Lightbulbs

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Lightbulbs

What's behind our lightbulb Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 44 models in lightbulbs to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score combines life and rapid-cycle testing, brightness at 3,000 hours of use, and warm-up time performance.
Brightness
Brightness indicates the brightness (lumens) of each bulb after 3,000 hours of life testing, as compared with the brightness of a comparable incandescent.
Rapid-cycle testing
Rapid-cycle testing reflects the average number of 2-minute on and 2-minute off cycles each bulb survived.
Warm-up time
Warm-up time is how long the bulb took to reach near full brightness.
Life testing
Life testing reflects how many 3-hour on and 20-minute off cycles a bulb survives after 3,000 hours of the "on" cycle.
Light distribution
Measures how well a test bulb duplicates the light distribution of an equivalent incandescent bulb.
Efficiency
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.)
Claimed life
Claimed life is how long the manufacturer says the bulb will last.
Actual 3K hr brightness
Actual brightness (lumens) is the average measured brightness of 10 bulb samples after being life tested.
Actual color temperature
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.
Actual 3K hr color rendering index
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.
Actual 3K hr warm-up time
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.
Type
Whether the bulb is a CFL or LED.
Bulbs per pack
The number of bulbs in the package as priced.
Pay back time
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.)

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Recommended lightbulbs

Recommended lightbulbs are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended lightbulbs

Lightbulb buying guide

To find the lightbulb that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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In addition to finding Ratings for the latest models, you can now shop online using an ad-free interface where you can buy lightbulbs in a safe-shopping environment.

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What if the lightbulb you put in your baby's nursery didn't have to be replaced until Junior is off to college? That's the promise of the latest generation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Those bulbs claim to rival the look, dimming ability, and light quality of incandescents; contain no mercury (as compact fluorescent lightbulbs do); and last up to five times longer than CFLs and 50 times as long as incandescents. If you're looking for information about lightbulbs, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ lightbulb reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our lightbulb buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and lightbulb reviews to help you choose the best lightbulb for your needs.

Ratings & recommended lightbulbs

Lightbulbs (44)

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs will quickly pay for themselves, saving about $6 per bulb per year over electricity costs for incandescents. Energy Star-qualified bulbs usually performed better in our tests.

Lightbulb buying guide

Most screw-in lightbulbs have to use at least 27 percent less energy by 2014. The phase-out of inefficient bulbs began in January 2012 with 100-watt bulbs that use too much energy. Our lightbulb tests show that the newest bulbs might not be perfect but they last longer and use less electricity.

It isn't socket science, but there are a few things you'll need to know before buying any energy-saving bulb. For starters, Energy Star-qualified bulbs meet high standards for brightness, color, and energy use, and the mercury content is capped in compact fluorescent lightbulbs. After 3,000 hours of testing, we found which CFLs and light-emitting diode bulbs, or LEDs, perform the best.

Before you shop visit www.dsireusa.org/incentives or www.energystar.gov to find utility rebates, and search online for manufacturer rebates. Check store displays of lit bulbs to get a feel for their light quality. Whatever you choose, buy just a few and try them out. And keep in mind the price of LEDs will continue to drop over the next few years. Also be sure to:

Getting started | Types | Features | FAQ: New lightbulbs, new choices

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