Complete Guide to the Best LED Grow Lights
One of the first decisions you need to make about growing cannabis indoors is which grow lights you will use. The lights are the most expensive part of growing cannabis indoors. Selecting the best grow lights for your set-up can improve the efficiency of your grow. It can also improve the quality and quantity that you harvest, while saving money and electricity. The number of light fixtures you will need is determined by the grow space you are using. For example, if your grow space is going to have a 12′ x 12′ canopy then you need to cover 144 Sq2 of space. If light fixture you are using has a 4′ x 4′ coverage which is 16 Sq2 then you will need 144/16 or 9 light fixtures.
Working with Limited Space
If you have limited space for your grow such as a grow tent or other small, enclosed space you may want to consider using LED lighting. LED lighting has two major benefits over standard lighting, heat generated and electricity requirements. One concern that must be addresses when growing in enclosed small spaces is heat. Because of the low heat signature LED lighting is ideal for small spaces. LED lights do cost more than standard lighting can but will be offset cost by the reduced electrical costs. Here, we provide our honest grow light recommendations for the best LED grow lights for different budgets and grow sizes.
We have a complete Cannabis Grow Light Guide to help you learn and navigate the world of horticultural lighting.
On this page, we will start by discussing what LED grow lights are. We will go over the Pros and Cons of LED lighting. Once this information is provided, we will then give you our impartial LED grow light recommendations. These recommendations are formed by researching manufacturer and third-party test results along with customer reviews. We have researched fixtures in each product line that we recommend. The lights below are the fixtures that we would buy to use for ourselves. We consider numerous factors in making our recommendations including efficiency, cost, light distribution, component, build quality, and track record. We are confident that you will be happy with any of our recommended LED grow lights.
Pros
- Energy Efficiency: LED lights are known for their energy efficiency, as they consume less electricity compared to HID lights, resulting in lower energy bills.
- Customizable Spectrum: LED lights allow growers to customize the spectrum of light emitted, which can be tailored to the specific needs of cannabis plants during different stages of growth, from vegetative to flowering, resulting in better control over plant development.
- Lower Heat Output: LED lights produce less heat compared to HID lights, which reduces the risk of heat-related damage to cannabis plants and helps to maintain a cooler grow environment.
- Long Lifespan: LED lights typically have a longer lifespan compared to HID lights, reducing the need for frequent replacements and lowering long-term costs.
- Lower Maintenance: LED lights do not require frequent bulb changes or complex ventilation systems, resulting in lower maintenance requirements and costs.
Cons
- Higher Initial Cost: LED lights tend to have a higher upfront cost compared to HID lights, although the cost has been decreasing over time as LED technology becomes more widespread.
- Spectrum Uniformity: Not all LED lights offer uniform light distribution, which may result in uneven growth patterns and lower yields if not properly designed or positioned.
- Variable Quality: There is a wide range of quality among LED lights, and not all LED lights are created equal. Choosing a reputable and reliable LED brand is important to ensure consistent performance.
- Limited Penetration: LED lights may not penetrate as deeply into the canopy as HID lights, which can affect the development of lower buds and result in lower yields if not properly managed.
Now with that covered I want to mention that this is a rapidly developing market. We are monitoring it closely to bring you regular updates on the best grow lights on the market.
LED LIGHTS
LED grow lights have been popular with home growers because they produce less heat. They are also easier to set-up, and more convenient to operate. However, until recently, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights such as High-Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH) and Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) were the most efficient for both electricity and cost. Technological gains have allowed LEDs to surpass the efficiency of HID lighting. All of the fixtures that we recommend below are more efficient than HPS, MH or CMH grow Lights.
LED lights that are capable of outperforming HID lights have been available for several years now. However, they have been very expensive in comparison to HID lights. It is only within the last couple of years that models have become available that can out compete HID lights on both efficiency and cost. LED fixtures are now the clear choice for home growers.
There are quality LED fixtures available at an affordable price. However, the LED market is full of incomplete information and false claims. There are many discount LED lights that grossly exaggerate their efficiency and HID light equivalence. Without good information, it can be easy to end up with a low-quality light. Steer clear of the no-name brands that make fantastical claims. If you want the best LED grow light for your space and budget, then choose from among the brands and options below.
