The 10 Best LED Grow Lights (2023 Review)

Growing cannabis indoors with LED Grow Lights can lend you complete control over the light cycle, intensity, PAR, luminance, and whatnot! If you seek to know the ultramodern and fully featured LED Grow Lights, you just arrived at the perfect place.

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to explore this fun & learn guide, and plunge into the review of the Top 10 LED Grow Lights.

Whether you’re a hippie stoner or medical marijuana user, the thought of cultivating your favorite strain in your garden may frequently trigger in the back of your mind.

Yeah, I know, you can just shop it online (but what’s fun in that, eh!?). Growing weed has become mainstream since many US states have legalized cannabis.

But believe me;
growing weed is easier said than done!

The first thing you need is to acquire high-quality marijuana seeds from trustworthy seed banks. Well, that’s the first step, whatsoever.

If you dig further, you will see that there are so many things to consider. Basically, all you need to decide whether you plan to grow weed indoors or outdoors.

If you need to power your indoor cannabis growth, installing a grow tent or grow cabinet with all the required accessories is the best way to do that. Other essential factors to consider are humidity, temperature, light, soil, nutrients, and water.

Now, let’s shed some light on the importance of LED Grow Lights!

Introduction: Choosing LED Grow Lights for Your Indoor Weed Garden

While actual sunlight produces terpene-rich and original-flavored flowers, artificial lamps like LED grow lights are no different, and in many cases, even better!

So, what’s so special about LED Grow Lights, and why is everyone talking about it these days?

Keep reading, and you will know why LED Grow Light a cutting-edge solution in the cannabis cultivation industry!

Your grow light unit is the heart of your indoor marijuana cultivation. That’s why it’s of paramount importance to pick the right light source for your precious plants.

CFLs, Fluorescents (T5/T8), CMH, HID, or HPS lamps can get you sufficient harvests but be informed that they cannot beat LED Grow Lights.

The reason is simple:
LEDs yield the prettiest buds!

LED Lights vs. LED Grow Lights:

What’s the difference between LED Lights and LED Grow Lights?

Regular LED lights emit only visible lights using light-emitting diodes. On the other hand, LED Grow Lights can offer a broader light spectrum, including the entire visible spectrum, white light, ultraviolet, and infrared; it helps cannabis plants grow faster with better yield. Blue light can increase the vegetative stage growth, and red light can be used to improve the flowering stage.

Top 10 Best LED Grow Lights for Bigger and Better Yields

Now that you know the importance of using LED Grow lights, it’s vital to pick the right LED suitable for your weed-growing needs. Need help choosing an LED Grow light? Great. After extensive research and experiments, I have found truly amazing LED Grow lights.
Here are my top 10 picks:

  1. Spider Farmer SF-1000 – 100W LED
  2. Electric Sky 180 V2 (ES180) 180W
  3. Black Dog PhytoMAX-2 LED 200W
  4. Advanced Platinum P300 LED 300W
  5. Maxsisun Remote Control Dimmable LED 400W
  6. HLG 600 Rspec 600W
  7. Viparspectra Dimmable LED 1000W
  8. Mars Hydro TSW 2000W
  9. Bestva DC Series LED 3000W
  10. King LED King Plus 4000W

Are LEDs a Good Choice for Growing Cannabis?

LED Grow Lights are absolutely the next best thing in indoor cannabis cultivation. Most weed strains have a tight range of temperature and light intensity under which they rise flawlessly.

With top-quality LEDs, it’s now easier to control the light sensitivity and color spectrum needed to bloom your crop (more on that below).

With some models, you don’t even have to set foot in your grow tent and just access your LED grow lights with a remote!

Crazy, right?

So, if you ever cross your mind and ask, “Are LED Grow Lights good?” Let me assure you; it will get you a killer yield instead of being a yield killer!

All you need to do is find a reliable brand that sells professional-grade LED Grow lights.

There are a whole lot of manufacturers bustling in the market that offer distinctly featured grow lights. While top-quality LEDs can let you enjoy breeding potent and beautiful buds, steer clear of those low-grade lights that could wreck your crop damn quickly.

Now the question arises, “Which LED grow light brands can be trusted?” Well, that’s the whole point of crafting this fantastic guide for you.

LEDs come in different shapes, sizes, power, and usability. So, it’s important to get to the bottom of this game-changing invention.

