The Best Light Bulbs for All Your Home’s Lighting Needs, Tested

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Light Bulbs for All Your Home’s Lighting Needs, Tested and hope the blog can help you.

Whether you’re after a basic replacement bulb or a color-capable light bulb with smart features, you’re in the right place. We tested some of the best options on the market.

While changing light bulbs may be an easy job, finding the right one to screw into a lamp or light fixture can be confusing. From color temperature to brightness to smart capabilities, there’s a lot to consider. Light bulbs that produce warm light can help set the ambience in a bedroom or living room, while light bulbs that emit cooler lighting are ideal for kitchens, home offices, and other spaces that demand task lighting. There are also smart bulbs you can control remotely and change to virtually any temperature or color via a smartphone app. 

To make sense of it all, I researched more than two dozen light bulbs, comparing specs and user reviews to identify eight of the most highly acclaimed bulbs on the market. I then put those eight bulbs through a series of tests in my home to find out which are the best light bulbs—here’s what I found.

1. BEST OVERALL: Feit Electric 8.8W Dimmable LED Light Bulb
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: EcoSmart 9W Non-Dimmable LED Light Bulb
3. BEST SMART: Wyze 800 Lumen 90+ CRI Smart LED Light Bulb
4. BEST AMBIENCE: Philips Hue 9.5W E26 Smart LED Light Bulb
5. BEST DAYLIGHT: Sylvania 8.5W Daylight Non-Dimmable LED Light Bulb
6. BEST DIMMABLE: Philips 9.5W Dimmable LED Light Bulb
7. BEST CANDELABRA: EcoSmart 4.6W E12 Dimmable LED Filament Light Bulb
8. BEST COLOR-CHANGING: Wyze Bulb Color 1100 Lumen Color-Changing Smart Bulb

How We Tested the Best Light Bulbs

I used several criteria to evaluate the eight light bulbs I included on my list. First, I considered light quality by assessing how closely each bulb’s color temperature matched its description as well as how accurately it rendered the natural colors of the objects around it. For color bulbs, I evaluated how accurately the bulb produced vibrant colors at varying light levels. I also assessed the performance consistency of each bulb by looking for flickering or buzzing at full brightness. For dimmer bulbs, I tested each one’s ability to reach lower light levels, taking note of any flickering or plateauing, which is the point at which a bulb ceases to dim to lower brightness levels. For smart bulbs, I evaluated ease of installation and use along with any programming and scheduling features available on its accompanying smartphone app.

Testing Stats

• Products tested: 8
• Hours spent testing: 32
• Tests performed: 5
• Price range: $10 to $40

Our Top Picks

My selection of the top light bulbs ranges from basic budget-friendly options to high-end smart light bulbs. Note that Ease of Use and Reliability ratings only applied to smart bulbs.

Best Overall

Feit Electric 8.8W Dimmable LED Light Bulb

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Our Ratings: Quality 5/5;Color 5/5; Ease of Use N/A; Reliability N/A; Value 4/5 

Product Specs 

• Lumens: 800
• Color temperature: Soft white (2700K)
• Wattage: 8.8 watts
• Dimmable: Yes

Pros

• Beautiful color that casts a natural light on everything around it
• Excellent dimming ability with no flickering, even at lower levels
• Silent operation with no detectable buzzing or humming at any light level

Cons

•  Warmer color temperature versions of this bulb aren’t quite as bright 

Excellent color accuracy and a steady performance make this pick my favorite of the bunch. At 2700K, this bulb produces a very warm light that’s easy on the eyes and ideal for living rooms or bedrooms. It’s also one of the best light bulbs I tested in terms of color accuracy. With its 90+ Color Rendering Index (CRI) rating, it maintains the natural colors of the objects it illuminates.

I did find this light bulb to be noticeably dimmer than bulbs that are on the high end of the temperature spectrum, making it unsuitable for task lighting. If a work light is what you’re after, Feit Electric offers this light bulb in daylight and bright white. 

Along with its accurate lighting, this bulb also performs quite well. It dims without any noticeable flickering and operates silently with no detectable buzzing or humming at any light level, even when left on for hours. At about $3 a bulb, this bulb is more affordable than other standard LED bulbs, making it an excellent value. And something that sets it apart from the competition is that it’s also rated for damp locations.

