The best LED bulbs: 5 tested picks to brighten up your home

If you're looking for the best LED bulbs on the market, you've come to the right place. We've rounded up five of our favourite options below, all of which have been tested and approved by the Homebuilding team.

LED (a.k.a. light-emitting diode) lights are a smart solution for home lighting and can help save energy – and therefore money – over the long term. LED lights consume far less energy than traditional light sources, such as incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs, while still providing the same level of brightness.

Their versatility means you can easily integrate LED bulbs into your lighting design, whether you’re using them to create an intimate party atmosphere or as night lights for your children. To help you choose the right model, we’ve rounded up our top five picks below (spoiler: Paul Russells LED GLS Bulb was voted number one).

The Quick List

Running short on time? Here's an overview of the best LED bulbs, with quick links to jump directly to a full description of each product:

The best dimmable LED bulb

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If you're on the hunt for a high-quality dimmable LED light, the Paul Russells GLS Bulb is my top recommendation. After testing it in my bedroom, I was impressed with the brightness levels and appreciated the warm white colour temperature, which gave the space a cosy feel.

This Bayonet-style bulb has a B22 cap and was easy to insert into my holder. Its energy efficiency is excellent, using only 14 watts of electricity while producing 1,521 lumens – meaning it delivers a lot of light for very little power.

I also checked the bulb for any buzzing or humming noises and am happy to confirm that I didn’t hear anything. I didn’t notice any flickering or glare, and it offers a comfortable level of brightness that doesn’t feel overpowering.

If you’re torn between this and the Vanke Bayonet in the guide, the main difference is that this model is slightly cooler in colour temperature.

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The best LED spotlights

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For those looking to achieve a clean, modern look in their home, LED spotlights are a great lighting choice, thanks to their minimalist feel. When it came to selecting my top choice for this category, it had to be the Litecraft G10 5W Dimmable Spotlights, which have been fitted in both my dad’s and grandparents’ kitchens for two years (and have always looked great).

You can expect a warm white colour temperature that feels bright – yet natural and liveable – and you can dim it to whatever your preference may be. In terms of noise, they're very quiet and you won't hear any buzzing or humming when they're on.

Compared to other LED bulbs I've tested, I also found that these ones don't get as hot, which indicates they’re operating efficiently and converting energy into light rather than heat. Speaking of which, the bulbs offer 430 lumens at five watts, which is pretty good.

You'll need a spotlight plunger (like this one from Amazon) if you're fitting them yourself, which makes them super simple to install – simply push and twist.

While these bulbs look fantastic in modern kitchens that require lots of light, the Fitop Smart Bulb is better suited for cosy, characterful spaces.

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The best smart LED bulb

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Whether you want to create a relaxing and intimate vibe with red or liven up your space for a party with multi-coloured flashes, Fitop’s Smart Bulb is a brilliant, multi-functional option. It can also be adjusted to regular colors – including cool and warm white.

I’ve had this bulb in my living room for a year and have had so much fun experimenting with it. You’ll need to connect it to your phone by downloading the Fitop app, linking it to your Wi-Fi, and then flicking the lights on and off to pair the bulb. It’s pretty simple to use – even if you’re a bit of a tech-phobe like me!

There are loads of settings to play around with, including timers, a circadian rhythm mode, and even music syncing. As you can see in the video below, the music sync isn’t perfectly in time with the song (and can be slightly headache-inducing), but it’s still fun for parties. You can also connect it to Alexa, although ours can be a bit temperamental at times.

I haven’t noticed any noises, flickering, or uncomfortable glares, and I’d highly recommend this as one of the best LED smart bulbs. However, if you'd prefer something simple that doesn’t require an app, the Paul Russells LED GLS Bulb is easier to set up.

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The best LED bulb for lamps

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If your lampshade bulbs need replacing, look no further than Ikea's LUNNOM bulb, which I've been testing for the past few months. Offering 150 lumens for just 1.1 Watts of electricity (which is above average), they are highly efficient, giving you lots of light for very little power.

The colour temperature is warm white, which I’ve found perfect for giving my living room a cosy feel. Despite the tiny size (6mm), I’ve been impressed with the level of brightness it provides. While it obviously isn’t powerful enough to light an entire room, it’s ideal for a side light or small lamp if you want to create a nice ambience.

In terms of design, these bulbs have a cool retro style, featuring a filament-look coil in the centre, which adds more character than a standard LED bulb (and still offers better energy efficiency than an incandescent bulb).

I haven’t had any issues with noise or glare and would highly recommend these bulbs to anyone looking for a smaller option. For those needing to light larger spaces, opt for the Paul Russells LED GLS Bulb instead.