Review of the Top 10 LED Grow Lights in 2023

The following LED lights have the characteristics outlined, including features, light intensity, heat dissipation system, cooling system, wattage, PAR output, and more. Explore this list of top-notch LED Grow Lights in different categories.

#1 – Spider Farmer SF-1000 – 100W LED Review

#1 - Spider Farmer SF-1000

Spider Farmer SF-1000 is a highly demanded, affordable, and easy-to-use LED grow light out there. You don’t need to go through a complex assembling process as you can directly plug in and use it right away.

That’s simple for even beginners!

The exciting thing is that it uses high-grade Samsung LED diodes that can increase the product’s durability. With this LED, you can acquire 40% more buds as Samsung chips offer effective canopy penetration.

A great spectrum makes a great weed! And, with the 665 nm, 3000K, 5000K, and 760 nm wavelengths, you will get a wholesome pandora of beautiful buds.

What about its build quality? It does not have cooling fans, so you will not be annoyed by frequent noise. However, it will run cooler than ordinary blurple lights.

I’ve used this version, and I am impressed with the dimmer functionality. Moreover, fully-covered wires are enduring in humid environments.

Solid aluminum heatsinks help the unit run cooler. If you have a small growing space and need to grow 2 to 4 plants, it is the best Spider Farmer unit for your needs.

Specifications:

  • HID Replacement: 100W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 3 x 3 ft
  • Flowering Coverage: 2 x 2 ft
  • Spectrum: Full (red, white, blue, and IR (3000K, 5000K, 660nm and IR 760nm))
  • Actual Power Draw: 100.5W±5%@AC12 0V 98.8W±5%@AC240V 98.39W±5%@AC277V
  • Input: AC100-277V, 50-60 Hz
  • PAR: 1033 μmol/m2/s at 12″
  • Weight:
  • Lifespan: 100,000 hours
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Low cost
  • high-quality components
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Bright light
  • high output per watt consumed
  • Samsung chips and Meanwell drivers
  • Daisy Chain
  • Dimmable

Cons:

  • No fans
  • Lights could get hot
  • Cannot be placed too close to the canopy
  • Chinese brand
  • No UL certified

Buy Spider Farmer SF-1000


#2 – Electric Sky 180 V2 (ES180) 180W Review

#2 - Electric Sky ES180

Electric Sky ES 180 is a compact yet powerful LED Grow light that consumes only 180 watts. The unit is best to direct the light downward so your eyes will not get light strains.

It comes with a GS1 wide-band full-spectrum that offers close canopy penetration without hurting your plants. You can also dim the light to get optimum yields. It consumes 40% less power and emits 50% less heat than traditional HPS lights.

The light coverage of this light is relatively small, but if you need to plant a small crop, it’s a great choice. The fans will not be there in the unit to dissipate hot air, so rest assured that the cooling is efficient. Thanks to that, you will also get to enjoy silent operation.

You can mount this light 12-18″ from your plant to flourish the canopy at its best. Once you have your buds, you will be amazed by the quality and quantity of your weed. It is one of the finest LED Grow light units for a small grow space.

Specifications:

  • HID Replacement: 180W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 2’x4′ to 2.5’×5′ area
  • Flowering Coverage: 1.5’x3′ to 2’x4′
  • Spectrum: GS1 wide-band full-spectrum
  • Actual Power Draw: 180W
  • Input: AC100~270V; 1.65A @ 120V / 0.82A @ 240V
  • PAR: 418 μmol/m2/s
  • Weight
  • Lifespan: 70,000+ hours
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Rapid plant growth
  • Silent cooling
  • US Laboratories
  • Discreet shipping

Cons:

  • No waterproof
  • Timers are not available
  • No fans for hot air dissipation

Buy Electric Sky ES180


#3 – Black Dog PhytoMAX-2 LED 200W Review

#3 - Black Dog PhytoMAX-2 LED 200W

The best thing about Black Dog LEDs is that they are made in the USA. Hence, those skeptical about Chinese products can go for this one for premium quality light. Enjoy less heating, less power draw, and better yield with this power-packed PhytoMax-2 series LED.

The company has done over 6 years of research to develop the full-cycle Phyto-Genesis Spectrum that this light has. It works far better than conventional CMH (LEC), fluorescent, induction, MH, and HPS lights.

