LED won. Every serious lighting professional is installing LED, every government is phasing halogen out, and the energy math is not close. Halogen holds on in a few niches where color rendering and dimming behavior matter more than efficiency. For almost every room in your house, the decision is already made.
LED bulb
A bulb that lights up by passing current through a light emitting diode. Uses a fraction of the energy of older bulbs and lasts for many thousands of hours.
Halogen bulb
An incandescent variant with a tungsten filament in a halogen gas envelope. Produces a warm, full spectrum light that many people still prefer, at a steep energy cost.
The real tradeoffs
| Dimension | LED bulb | Halogen bulb |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use | Roughly one fifth the power for the same light. | High. Mostly heat, a little light. |
| Lifespan | Fifteen thousand hours is typical. | Two thousand hours on a good day. |
| Color rendering | Good on quality bulbs, average on cheap ones. | Excellent and natural. |
| Dimming behavior | Requires a compatible dimmer. Can flicker. | Dims beautifully on any dimmer. |
| Heat output | Negligible. | Gets very hot, fire risk near fabric. |
| Price range | Entry level per bulb, cheapest to run. | Entry level per bulb, expensive to run. |
So which one should you buy
Pick LED bulb
Pick LED for almost every fixture in your home. The energy savings pay for the bulb many times over the first year.
Pick Halogen bulb
Pick halogen only for specialty fixtures where color quality or dimming behavior really matters to you, and keep them well ventilated.
See our picks in this category
Once you've decided which concept fits your life, our hand tested roundups cover the specific products we recommend:
Frequently asked
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my LED flicker on a dimmer?
The dimmer is probably an older model designed for resistive loads. Swap it for a dimmer specifically rated for LED.
Is LED color quality good enough?
Look for a color rendering index of 90 or higher. Cheap LEDs at 80 and below can make skin tones and food look off.
Do LEDs really last fifteen thousand hours?
Usually, yes. Heat is the enemy. A bulb in a sealed enclosure cooks itself and fails earlier.
Can I put an LED in a halogen fixture?
In most cases yes. Check the fixture rating and the bulb base. Some enclosed halogen fixtures run too hot for LED electronics.
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