LED Grow Light Recommendations
2×2 Grow Lights
2×2 grow tents and other small spaces are perfect for starting sprouts and seedlings, vegging, or, for some growers, running a crop all the way to harvest. In a well run 2×2 space, you can harvest up to about 10oz. I recommend lights with at least 150-watts of power if you plan to use it for flowering. Smaller lights may suffice if your plan is a seedling or veg space.
VIPARSPECTRA XS1500
VIPARSPECTRA 2023 XS1500 Pro LED Grow Light adopts the latest high-quality Samsung LM301B LEDs with high energy efficiency. Generate usable lighting and provide good light canopy penetration. Daisy chain function allows you to connect up to 20pcs XS1500 grow lights for your commercial growing, horizontal and vertical farming, greenhouse planting and hydroponics. Consists of 660nm of red led, 3000K and 5000K of white led and IR led, optimal full spectrum led grow lights. 150W Mean Well driver helps achieve high PAR output and longer lifespan. Boost yields and save electric costs. 4 Levels brightness allows you to adjust light intensity from 0% to 100% brightness. Large heat sinks ensure an ideal cooling system. No fans zero noise. Perfect for 3’x3’ vegetative coverage at 18”and 2’x2’flowering coverage at 14”.
Worry-free Warrant: 36-Month US Local warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee.
4×2 Grow Lights
4×2 Grow Tents are a great size for many home growers. They are easy to work in with access to one 4-foot side, and they can produce more than enough for many growers. With a dialed in grow and one of the lights below, you can harvest over a pound each run from a 4×2.
ViparSpectra XS2000
VIPARSPECTRA 2023 Upgraded XS2000 LED Grow Light adopts the latest high-quality Samsung LM301B LEDs with high energy efficiency. Generate usable lighting and provide good light canopy penetration. Daisy chain function allows you to connect up to 20pcs XS2000 grow lights for your commercial growing, horizontal and vertical farming, greenhouse planting and hydroponics. Consists of 660nm of red led, 3000K and 5000K of white led and IR led, optimal full spectrum led grow lights. 220W Mean Well driver helps achieve high PAR output and longer lifespan. Boost yields and save electric costs. 4 Levels brightness allows you to adjust light intensity from 0% to 100% brightness. Large heat sinks ensure an ideal cooling system. No fans zero noise. Perfect for 4’x3’ vegetative coverage at 24” and 4’x2’ flowering coverage at 20” height.
Worry-free Warranty: 36-Month US Local warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee.
Mars Hydro SP-3000
Meet the Mars Hydro SP3000. A powerful and efficient strip LED grow light designed to unlock the full potential of your garden. With high-quality Samsung LM301B chips and an enhanced broad spectrum that includes boosted red light, this grow light is the perfect choice for greenhouses. They can be used as supplemental lighting or as the primary source. Featuring a thick aluminum passive heat sink and densely arranged chips, the SP Series provides high efficacy but low heat output while minimizing obstruction to natural light.
Mars Hydro FC-3000
The FC-3000 300-watt LED grow light is part of the Mars Hydro smart grow system, supporting mobile control via the Mars Hydro APP and growth plan programming. The FC-3000 features cutting-edge Samsung LM301B diodes that enhance its high-performance capabilities. These advanced chips enable the FC-3000 to deliver an impressive photosynthetic photon efficacy (PPE) of 2.85 μmol/j and a PPF of 854 μmol/s. Providing a robust energy source for indoor plants, the light also offers uniform photon distribution, an even PPFD, and optimal PPF across the canopy. The FC-3000 is ideal for individual growers
3×3 Grow Lights
3×3 grow tents (9 sq ft) are slightly larger than 4×2 tents (8 sq ft). They are an easier shape to light up, but somewhat harder for accessibility. With a well run 3×3 tent and one of the lights below, you can get over a pound per harvest.
Mars Hydro FC-E3000
The dense BridgeLux light chips and special arrangement combination make Mars Hydro Smart FC-E3000 have even light distribution and stronger penetration. The high efficiency, which can reach 2.8 µmol/j, also does not need to worry about overdrive. Full spectrum provides the light needed for the whole growth period of plants. The spacing between the light bars can be adjusted according to the growing requirements of the plants for more accurate PPE to boost plant growth. The removable design makes the light easier to set up and swap. The lights are designed with a dimming knob that adjusts 10-100% of the light, making dimming even easier. Up to 30 lights can be controlled by daisy-chaining and by just one light. The wavy aluminum heat sink and 17mm passive cooling bar generate less heat, reducing cooling costs by 50% over HID/HPS lights.