Have you ever come across a question, “Are my plants getting enough light?” Don’t worry; install this light and be relaxed with this LED Grow light. With impactful and far-reaching light, buds and leaves situated at the backside of the plant also get nourished greatly.

There will not be any hot spots in the footprint, making it one of the most efficient grow lights. With the PhytoMax-2 LED series, you can enjoy resinous and terpene-rich flowers.

Though it has a relatively high cost than ordinary brands, you will get to save a lot of electricity over the years of your usage. Plus, the highest quality is another advantage.

So far, so good!

Along with that, the customer service of Black Dog is the best in the industry. If you want to buy your grow light from a brand that backs their products, I recommend you to go for this one and look no further.

The 5 years of warranty is a nice touch as you will not get such assurance from numerous manufacturers.

Specifications:

  • HID Replacement: 210W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 3.75′ x 3.75′
  • Flowering Coverage: 3’ x 3’
  • Spectrum: Full-spectrum (365-750nm, UV to NIR)
  • Actual Power Draw: 210W
  • Input: 100-250V AC, 50-60Hz
  • PAR: 320 μmol/m2/s
  • Weight: 6.4kg
  • Lifespan: 70,000 hours
  • Warranty: 5 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Bright lights
  • Value for money
  • Easy to mount
  • 60% more light than PhytoMax
  • No toxic materials
  • ETL certified
  • Efficient cooling with fans
  • Metal adjustable sturdy hanging kit

Cons:

  • expensive brand
  • fixed spectrum
  • lower coverage area

Buy Black Dog PhytoMAX-2


#4 – Advanced Platinum P300 LED Review

#4 - Advanced Platinum P300

Advanced Platinum P300 outperforms many cheap LED Grow lights on a similar budget. It only consumes 180 watts of power and replaces a 400W HPS to provide the same light.

As the company claims, Platinum LED lights offer the industry-leading PAR/lumen output per watt. Whether you are in a veg stage or a flower stage, it will promote your plants to be healthy and high-yielding. The veg and flower switches help bloom your plants with the most efficient light spectrum.

Interestingly, this light offers a 12-band full-spectrum, starting from UV and all the way to IR. Such depth in the light spectrum provides truly efficient crop production for your indoor growing.

The aluminum cooling heat sinks and 2x high-speed fans will ensure that the system doesn’t pick up heat. Consequently, you can use it for long hours and get a quicker harvest.

Keep growing your favorite strain for years to come as this LED Grow light will run for 100,000 hours. Besides, the 5-year warranty is really excellent on this budget.

You will also get 90 days of satisfaction guarantee; if you’re not satisfied with your product, the company will refund your money.

Specifications:

  • HPS Replacement: 400W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 4.5′ x 3.8′
  • Flowering Coverage: 3′ x 2′
  • Spectrum: 12-band spectrum (UV to IR)
  • Actual Power Draw: 93W Veg and 180W Bloom
  • Input: 85-260V AC
  • PAR: 1050 μmol/m2/s
  • Weight: 6kg
  • Lifespan: 100,000 hours
  • Warranty: 5 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Powerful LED lights
  • Perfect spectral output
  • 12-band spectrum including UV and IR
  • Veg & bloom wattage modification
  • Has secondary lens
  • offers a very high PAR value
  • Quiet fans
  • Great lifespan
  • Industry-leading warranty

Cons:

  • No dimmers available
  • No daisy chains
  • Comparatively expensive

Buy Advanced Platinum P300


#5 – Phlizon CREE COB Series LED Review

#5 - Phlizon LED - Best LED Grow Lights

Phlizon CREE COB Series 2500W LED is a full-spectrum LED Grow light that offers excellent light output with energy-saving perks. This light system comes with 2pcs 6000K COB, 3pcs 3000K COB, 4pcs IR (740nm), 8pcs cool white (6000K), 10pcs cool white (3000K), 12pcs 470nm, and 66pcs 630-660nm lamps.

Exceptional range of bulbs!

COB technology is specially invented to make high-power LEDs that produce bright light. Moreover, Cree COB LED also offers small thermal resistance and less light attenuation, increasing its durability and lifespan.

