There are different bulb types, and each consumes energy measured in watts. From the conventional bulb to modern LEDs, if you must replace one with another, you have to know the equivalent brightness of each one.
In the following sections, we’ll explore common LED wattage equivalents for incandescent, halogen, and CFL bulbs, along with a practical conversion chart to help you make the best choice for your home or commercial space.
Wattage measures energy consumption, and for traditional bulbs like incandescent lamps, it has long been the primary metric because their energy use directly corresponds to light output. Today, watts measure a bulb’s energy consumption.
With modern LED technology, brightness is now measured in lumens, providing a more accurate representation of the light output compared to traditional wattage ratings. Lumens measure the amount of visible light produced by a bulb.
Therefore, when replacing a traditional bulb with an LED, you cannot simply match it based on the wattage of the original bulb. For example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb is typically replaced by an LED using only 8–10 watts, since LEDs produce much more light at lower wattages.
Below is a list of bulbs and their LED watt equivalent.
An LED bulb's energy consumption is about 90% less than that of an incandescent bulb. Since the incandescent bulb requires heat to generate light, it uses more energy. Below is a table showing the LED equivalent of various incandescent watts.
| Lumens | Incandescent bulb | LED bulb |
|---|---|---|
| 75–110 | 9 watts | 1 watt |
| 730–800 | 60 watts | 7–9 watts |
| 1380–1600 | 100 watts | 12–14 watts |
| 2000–2500 | 150 watts | 18–23 watts |
From the table:
A 60-watt LED equivalent is 7-9 watts.
A 100-watt incandescent bulb produces 1600 lumens of light, while a 12-14-watt LED gives off the same.
A 150-watt incandescent bulb produces 2600 lumens of light, while an 18-23-watt LED gives off the equivalent.
An LED bulb uses approximately 85% less energy than a halogen bulb. Though halogen bulbs produce bright light, it generates a lot of heat. Below is a table showing the LED equivalent of some halogen watts.
| Lumen | Halogen bulb (W) | LED bulb (W) |
|---|---|---|
| 1380 | 100 | 12 |
| 1200 | 75 | 11 |
| 230–270 | 50 | 6 |
| 375 | 30 | 4 |
The Compact Fluorescent Light is considered more efficient than older technologies because it doesn't consume as much energy as other ordinary bulbs. The fluorescent bulb however contains mercury which is a toxic liquid metal. An LED bulb uses about 40% less energy to generate light than the Compact Fluorescent Light. Below is a table showing the LED equivalent of some CFL watts.
| Lumens | CFL bulb (W) | LED bulb (W) |
|---|---|---|
| 1380 | 22 | 12 |
| 750 | 15 | 9 |
| 450 | 9 | 5.5 |
| 100 | 5 | 2 |
High-pressure and low-pressure sodium lamps operate at different wattages but both consume more energy than LEDs. Sodium bulbs produce light that is less bright than LEDs, while consuming more energy. The sodium bulb produces white-yellow light. An LED bulb uses up about 50% less energy in producing light. Below is a table showing the LED equivalent for various sodium bulb watts.
| Lumens | Sodium bulb | LED bulb |
|---|---|---|
| 6,300 - 7,000 | 70 watts | 40 watts |
| 9,500 | 100 watts | 50-60 watts |
| 16,500 | 150 watts | 80-90 watts |
| 26,000 - 29,000 | 250 watts | 90-125 watts |
Note that there is no precise equivalent, and the more significant part is an approximation. Another disparity comes with the various available products, so that the equivalent will vary slightly from one product to another.
A common question is whether it’s practical to replace a traditional bulb with an LED of higher wattage equivalence.
Yes. It is generally safe to use an LED with a higher wattage equivalent, provided the actual wattage does not exceed the fixture’s maximum rating.
Traditional bulbs are rated by watts, which reflect their energy consumption. When your socket has a 60-watt limit, it refers to the energy consumption, so the energy limit is 60 watts. LED bulbs don't consume much energy; their wattage is lower.
The brightness of traditional light bulbs is measured in watts, since their energy consumption directly corresponds to their brightness. LED bulbs use lumens as a measure of their brightness.
When equating the brightness of a traditional bulb to that of an LED bulb, you need to find the LED watt equivalent to know which LED bulb to replace the traditional bulb with. Using LED wattage equivalents ensures the correct replacement and proper brightness.
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