Is it just us, or is the lightbulb section in our local hardware store one of the most confusing aisles to navigate? Home lighting options have come a long way since incandescent bulbs were the only market choice, and while variety is great, it can sometimes make for a confusing shopping experience. And that makes sense when you have to consider bulb lifespan, energy-saving capabilities, luminance intensity, the light's color, shape and fit, and the list goes on. Well, you're in luck, because we've done the research and come up with our top picks for each type of bulb and where they may be most useful in your home. Now that's watt we're talking about. Sylvania Halogen Lamp (4 Pack) See Colors ClearerIlluminating your space with twice the lifespan of traditional incandescent bulbs, this pack of halogen lights from Sylvania emits a soft, white glow.Best HalogenFind on Amazon Even though they’re not as energy-efficient as LED options, many homes across the country are still lit by halogen bulbs. This is because this type of bulb is as close an experience you can get to old school incandescent lighting in terms of light quality and brightness. A filament wrapped in halogen gas inside the bulb allows for hotter burning but uses about 20-30% less energy than incandescents. In addition to being compatible with dimming switches, halogen bulbs also reach their full brightness level (up to 100W with this set) the moment you turn them on. This particular 4-bulb pack by Sylvania also has the added perk of having a Color Rendition Index (CRI) of 99%, which basically means that colors in your home will be lit up to most closely resemble their true color if they were in the natural light of the sun. For this reason, halogen lights are particularly useful in kitchens and offices where detailed work requires a high light output. Pros: Choose between 4 levels of brightness (40-Watt to 100-Watt) 2,000-hour lifespan CRI = 90+ Dimmable down to 0% Cons: Halogen lightbulbs reach higher temperatures and may pose a fire hazard Great Eagle A19 LED Light Bulb (60-Watt/ 4 Pack) The Future in LightsThese energy-saving LED lightbulbs from Great Eagle will last for years, all while providing a consistently bright light in your home.Best LEDFind on Amazon Considered the king of energy-saving bulbs, LED lights last longer than any other bulb out there, reducing energy costs by about 80-90% as compared to incandescents while still providing an instantaneous, bright light. But if they’re so great, why are we even talking about other options? Well, the thing is that LED bulbs used to be very expensive and also tended to have lower light outputs than other energy-saving lights. Thankfully though, lightbulb wizards of recent years have been working hard to get modern LED lights closer to that sought after 100-Watt glow of yesteryear, and for a much lower price while they’re at it. While LED bulbs used to emit a slightly more blueish glow (making them a less appealing option for bedroom lighting, for example), sets such as this one sold by Great Eagle offer four different color options ranging from warm to cool so you can choose just the right temperature for you. What’s more, these particular A19 LED bulbs are UL Listed – meaning that they are tested and approved to be safe bulbs for home usage (this is an important qualification to check for when purchasing LED bulbs as the market for these particular bulbs is self-regulated and production is not standardized as of yet). More and more families are slowly making the transition to full-LED lit homes, and honestly, at this price point for 4 long-lasting bulbs, we can absolutely see why. Pros: 4 colors to choose from (2700 K to 5000 K) 10,000 + hour lifespan Instant-on function Shatterproof bulbs Cons: Non-dimmable CRI = 83+ (slightly less realistic color approximation) GE Bent Tip Decorative Light Bulbs (12/16 Pack) Old-School IlluminationThere's a reason so many homes still use incandescent bulbs. This mega-pack of decorative tip bulbs will give you more classic warm light for less.Best IncandescentFind on Amazon Though the US has been transitioning away from incandescent lights due to their high energy costs, many households simply prefer the soft, warm light of these traditional bulbs compared to the colder, more sterile feeling of energy-saving competitors. Because incandescent bulbs are dimmable and fit in most fixtures, they are a standardized easy choice when it comes to finding the right bulb for different parts of your home. From chandeliers to porch lights, this particular value-set from GE is mega-popular. As an added bonus, the decorative tip feature of these bulbs perfectly complements any exposed lighting apparatus in case any curious houseguests decide to peek in. Just make sure to consider how bright you want your light to be, as