The Best LED Grow Lights 2020
Light-emitting diodes (LED) have been around for over 50 years, even though it may seem as if they are a new technology.
This is because it has only been in recent years that the advantage of using LED light has been noticed by both professionals and enthusiast growers.
There are several reasons why LED grow lights are so popular. A big plus for LED's is that they are energy efficient.
LED's are up to 75% more efficient than incandescent lighting, and last about 25 times longer. That is a big plus!
Other advantages of LED light are that they:
- Can stimulate growth in plants
- They have adjustable wavelengths
- They are energy efficient
- They are compact in size
- They are very durable and long-lasting
We have chosen five LED lights that are the best on the market today.
Kind K5 XL1000 WiFi LED Horticulture Grow Light
Wattage: 630W
Price $1,695.00
Kind LED is an industry leader of full-spectrum grow lights. They have rigorously researched and developed their LED technology.
The LED lights from Kind are considered to be the best indoor grow lights on the market today. The brand new K5 WIFI is the perfect platform for controlling multiple lights.
It can be done from your phone, tablet, or laptop through the web-based Kind command center.
It can’t get much better than being able to control spectrum and timing from wherever you are and whenever you want.
The K5 XL 1000 has a new easy-to-read LCD screen. This unit has newly enhanced UV diodes that increase terpene and flavor profiles.
The Kind K5 will deliver 200% greater canopy penetration and harvest weight.
High Times magazine has awarded Kind LED Grow lights with their STASH Gear of the Year for four years in a row since 2014.
Features include:
- > 50,000 hour lamp life
- Three-year warranty
- Fully customizable spectrum for vegetative and flowering stages of plants
- Newly enhanced diodes
- 200% greater canopy penetration
- Easy to use the dial to adjust timers and spectrum
- Kind Command Center allows you to set your timers and spectrum
- Favorite light recipes can be saved
- Control multiple lights
Heliospectra LX601 630W LED Grow Light
Wattage: 1000w
Price: $1849.00
The LX601 is one of the most technologically advanced grow lights available. There are four different types of diodes built into the light.
These lights can significantly reduce your energy consumption while growing by as much as 50%.
This particular light is designed for indoor use and as a primary light source. Another advantage is that you can adjust your growth rate.
If you are basing your production on demand, if demand is down, you can slow down the growth rate or speed it up so that there is nothing that goes to waste.
You can control all of the spectral makeup through a CAT5 ethernet cable that plugs into your computer.
The overall quality, light intensity, and duration can be controlled from wherever you are on your smartphone.
This is a huge advantage during the growing process, and you will spend less time running the operation. There are no more hand-turning spectrum dials or setting wall timers. With the onboard computer, web interface, remote monitoring, and open API, you will have control no matter where you happen.
Features include:
- Lamp life > 50,000
- Designed to cover a 4ft x 4 ft area uniformly
- Two LED color plates have set ratios to grow a variety of leafy greens, herbs, and flowers
- Using web-based UI, you can control quality, intensity, and duration
- Optical distribution is ideal to be close to plants but maintains a uniform distribution pattern
- Spectral distribution is consistent with photosynthesis
- Power cables for EU or North America plug type
- A reputable company for the past 14 years
- Three-year warranty’
California Lightworks SolarSystem 1100 LED Grow Light
Wattage: 800w
Price: $1599.00
California Lightworks has spent time developing circuit boards to minimize heat and maximize performance.
Using 5-watt Osrams that use half the heat and electricity as 3-watt chips, the Osrams also put out twice as much light.
The SolarSystem 110 is the most powerful grow light in the California Lightworks product line.
The unit is lightweight yet puts out more light than larger LED grow lights. Powerful enough for veg or bloom, the SS 100 has a fully programmable spectrum control with the optional SS Controller.
You can achieve 0 tp 100% dimming of the LED grow lights with a 5’ x 5 ‘ bloom coverage or 8’ x 8’ vegetative coverage area.
Feature Include:
- Lights are > 50, 000 hours
- Never have to change bulbs
- Great for Propagation, Veg or Bloom
- Waterproof and can handle humid conditions
- Use for personal or commercial grow
- Replaces a 1000-watt HPS with 40% less energy
- UL listed
- Made in the USA.
- Five-year warranty
Spectrum King SK602 Full Spectrum LED Grow Light
Wattage:610w
Price: $ 1495.00
Spectrum King LED grow lights are carefully designed and engineered to mimic natural sunlight.
HPS lights require 1,000 watts to produce the intensity for healthy plants. Spectrum King SK402 offers the same intensity using only 460 watts.
You will spend up to 50% less on energy. Completely sealed from dust and moisture, the SK402 is IP65 rated.
Even if your light gets sprayed with a hose, the housing will not be damaged. A huge perk is that Spectrum King's LEDs have large heatsinks and can run cool.