Get the Feit Electric light bulbs at The Home Depot.

Best Bang for the Buck

EcoSmart 9W Non-Dimmable LED Light Bulb

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Our Ratings: Quality 5/5;Color 3/5; Ease of Use N/A; Reliability N/A; Value 4.5/5 

Product Specs 

• Lumens: 840
• Color temperature: Daylight (5000K)
• Wattage: 9 watts
• Dimmable: No

Pros

• A very affordable price for good-quality LED light bulbs
• Bright light output with daylightlike quality is suitable for task lighting
• Bulbs operate without any flickering or audible noise on a standard light switch

Cons

• Casts a slightly bluish glow on objects and furnishings around it

Those after a budget-priced bulb for standard light fixtures that aren’t connected to a dimming switch will want to consider EcoSmart’s 9-watt LED light bulbs. 

At 5000K on the color scale, the EcoSmart bulbs offer a bright white daylight color ideal for task lighting. They use 9 watts and produce the equivalent of a 60-watt incandescent light bulb, or 840 lumens of brightness. 

I was impressed with how bright these light bulbs were. That, coupled with their cool color temperature, makes them a great choice for a kitchen, garage, laundry room, or any other place that requires task lighting. With an 80 CRI rating, these are not the most color-accurate light bulbs I tested. They do give objects around them a slightly bluish tint. While that wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, it may be for others. 

The EcoSmart LED light bulbs operate quietly with no detectable noise when used in a normal lamp. They offer an excellent value; at a little over a dollar a bulb when purchased as a 16-bulb value pack, this is one of the most affordable LED options out there. 

Get the EcoSmart nondimmable light bulbs at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Best Smart

Wyze 800 Lumen 90+ CRI Smart LED Light Bulb

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Our Ratings: Quality 5/5;Color 5/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Reliability 5/5; Value 4.5/5 

Product Specs 

• Lumens: 800
• Color temperature: Variable (2700K to 6500K)
• Wattage: 9.5 watts
• Dimmable: Yes

Pros

• Beautiful and accurate color temperatures and light levels
• Very stable operating with no flickering or noise 
• Connects to Wi-Fi reliably and with no interruptions 
• Easy-to-use app allows you to create and program schedules and preset “scenes”

Cons

• One of the more expensive smart light bulbs out there

If you appreciate setting the lighting to suit various moods and needs, then the Wyze smart light bulb is a perfect match. I was amazed at how evenly and accurately it produces varying temperatures of light, from bright white task lighting to warm and subtle mood lighting. These qualities give the Wyze light bulb tremendous versatility. I could imagine using it for everything from kitchen task lighting to a night-light on a bedroom nightstand. And the Wyze app allows you to create scenes and set schedules to suit various times of day. 

One of the biggest frustrations with smart bulbs is their tendency to disconnect from the user’s home Wi-Fi network. That wasn’t the case with the Wyze bulb. Over several days of use, I didn’t experience any drop-offs from my home network, which is something I can’t say about other smart bulbs I’ve tested. 

While these Wyze light bulbs offer incredible quality and performance, it’s important to note that they don’t come cheap. At about $10 a bulb, they are among the pricier LED smart bulbs out there. That said, the quality of light they produce, coupled with their stable performance, makes them worth the extra expense. 

Get the Wyze smart white light bulbs at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Wyze.

Best Ambience

Philips Hue 9.5W E26 Smart LED Light Bulb

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Our Ratings: Quality 5/5;Color 5/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Reliability 5/5; Value 3.5/5 

Product Specs 

• Lumens: 800
• Color temperature: Variable (2000K to 6500k + 16 million colors)
• Wattage: 9.5 watts
• Dimmable: Yes

Pros

• Has a high-lumen output that produces vibrant colors 
• Bluetooth controls offer users the ability to change the color and temperature in real time
• Produces no flickering or noise, even after extended periods of use

Cons

• To control it from remote locations, you’ll need a dedicated hub to connect it to your Wi-Fi network
• Very expensive compared to other color-capable smart LED light bulbs

The Philips Hue bulb offers users the near-limitless ability to customize its color temperature, giving it tremendous versatility. 