Medic Grow Mini Sun 320w
The MINI SUN-2, a compact high efficacy full cycle LED grow light ideal for use on racks or in small growing tents. Top Brand WHITE LEDs & OSCRM RED LEDs allow it to efficiently produce the best V1 full-spectrum for higher yields. It delivers uniform lighting over a maximum bloom coverage area of 2.5′ x 2.5′ and vegetative coverage space of 3’ x 3’ . MINI SUN-2 320W provides home growers with a superior PPFD value of up to 3200µmol/m2/s, the amount of PPF is up to 896 µmol/s and power efficacy is 2.8 µmol/J. It only requires 320 Watts power. Incredible Low Energy.
Viparspectra KS-3000
The Viparspectra KS-3000 is the best 3×3 grow light in its class. It is a little larger than other 3×3 fixtures and has amazing distribution from corner to corner. The Viparspectra KS series use a good number of top end Samsung LM301h and Osram 660nm diodes. The KS-3000 is incredibly efficient, earning one of the highest photon efficacies I have measured in any light! All this and the price is also excellent.
4×4 Grow Lights
4×4 grow tents are very popular for home growers. With a good light and a well-managed grow, you can harvest over 2 pounds per cycle!
Viparspectra KS-5000
VIPARSPECTRA KS5000 LED grow light adopts the market-leading Samsung LM301H Diodes(3.10 μmol/J) & OSRAM 660nm Diodes, higher energy efficiency LEDs increase yield of crops and save operation cost. The top end components give the KS5000 an incredible performance. KS Series was designed for personal or commercial growers who want to optimize their grow space for the maximum crop yield while producing the highest quality crops.
5×5 Grow Lights
5×5 grow tents are huge – 25 square feet! Access can be a challenge when you fill a 5×5 with flowering plants, but the harvest potential may be worth it. You can hit over 3 pounds per harvest if you get a full canopy in a 5×5 under one of the lights below.
Medic Grow Smart 8
No matter you are a personal grower or want to test for your commercial growing purpose, this Medic Grow Smart 8 grow light will satisfy your needs. The led plant grow light can be widely use in the commercial growing (horizontal and vertical), climate rooms, house garden, home grows (grow box and grow tents), greenhouse cultivation.
Mars Hydro FC-E8000
Easily control your FC8000 grow light via the Mars Hydro APP. Schedule growth plans and adjust settings from anywhere using your mobile device. OTA technology ensures data transfer and storage. High-intensity spectrum with enhanced red for each growth phase. Flexible dimming to suit plant growth states. The daisy-chain function allows you to connect up to 100 FC8000 LED growing lights. Achieve dynamic light levels with precise configuration down to year/month/day/hour/minute. The auto-dimming feature ensures optimal light throughout the growth cycle, with Sunrise and sunset Simulation for natural photoperiods.
Medic Grow EZ-8
The 8 removable and replaceable bars make it super easy to install and transport. It delivers powerful 2700μmol/s PPF output in the 1000 watt actual power draw and high-efficacy 2.7 μmol/J that helps you effectively optimize indoor plant growth, enhances the quality and cuts operational costs. Great growth and coverage in the entire grow room. Our Ez-8 led grow lights for plants are perfect for 6x6ft vegetative coverage and 5x5ft flowering coverage. It can magnificently improve the light coverage and your planting efficiency. Ez-8 Grow light can be widely applied in the commercial growing, climate rooms, house garden, home grows (grow tent and box), greenhouse cultivation, pipeline cultivation, hydroponics, Single or multi-tier racking.
LIGHT ACCESSORIES
Light Hangers
It most grow tents, you need to hang a number of things from the top bars: lights, exhaust fan, carbon filter, bracing frame, etc.