A fan that can suck in bugs and moisture is not needed to cool the light.
Features Includes:
- 92% Efficiency
- Low profile of seven inches
- Remote power system compatible
- Grow area of 5’ x 5’
- Does not need a fan
- Fit for use in wet and humid conditions
- Five-year mechanical warranty
Amare SolarBar SB800 COB LED Grow Light
Wattage: 880w
Price: $1695
The newest light in Amare’s line up, the SolarBar SB880, contains dimmable Samsung (white) and Osram (red) diodes that deliver high-efficiency light over your canopy.
This light can be constructed in two, four, six, or eight-bar configuration with the patent-pending attach/detach bracket design.
The design enables the bars to attach/detach for separate operations in pairs.
The SolarBar has a very low profile of fewer than four inches and is excellent for close proximity for vertical or multi-tiered applications.
This light delivers the highest available CRI, DKI, PPF/W, PPFD/W, McCree, and medical curve efficiency.
Features Include:
- Waterproof housing
- Can be used for commercial applications
- Full-cycle growing from seedling to flower
- Full white light spectrum
- Detachable bar sets
- 4’ x 4’ to 5’ x 5’ coverage
- Samsung LM301B and Osram Oslon diodes
- Five-year warranty
Things To Consider
When looking for a set of LED lights, it is best to get a set that is quality and will suit your needs.
If you choose a set based solely on a lesser cost, you may end up with a product that costs you more in the long run.
Time and effort and your original plants could be ruined if you don't have the right lights.
It pays to research the types of lights available and what you need regarding your growing. Set your goals and educate yourself on what you need to get there.
It is seldom a good idea to skimp on costs thinking that you will upgrade at a later date when you can afford it.
If you don't set up your process correctly from the beginning, you may not have a later date to count on.
When looking for LED lights, consider the following important information:
Quality
You want your grow lights to be durable. It can be extremely frustrating to have to replace lights a short time after purchase, or in the middle of a grow cycle.
A quality LED light should last about ten years. We may be biased, but we believe that a product manufactured in the United States according to high industry standards, is the place to start looking.
Four of the five LED grow lights mentioned in this article are made in the United States.
Brand Name
When you start looking, you will find numerous brands and manufacturers on the market today.
If you are looking at different lights that are comparable, check out the brand.
As with most other items, go with a brand that has a good reputation. If you have any difficulties, you want a company that will stand behind its product and provide excellent customer service.
Energy Efficient
You will be expecting a lot from your grow lights. They will need to be functioning for at least ten to eleven hours each day.
That is a big draw on the amount of energy you will be using. You want a product that will be easy on your electricity bill.
Check how many units the light is in total output. Anything less than 300W will cost you.
Choose something that is on the higher end of 600W to 800W or more. The higher output will compensate for any wattage loss.
Heat
Because the lights are in constant proximity to your plants, you want to make sure that the lights will not be damaging the plants by the heat that they emit.
Another thing to consider is that lights that have a higher heat output will also burn out faster.
Semiconductor Chip
An LED’s light core converts electricity to light and determines the wavelength of that light.
The chip needs to have at least 3W to be able to provide sufficient illumination.
Plants
What will you be growing? Certain LED lights are made to supply the needs of specific plants. It is not always a one-size-fits-all with LED lights.
Depending on the plant, it will need different wavelengths during each growth stage. Tomatoes will require a different type of light than flowers.
It is also essential to consider if you are doing just vegetative cycles or if you are doing flowering and growing processes too.
Space
This is a significant factor. What is the size of the area you will be growing in? As a general rule, you will need 32 watts of actual power per square foot.
Again, it depends on the plants that you are growing. Some plants take less light (like lettuce), and others take more (like tomatoes).
You will need to determine the amount of light your crops will need.
Easy to Use
There may be times when you need to adjust the position of your LED lights. If you get a quality light, it will also be able to be adjusted with ease.
Look for lights that have both wavelength and light intensity adjustments. Ease of maintenance is another an important factor.
Full Spectrum
An LED is not just an LED when you want the light to simulate the photosynthesis process. The process requires different wavelengths, as we mentioned earlier.
You will want an LED that can deliver the full spectrum needed throughout every stage of the growth process.
Some plants need a light in the red and blue range along with the light being infrared and ultraviolet. A quality LED grow light will be able to provide these variations.
Warranty
Last but not least, you are going to want a light that has a good warranty. Whatever light you choose should have a decent warranty and even free return shipping.
A reputable manufacturer will stand behind its quality built product.
In Conclusion
There are a variety of things to think about when looking at what LED grow light you should purchase. Use the above factors as a guideline when considering what you need.
If you purchase a quality product, it will cost you upfront, but inferior products always end up costing you more in the long run.
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