Lighting & Electrical

Light Bulb Buying Guide

With such a variety of lightbulbs available, it can be hard to know where to start. From bright white spotlights to soft golden lamps, a particular lightbulb can completely change the ambience of the room entirely.

To give you a helping hand, we’ve composed this guide to highlight the different types of bulbs and light fixtures available for your space, whether you’re creating a smart home or simply need to light up a few forgotten corners of your property.

Types of light bulb types 

There are three main types of light bulb bases: bayonet, screw and spotlight fittings. The instructions on your lamp or light fitting will tell you the style and size of cap fitting to choose from.

Although less common, there are also a few specialist cap fittings. Make sure you always check this carefully as the wrong cap will not work in your light fitting.

Top tip: Take a look at our home lighting ideas if you’re planning a lighting revamp. 

photograph of modern translucent lamp with black base

Types of bulb

The three main types of bulbs are Halogen, Energy Saving (CFL) and LED.

Halogen

  • 30% energy saving* 
  • 2 year lifespan** 

Halogens have long been a reliable choice for many homeowners. While they produce an instant, crisp, bright light, they’re not always the most energy-efficient option as the bulbs use more energy to function, which can result in higher running costs.

Energy saver (CFL)

  • 80% energy saving* 
  • 10 year lifespan** 

CFL bulbs are ideal for those of you looking to cut down on your energy bills and are a crucial addition to any smart home. These bulbs produce a warm, soft, diffused light and are far more energy efficient than their halogen counterparts.

LED 

  • 90% energy saving* 
  • 25 year lifespan** 

Heralded for their instant, crisp, bright light, LEDs are ideal for illuminating larger spaces that require more visibility. Rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms are popular places for installing LEDs, and smart LEDs can make welcome additions to smart homes.

*Compared against traditional incandescent bulbs 

**Based on average usage of 1000 hours per year (3 hours per day) 

Top tip: Our LED buying guide is full of tips about these handy energy saving bulbs 

What are the brightest light bulbs? 

Different types of light bulbs also emit different levels of brightness. Wattage is the amount of power needed to light a bulb, while lumens refers to the level of brightness that the bulb produces.

Traditionally, a higher wattage meant a brighter bulb. However, due to the introduction of newer technologies (Halogen, Energy Savers (CFL) and LED), you can now produce the same amount of light using far less energy (wattage) and money. To know how much light a bulb produces, we now use lumens to measure brightness.

Although lumens and wattage don’t directly correlate, the table below gives you a good indication if you’re not sure how to know what bulb to buy.

Lumens

Cool or warm white light bulbs?

Shown in Kelvin (K) units, ‘colour temperature’ determines whether a certain bulb produces warm or cold light.

Bulbs with a low Kelvin value produce a warm yellow light that’s great for creating a cosy ambience, whereas bulbs with a higher Kelvin value produce a cool blue light that’s more energising.

For example, the colour temperature of candlelight is around 2000K, while bright sunlight is about 6000K. LED lights have a colour temperature between 2700 and 3000K, Halogen around 2800K and energy-saving lights between 2700 and 6500K.

The Kelvin value of a bulb is usually marked on the packaging, along with a simple description such as ‘warm white light bulb’ or ‘cool white’.

 

Now that you know about the different types of light bulbs and their key features, you’re ready to find the perfect match for your home! Explore our Ideas & Advice page for more useful tips and inspiration.



Homebase

Homebase

Writer and expert