Rating
Most light fixtures recommend a minimum wattage rating. Installing a bulb with a lower wattage rating does not cause many adverse reactions. Most LED light bulbs' wattage will be lower than the light fixtures' minimum rating, but the light output won’t be affected.
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Use our universal bulb finder to find the exact bulb you need. If you have any questions about LED light bulb wattage, lumens, or any other specific LED-related questions, you can call us at 866-590-3533 or complete the contact form.