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The best budget-friendly LED bulb

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This budget-friendly bulb is excellent value for money, costing just £2.66 each and boasting a lifespan of 25,000 hours. I’ve had Vanke Bayonet LEDs in my bedroom for two years and have found the warm white temperature perfect for this relaxing space – the brightness isn’t too overpowering, which I appreciate.

Featuring a B22 cap, it’s very easy to install, and I’ve had no trouble with flickering, glare, or unwanted noise. The efficiency isn’t outstanding, but it’s still good, producing 806 lumens while using only nine watts of electricity.

This bulb works really well for medium-sized bedrooms where you want a cosy feel. However, if you plan on using it in large spaces or workshops that require strong brightness, it wouldn’t be my top choice. Instead, I would opt for the Litecraft G10 5W Dimmable Spotlights or the Paul Russells LED GLS Bulb, which offer more impact.

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Other LED bulbs to consider

I've also been using the Aurora Integrated LED M7 Downlight Spotlights in my kitchen for the past 10 years. Although they sometimes flicker on camera, I have been very pleased with their overall performance and the brightness they provide. They have recently been discontinued, but we will update this page if they come back in stock.

How we tested the best LED bulbs

To save you time and money, we tested the best LED bulbs to find out which ones are truly worth your purchase. All of these products were bought by us, with no influence from any brand or manufacturer.

After extensive research and reviewing online feedback, we selected a range of options to try out and considered the following questions:

• Does the bulb offer sufficient brightness?
• Does the bulb live up to the manufacturer’s claims (e.g. colour temperature and dimmable)?
• Is it easy to fit?
• Does the bulb flicker?
• Does the bulb make any humming or buzzing noises?
• Does the light cause an uncomfortable glare?
• Is the brightness constant?
• Does the bulb cause any eyestrain or headaches?
• Is the bulb competitively priced?

For more information on our procedure, read our dedicated page on how we test products.

Tested by

Tested by

Megan Milstead

This buying guide was curated by Homebuilding’s content editor, Megan Milstead, who personally tested and approved each product.

How to choose the best LED bulb

Before you begin to shop for an LED bulb, it’s important to consider which rooms you want to install them in and to review the specifications to make sure they’re suitable for your home.

1. Fittings
"You need to know your bulb type first," explains Alina Enache, co-founder of Lamp Genius. "Is it an Edison Screw, Small Edison Screw, G9 Capsule, or GU10? Check what's currently in your fittings."

2. Brightness
The brightness of LED bulbs is measured in lumens, or Lm. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the bulb. This measurement exists because LED energy-efficient bulbs use considerably fewer watts than traditional light sources, so the lumens measurement helps to solely review brightness.

3. Dimmable
LED bulbs can be dimmable, but not all of them are. And in some cases you won't be able to use a standard dimmer for an LED bulb.

Alina says, "I always recommend dimmable when the budget allows. App-controlled smart bulbs are another option if you want that level of control. With dimmable, you can set the brightness wherever you want instead of being stuck at maximum."

4. Costs
LED lights can cost more in the short-term, but they’re a far more cost-effective investment in the long-term. Not only will they help to reduce your energy costs, but using LED lights cuts carbon emissions through using less energy than you would with incandescent or compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) bulbs.

5. Colour temperature
Alina says, "Warm colours belong in bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms – your relaxation spaces basically. Utility rooms and bathrooms need cool white so you can see properly, while kitchens depend on preference. Keep the same temperature in each room or you get a mismatched look."

Feeling indecisive? Here's a reminder of the best LED bulbs we've tested:

Expert advice from

Expert advice from

Alina Enache

Alina Enache is co-founder at Lamp Genius, a specialised decorative lighting company based in the UK and a registered architect.

FAQs

Do LED lights run up your electric bill?

You can trust Homebuilding & Renovating. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and materials in order to help you choose the best for your home and garden. Find out more about how we test.

No, LED lights will not increase your electric bill. In fact, they actually do the opposite, according to Alina Enache, co-founder of Lamp Genius.

She explains, "LEDs use 80 to 90% less electricity than halogens. They also last much longer so you're not buying replacements constantly. There's another benefit most people miss – halogens burn out lamp holders over time. I've dealt with this and you end up replacing the whole fixture. LEDs don't damage the holders, so your fittings last longer, too."

Is it safe to have LED lights on a bed?

Yes, it is safe to have LED lights on a bed – but Alina says there are two conditions: they must be fitted by a qualified electrician and made by a reputable manufacturer.

She adds, "Look for UKCA certification (UK) or CE marking (Europe) on the bulb, light fitting, or packaging."

When it comes to choosing the perfect temperature for your bedside lamp, she recommends a dimmable design in a warm white temperature.

If you want to switch up your lighting scheme in the kitchen specifically, check out our guide to the best lighting for kitchen ceilings, which includes advice from an expert. Or, discover our favourite small bedroom lighting ideas that will open up your space.

Edited by Beth Murton.