The 9 Best Light Bulbs of 2023

Best Overall

Cree 40W-Equivalent Soft White A19 Dimmable LED Light Bulb

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Cree's line of A19-size LED bulbs start at 40 watts in terms of the equivalent wattage for incandescent bulbs, producing a living-space-friendly 460 lumens of brightness while actually using a mere 5.5 watts of electricity. If you need more brightness, you can opt for the 60-watt- or 75-watt-equivalent bulbs; all can dim smoothly down to nothing when used on a dimmable light fixture. The soft white light is a warm and cozy 2700K color temperature, and a clearer daylight version at a cooler 5000K is available as well. 

One area where the Cree bulbs particularly excel is how accurately they show the colors of objects they shine on. Out of a maximum Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 100, the bulbs' 90+ CRI means rich, natural colors all around your room. 

The per-bulb cost of Cree's LED bulbs is higher than you'll find with traditional incandescent bulbs (as well as some current LEDs), but the energy savings and longevity adds up in the end. The bulbs are rated for 25,000 hours or 22 years of use—you may never hit those theoretical numbers in real-world applications, but the bulbs are very long-lasting all the same. Plus, they're compliant with California's Title 20 regulations, so you won't run into issues if you're shipping them to the state. 

Price at time of publish: $28/4-pack

_{Bulb Type: LED | Lumens: 460 lumens | Watts: 5.5 watts | Usage: Indoor/enclosed outdoor | Color Temperature: 2700 kelvin}

Best Budget

Philips 60-Watt Equivalent Soft White LED Light Bulb

4.2

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Even though traditional incandescent light bulbs usually cost less when you first buy them, there's a reason they're being phased out in favor of LED light bulbs: LEDs simply produce much less heat and consume much less energy throughout a much longer lifespan. These standard-sized LED bulbs from Philips use 10 watts to provide 800 lumens of light, equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent, and they're rated to last you about 11 years with 3-hour daily usage. That means long-term savings for a reasonable initial investment—at the time of writing, you could find a set of 16 for less than $2 per bulb. 

The soft white light is ideal for a relaxing environment, and its 80 CRI indicates decent natural color reproduction. Extra touches like frosted glass and flicker-free design help keep the light comfortable for your eyes. This particular model isn't supported for use with dimmer switches, but Philips' broad full catalog includes dimmable as well as daylight variations. 

Price at time of publish: $33/16-pack

_{Bulb Type: LED | Lumens: 800 lumens | Watts: 10 watts | Usage: Indoor | Color Temperature: 2700 kelvin}

Best Energy Saving

Amazon Basics 75W-Equivalent Soft White Dimmable A19 LED Light Bulb

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Add light bulbs to the staples that Amazon's house brand has covered, with Amazon Basics LED bulbs that can find a place in just about any room. They're available in a variety of brightness ratings and light colors, with the soft white 75-watt equivalent delivering a pleasantly bright 1,100 lumens. Each bulb can produce strong light for bathrooms and other places where you need good, detailed visibility, and you can turn down the brightness if you have a dimmer switch installed. 

Your energy savings can be significant, considering the efficient LED bulbs each run on just 12 watts and have a 10,000-hour listed lifetime (though various users report some bulbs failing much sooner). But assuming the full lifespan, at 3 hours of daily use and a cost of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, Amazon calculates each bulb will cost you $1.45 per year to use, saving you $69.30 across its life versus an incandescent alternative. Unfortunately, despite their energy efficiency, the bulbs can't ship to California since they don't have official certification for the state's energy regulations. 

Price at time of publish: $21/6-pack

_{Bulb Type: LED | Lumens: 1,100 lumens | Watts: 12 watts | Usage: Indoor/outdoor | Color Temperature: 2700 kelvin}

Best Dimmable

Feit Electric 60W-Equivalent Bright White Dimmable A19 LED Light Bulb

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If you have light fixtures that use a dimmer switch, make sure you're using a compatible bulb like the dimmable bright white LED bulbs from Feit. The 60-watt replacements produce up to 800 lumens of light, and they can dim down smoothly from that brightness to suit the needs of your room. The quality bulbs should avoid any buzzing or humming sounds when paired with modern dimmers, but you may need to test them out with your particular dimmer if you have an older switch. 

The 3000K "bright white" color gives out a pleasant, warmish glow, ideal if you prefer a bulb not quite as yellow as the 2700K of the more common "soft white" option. Feit offers soft white and daylight versions as well. With any version, you get superb color reproduction rated at 90+ CRI. The bulbs also meet California's energy requirements to be shipped to the state (which makes sense for the CA-based Feit Electric). The LEDs will indeed last you a long time, even if the listed 22 years isn't quite feasible. 

Price at time of publish: $13/4-pack

_{Bulb Type: LED | Lumens: 800 lumens | Watts: 8.8 watts | Usage: Indoor/outdoor | Color Temperature: 3000 kelvin}

Best Smart

Philips Hue 60-Watt-Equivalent White A19 LED Smart Bulb

4.2

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When it comes to smart light bulbs that connect to other devices (and each other) for advanced functionality and convenience, the Philips Hue brand sets the standard. While on the pricey side, the lineup includes quality smart lights to fit just about any need, including the general purpose White A19 Smart Bulb. For a higher cost, the White Ambiance version allows you to freely adjust between warm and cool light, while Color Ambiance lets you change colors completely. The White bulb keeps it simple at a soft 2700K. What you can control is the precise brightness of the white light and when it turns on or off, and you can do so remotely from the mobile app or voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. 