It also uses a Bluetooth connection, so there’s no delay between selecting a color on the app and seeing it change on the bulb, something that I didn’t get with Wi-Fi–ready smart bulbs that take a beat or two to change colors after selecting them on the app. With this “real-time” connection, I was able to move my finger around the color wheel or temperature bar on the app to get the perfect hue or temperature. 

The Hue bulb is pricey, but it produces richer colors than budget-priced color-changing LED LED light bulbs I’ve tested, and the colors remain vivid even at lower light levels. 

The downside of the Hue is that if you want to control it from afar or set schedules, you’ll need to buy a Hue Hub from Philips to enable those features. Some may also not like the nontraditional shape of this Bluetooth light bulb. That said, if you don’t mind paying a little more for it, the Hue offers incredible color-changing performance. 

Get the Philips Hue light bulb at Amazon. 

Best Daylight

Sylvania 8.5W Daylight Non-Dimmable LED Light Bulb

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Our Ratings: Quality 5/5;Color 5/5; Ease of Use N/A; Reliability N/A; Value 4/5 

Product Specs 

• Lumens: 800
• Color temperature: Daylight (5000K)
• Wattage: 8.5 watts
• Dimmable: No

Pros

• These daylight bulbs create light that actually feels like real daylight
• Bright and easy enough on the eyes for reading or task lighting
• The bulbs function with no audible humming or buzzing when on a standard light switch

Cons

• Not dimmer compatible; will buzz audibly when placed on a dimmer switch
• A little pricey for a standard nondimmable light bulb

Sylvania bulbs cast a bright daylight glow that’s surprisingly soft and pleasant compared to some of the harsher bulbs I tested. With a color temperature rating of 5000K, they radiate a cool color that makes them ideal as a bedroom reading light or in a kitchen or laundry room setting for task lighting. Unlike some other daylight bulbs I tested, the light didn’t feel harsh on the eyes, even after spending several hours working under it. They also accurately render the true color of surrounding objects, and the light they cast blends seamlessly with ambient daylight from nearby windows.

The bulbs emit no sound, though it’s important to point out that they have a nondimmable rating. They emitted a noticeable hum when put on a dimmer switch, even when the switch was at low power. 

At a bit under $2.50 apiece, Sylvania’s light bulbs are a little pricey for a light bulb that is nondimmable. However, the quality of light they put out makes them worth the extra cost. 

Get the Sylvania light bulbs at Amazon or Walmart.

Best Dimmable

Philips 9.5W Dimmable LED Light Bulb

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Our Ratings: Quality 5/5;Color 4/5; Ease of Use N/A; Reliability N/A; Value 3.5/5 

Product Specs 

• Lumens: 800
• Color temperature: Daylight (5000K)
• Wattage: 8.8 watts
• Dimmable: No

Pros

• No plateauing with its ability to dim to extremely low light levels 
• Produces a warm color temperature that’s ideal for mood lighting 
• Silent operation with no buzzing at either low or high light levels 

Cons

• At about $5 per bulb, it’s one of the pricier dimmer bulbs on the market

LED light bulbs are notoriously testy when functioning on a dimmer switch, often flickering, blinking, or failing to dim evenly. That’s not the case with the Philips dimmable LED light bulb. During testing, I experienced no plateauing or flickering whatsoever. I was able to dim it down to extremely low light levels, which is typically only possible with an old incandescent light bulb. There were also no sudden shifts in light output while moving through the dimming arc. The bulb dims smoothly and gradually, allowing for very minute changes in brightness. 

The Philips dimmable light bulb also operates silently, whether functioning at max brightness or very low light output. Light quality is also excellent with the Philips bulb. Thanks to its high CRI rating, it renders colors around it accurately. 

With a color temperature that falls well onto the warm side of the Kelvin scale, the Philips dimmable LED light bulbs are a great option for creating mood lighting in a bedroom or living room. They’re on the pricey side at about $5 per bulb, but they’re worth it for their control, stability, and high degree of color accuracy.

Get the Philips dimmable light bulbs at Amazon or Walmart.

Best Calendabra

EcoSmart 4.6W E12 Dimmable LED Filament Light Bulb

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Our Ratings: Quality 5/5;Color 4/5; Ease of Use N/A; Reliability N/A; Value