Bulbs & lighting
Bulbs & lighting
Lumens, Kelvin, base shapes and what actually dims.
Bulbs & lighting
Watts stopped meaning brightness when LEDs took over. Here's what the package is actually telling you — and the fastest way to get it right is to bring the old bulb in with you.
Lumens, not watts
Brightness is lumens. Roughly: 450 lm = old 40W, 800 lm = 60W, 1600 lm = 100W.
Kelvin (color)
2700K warm/cozy, 3000K soft white, 4000K neutral, 5000K daylight for garages and shops.
Base type
E26 standard, E12 candelabra, GU10/GU24 pin bases. Bring the old bulb in if you're unsure.
Shape
A19 general, BR30/PAR38 flood, ST19 decorative, T-series appliance and tube.
Dimmable
Only if the bulb says so — and pair it with an LED-compatible dimmer or you'll get buzz and flicker.
Wet or damp rated
Required for showers, soffits, porches and anything the rain reaches.