Best Lightbulbs

Rapid-cycle testing reflects the average number of 2-minute on and 2-minute off cycles each bulb survived.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Rapid-cycle testing has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Dimmable.

The averaged measured color rendering of ten bulb samples. Those closer to 100 will better enable colors to appear the same as if viewed under the light of an incandescent bulb.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Actual 3K hr color rendering index has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Dimmable.

Efficiency measures the amount of light produced per watt of energy used. (The more light produced per watt of energy used the more efficient the bulb.)

This Lightbulb which tested best for Efficiency has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture and Works with semi enclosed fixture.

Whether the bulb is a CFL or LED.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Type has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Dimmable.

Warm-up time is how long the bulb took to reach near full brightness.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Warm-up time has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Dimmable.

The number of bulbs in the package as priced.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Bulbs per pack has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with fully enclosed fixture and Works with semi enclosed fixture.

Measures how well a test bulb duplicates the light distribution of an equivalent incandescent bulb.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Light distribution has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Dimmable.

Brightness indicates the brightness (lumens) of each bulb after 3,000 hours of life testing, as compared with the brightness of a comparable incandescent.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Brightness has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Dimmable.

Actual brightness (lumens) is the average measured brightness of 10 bulb samples after being life tested.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Actual 3K hr brightness (lumens) has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with electronic timer, Works with photo cell and Works with motion sensor.

The averaged measured time it takes for ten bulb samples to reach near full brightness. All PAR38 and porch/post were tested at 0 degrees F. All others tested at 77 degrees F.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Actual 3K hr warm-up time (sec.) has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with fully enclosed fixture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Works with photo cell.

Actual color temperature (kelvin) is the average measured color temperature of 10 bulb samples. Those with 2700 K are closest to incandescent bulbs; ones with 3000 K are similar to halogen bulbs.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Actual color temperature (kelvin) has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with fully enclosed fixture, Works with electronic timer, Works with photo cell and Works with motion sensor.

The time in years till a bulb will start to save money when compared to an equivalent incandescent bulb. (For this comparison one year equals 1095 hours or 3 hours per day of use.)

This Lightbulb which tested best for Pay back time (yrs.) has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with semi enclosed fixture, Works with electronic timer, Works with photo cell, Works with motion sensor and Dimmable.

Claimed life is how long the manufacturer says the bulb will last.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Claimed life (hr.) has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with fully enclosed fixture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Dimmable.

Life testing reflects how many 3-hour on and 20-minute off cycles a bulb survives after 3,000 hours of the "on" cycle.

This Lightbulb which tested best for Life testing has the following features: Outdoor not exposed to moisture, Works with semi enclosed fixture and Dimmable.