"If you want a ton of functionality and envision controlling all the lights in your home with an app packed with high-tech features like geofencing, I’d choose Philips Hue, hands down,” says Deanna McCormack, one of our product testers. "Overall, I loved this smart light bulb set and purchased another set to customize my home lighting fully. The app was easy to use, and the white light was bright and soft, which you don’t always get from LED lights."

Luckily, installation is as simple as screwing in the bulbs and connecting over Bluetooth, but you'll need the separate Philips Hue Bridge to unlock their full capabilities. The Bridge serves as a hub that connects to the internet through your Wi-Fi network, giving you access from anywhere in the world and extra features like automated routines based on the time or your location. It also syncs up to 50 Hue bulbs instead of just ten, so it can be worthwhile for a whole-house smart lighting setup. 

Price at time of publish: $50/4-pack

_{Bulb Type: LED | Lumens: 800 lumens | Watts: 9.5 watts | Usage: Indoor | Color Temperature: 2700 kelvin}

Best Vintage

Bulbrite 60W-Equivalent Soft White Dimmable ST18 LED Filament Light Bulb

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Today's LED technology lets us show off classic, eye-catching light bulb designs in our home fixtures while staying energy efficient and cost effective. With Bulbrite's Edison-style light bulb, an ST18 shape code and visible filaments within the glass result in a unique, nostalgic feel, especially combined with a soothing warm glow. This particular "soft white" color is a more moderate 3000K, slightly less yellow than 2700K alternatives. The dimmable bulb also hits a bright 850 lumens and a high 90 CRI color accuracy, making it more generally usable around the house than other decorative, antique-style lighting, which tend to be fairly dim and amber-colored. 

James, an electrician at Just Bulbs, agrees. "The bulb company I like the most is Bulbrite. With some of their bulbs, I can trick customers who say they don't like LEDs. I show them a Bulbrite bulb, and they say, 'See, that bulb looks amazing! That's the one I want!' I tell them it's an LED—there's no heat, you can touch it. Bulbrite is my brand to do that with; no one else has gotten as close as they have."

Because the bulbs are modern LEDs and not actually vintage incandescents, you also benefit from a long lifespan listed at 15,000 hours and plenty of energy efficiency to earn compliance with California's bulb standards. They've even met the standards to be UL listed for safe use in wet conditions outdoors.  

Price at time of publish: $14 

_{Bulb Type: LED | Lumens: 850 lumens | Watts: 8.5 watts | Usage: Indoor/outdoor | Color Temperature: 3000 kelvin}

Best for Kitchens

Philips 60W-Equivalent Daylight Deluxe CFL T2 Twister Light Bulb

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As a compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb, the Philips Twister light bulbs have a number of advantages over incandescents as well as traditional fluorescent options. This includes energy efficiency, durability, and a T2 tubular shape twisted into a compact spiral that fits standard-size sockets. Warmer colors are available, but the 6500K "daylight deluxe" version is a noticeably cooler, whiter color that imitates natural sunlight. Combined with its bright 860 lumen count, the bulb works well for kitchens where you need to see what you're cooking. It can also serve as aquarium lighting or a grow light for plants thanks to its bright sun-like glow. 

On the downside, the bulbs don't work with dimmer switches, so they can only shine at full strength. It's also important to note that since CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury, you will need to properly recycle them rather than throw them into the trash. Your local waste management company can provide details on how to do so. 

Price at time of publish: $29/4-pack

_{Bulb Type: CFL | Lumens: 860 lumens | Watts: 13 watts | Usage: Indoor | Color Temperature: 6500 kelvin}

Best for Bathrooms

Sylvania 60W-Equivalent Soft White Dimmable A19 Halogen Light Bulb

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Because your bathroom vanity is a common spot for daily detailed tasks like shaving or applying makeup, you'll want bulbs that help ensure you're looking your best. That's where the Sylvania halogen bulbs' high 90+ CRI color reproduction really shines, so to speak, showing things in their full, accurate colors. At the same time, their 2750K color temperature keeps the room feeling cozy, though you may want a cooler version if your preference is to maximize visibility. 

As an upgraded type of incandescent bulb, halogen bulbs offer somewhat improved energy efficiency and lifespan, but not nearly as much as modern LEDs. These Sylvania lights manage comparable 60-watt production using only 43 watts of energy, outputting 610 lumens of light. That's more than traditional incandescents produce with 40 watts, but LEDs reach the 800 lumen range with their 60-watt replacements. Still, a few of the bulbs together is plenty of light for most bathrooms, and with a dimmer switch, you can keep them turned low if you just need a quick night light. 

Price at time of publish: $20/4-pack

_{Bulb Type: Halogen | Lumens: 610 lumens | Watts: 43 watts | Usage: Indoor/enclosed outdoor | Color Temperature: 2750 kelvin}