12-Pack 1/8” Adjustable Rope Hanger
The iPower adjustable rope hangers are durable, tear & rust-resistant – up to 75 lbs weight load capacity per ratchet and 900 lbs per 12-pack. The ratchet hangers are made of solid braided polypropylene rope and high strength rustproof galvanized iron hooks carabiners. Fully adjustable and ratchets lock in place for a secure grip design that lets you raise, and lower fixtures as needed. Adjustable rope hangers have a wide Range of Applications. These ratchet hangers are perfect for hanging growing light fixtures, carbon filters, ventilation equipment, and more.
Digital Timers
You need a timer to control the lights and also potentially to control the exhaust and drip irrigation systems.
BN-LINK Digital Programmable Timer
The BN-LINK 7-day heavy duty digital timer linked in the US is what we use for our lights. These timers are digital, accurate, and have battery back-up. Unlike mechanical timers, you will be able to precisely control the timing of your lights. Battery back-up means that power outages will not cause the timer to stop and then get out of sync with the plants’ rhythm. It is perfect for lights, but there is a better timer for drip systems.
Digital Timer with one second intervals
If you are looking for a timer for your automatic watering system, then this model is a better fit. It allows you to set watering intervals in one second increments, which allows fine-tuning an automatic watering system.
Power Switches
These are very handy to control the lights without messing with the timer or for turning other equipment on and off.
Grounded Power Switches
I use these for my grow lights and irrigation pump. I plug the timer into the power source, then the switch into the timer. Finally, I plug the light or pump into the switch. This way, when I need to turn either one off, I do not have to mess with the timer at all, I just flip the switch.
Light Meters
Light meters are used to evaluate the light distribution in the grow space and to determine the best height to hang your light above the canopy. This is not a required tool. Many growers can do fine following general guidelines, but if you want to dial in your grow you need to be able to measure the light.
Lux Meter
This high-quality digital illuminance/light meter has 4-range settings, 0/200/2,000/20,000/200,000 Lux, for a dynamic metering ability. With auto zeroing capabilities, you can be sure you’ll always get a reading with pinpoint accuracy, and it will always be fast! Clearly readable info lets you read Units and Signs easily, and stay informed with the over-range indicator. Get better control over your readings with Data Hold & Peak Data hold for when you’re recording information. You’ll also benefit from its lower power consumption and short rise and fall times. From squeezing into tight places to keeping your load light, you can bring the Dr.Meter Digital Illuminance/light meter wherever you need to. Fits easily into a work bag or large pocket and barely adds any weight. It’s the ultimate in light-metering convenience!
PAR Meter
PAR, which stands for Photosynthetically Active Radiation, represents the energy that plants can effectively utilize for photosynthesis. This measurement is crucial when assessing light for plant growth. While LUX meters can be used to measure general light levels, PAR meters are specifically designed to quantify the intensity of light within the photosynthetically active range. They are particularly useful for evaluating monochromatic or “blurple” LED lights. However, it’s important to note that PAR meters are generally more expensive compared to LUX meters.
Not sure what type of lights to get? Check out the guides below for the other two main types of lighting used to grow high-quality cannabis.
NEXT : Double-Ended Grow Lights
Set-up Your Grow
Growing Cannabis
- Cannabis Seeds
- Fertilizers & Supplements
- Propagation Supplies
- Plant Training & Care
- Harvest & Processing
Want to Receive our weekly Newsletter full of Grow Tips, News and Exclusive Content? Subscribe Below!
About Our Product Recommendations
Here at 420 Grow Help, our primary goal is to assist growers in achieving the utmost success with their cannabis crops by providing accurate scientific information and sharing proven cultivation techniques. The products we recommend are the very ones we have personally chosen to purchase and use ourselves. We maintain a strict policy of not accepting sponsorships or advertising, and we only endorse products that meet our own high standards. For detailed product recommendations, please refer to our Product and Equipment Guide.
Please note that when you make a purchase through the links we provide, we may receive a referral fee. This is the primary source of revenue that supports and sustains 420 Grow Help. By clicking through our links and making purchases, you are directly contributing to our ongoing work. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclaimer:
The information presented on 420GrowHelp.com should not be regarded as financial, legal, or medical advice. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with and abide by the local laws and regulations pertaining to the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis. Decisions regarding cannabis cultivation should be made in consultation with a lawyer or qualified legal advisor, while decisions regarding cannabis use should be made in consultation with a doctor or medical professional.