the 25W option is likely too low for reading. Pros: 3 intensity options (25-Watt, 40-Watt, 60-Watt) Great cost value Dimmable (100% to 0%) Decorative tips for exposed light fixtures Cons: Least long-lasting bulb (about 1 year) Phillips LED CFL T-2 Mini-Twister Bulb (4 Pack) Bright Light for LongerThis CFL bulb set by Phillips LED will keep your home well-lit for longer than halogen or incandescent lights, saving more energy in the process.Best FluorescentFind on Amazon Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs are all the rage right now as they are the most common type of energy-saving bulb. In addition to their long lifespan and greater efficiency when compared to their incandescent predecessors (about 4x as much), CFL bulbs also tend to be compact and can come in any shape and size. This means that they are a great option to consider when trying to find the right bulb for that one retro floor lamp your family friend left you one year. Additionally, they have high lumen maintenance, which basically means that over the course of years of usage, they will be just as bright as they were when you first screwed them in on day one (and believe us when we say that these babies are bright as daylight). Use them anywhere in your home, garage, or other workspaces, but be mindful that unlike halogen and LED bulbs, CFL bulbs take a little while to reach full brightness, meaning they shouldn’t be used for stairs or hallways where you may want instant illumination. Pros: Choose between 5 color temperatures (2700 K to 5000 K) Choose between 4 intensities (40-Watt to 100-Watt) Eco-friendly recycled glass and packaging materials Long lifespans (10,000 hours) Cons: Not dimmable Don’t illuminate to full intensity instantly Lightahead Rotating LED Strobe Bulb (2 Pack) Bring the Party HomeEveryone needs a little bit of disco in their lives sometimes, and this rotating RGB bulb by Lightahead sets the perfect mood in seconds to complement that funky groove.Best Specialty BulbFind on Amazon We’ve included this lightbulb on our top recommendations list because shopping for sustainable, efficient lighting solutions for your home doesn’t need to be a drag. There are not many specs that we need to discuss with this specialty light bulb because the title says pretty much everything you need to know. Simply pop the bulb in (preferably into a ceiling fixture so you get better light scattering) and turn the switch on to instantly transform your space into a dancefloor. While you’d probably mainly use this rotating bulb for grooving to loud music with your friends and your family, there are a variety of uses for this nifty little light, including quieting down fussy babies and entertaining household pets. And when you think about the price of concert tickets these days, honestly, we think this bulb is a top-notch disco-deal. Pros: Can fit most light fixtures Rotates like an actual disco ball Cons: Makes a slight noise when rotating Not for use with dimmable switches Frequently Asked Questions How do I choose the right bulb for me? In addition to the points we discussed above (lifespan and energy-saving capabilities), there are some basic characteristics of lightbulbs that are important to wrap your head around. Firstly, make sure the bulb will fit your fixture – we recommend finding the reference number and comparing that to your desired product. Secondly, with regards to brightness, the higher the Watts or the lumens, the brighter the bulb (a 100-Watt incandescent bulb is quite bright). Thirdly, color temperature, which is measured in Kelvins, goes from warm to cool (a candle is 1500 K, a traditional incandescent bulb is 2700 K, and the blue bright sky is 5000 K). Next, the Color Rendition Index, or CRI, measures how accurately the light can represent colors in the room. Ideally, you want to aim for a CRI rating in the mid-80s or higher. And last but not least, the shape is important depending on the fixture and how you want the light to spread. How do I properly dispose of my lightbulb when it’s burned out? Different bulbs have different disposal instructions, so here’s a quick guide. Incandescent and halogen bulbs should be thrown out with regular waste rather than recycling. Energy-saving bulbs such as fluorescent and CFL bulbs can’t go in the regular bin as they contain small amounts of mercury, so you need to head to a local recycling center to dispose of them properly (thankfully, because of their long life, you won’t have to do this too often). Finally, while LED bulbs can be thrown away in regular waste, we recommend also taking them to a recycling facility to ensure no harmful metals are being thrown out. Related posts:Powered by SearchIQ The Best Dog Collar Lights Read more The Best Light Up Dog Collars Read more The Best Light Up Dog Collars In 2024 Read more