The ideal height to mount this light is 42 inches to illuminate a growing area of 3.5 by 3.5 feet. Hanging it at 24 inches will also give you 3 by 3 feet of growing space. Moreover, this system works at only 440 watts and is more energy-efficient than HID, CMH, and HPS lights.

The Photon Flux Density of 1205 μmol/m2/s at 18-inch is genuinely exceptional that helps thrive the plant more prominently. You will also get an adjustable rope to control the height of your unit.

This full-spectrum light has all the spectrum parameters needed to prosper your marijuana plants, whether it’s protein, sugar, or synthesis development.

The only concern of buyers is that it is marketed as 2500W LED, while it actually consumes 440W of power. Overall, it’s an excellent choice for those who need stylish, energy-efficient, and value-for-money LED grow light.

Specifications:

  • HPS Replacement: 900W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 4.1′ x 4.1′
  • Flowering Coverage: 3.5′ x 3.5′
  • Spectrum: Full-spectrum
  • Actual Power Draw: 436W±3%
  • Input: 52-265V
  • PAR: 2504.3 μmol/m2/s at 18″
  • Weight: 9.7kg
  • Lifespan: 50,000 hours
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Advanced COB lights
  • Amazing PAR output
  • Veg & bloom switches
  • Offers perfect lights to plants

Cons:

  • The warranty period is comparatively less
  • Marketed as 2500W, but draws only 436W

Buy Phlizon LED


#6 – HLG 600 Rspec 600W Review

#6 - HLG 600 Rspec 600W - Best LED Grow Lights

HLG Rspec 600 is a Horticulture LED grow light for top-performing indoor commercial weed cultivation. The white light quantum boards come with a Samsung LM301H chip. Moreover, it also includes a Deep Red LED (660nm) for improved flowering.

The light unit is dimmable, so you can adjust the light intensity as and when needed. This light’s vegetation and flowering footprints are 6 by 6 feet and 5 by 5 feet, respectively. Considering its 1000W HID replacement, it’s a great pick to add to your cart.

The recommended height is 36-inch for vegetation and 24-inch for flowering. The PPF efficacy of 2.55 μmol/joule is simply superb compared to 0.5-1 μmol/joule in other traditional lights. This LED Grow Light is an ETL-certified product, making it reliable, high-quality, and safe.

Amazing, isn’t it?

If you are confused about which LED grow lights work for cannabis, pick this one, and you will not be disappointed. The 3-year warranty with this system is not great, but still better than most. HLG 600 RSpec Grow Light got 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon!

You simply cannot get a better LED Grow light at this price point.

Specifications:

  • HID Replacement: 1000W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 6′ x 6′ at 40”
  • Flowering Coverage: 5′ x 5′ at 28″
  • Spectrum: Full-spectrum
  • Actual Power Draw: 600W (Up to 60W dimmable)
  • Input: 100-277 VAC 50-60Hz
  • PAR: 1522 μmol/m2/s
  • Weight: 11.5kg
  • Lifespan: 50,000 hours
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Comes with a Samsung LM301H board
  • White light quantum boards
  • Dimmable inventronics driver
  • Perfect flowering spectrum
  • Good coverage area
  • ETL/UL certified
  • Made in America

Cons:

  • Not have timers
  • Not a programmable unit
  • No fans

Buy HLG 600 Rspec


#7 – Viparspectra Dimmable LED 1000W Review

#7 - Viparspectra Dimmable LED 1000W - Best LED Grow Lights

Viparspectra is a well-known name in the industry. It undoubtedly leads the grow light market with stunning light technology. If you need a stylish, high-performing, and energy-saving LED Grow light that can replace your 400W HPS light in your indoor cannabis grow room, it’s your go-to model to purchase.

This light system adopts Dual-Chip (10W) LEDs that offer full-spectrum output for healthy plants. Interestingly, you can achieve maximum growth performance through the cultivation and flowering stage with VEG and BLOOM dimmer.

The company is committed to offering exceptional products and professional customer support. Along with that, it has aluminum heat sinks and high-speed cooling fans to ensure the heat dissipates quickly. This feature is essential to improve the lifespan and durability of a product.

You can connect multiple lights even if you have limited outlets inside the grow space. For that, this unit comes with daisy-chaining support. With this support, you can attach 2 pieces of VA1000.

The US power cable will help you for serving power as well as for the daisy chain. You just need to make sure that extra connected lights are less than 600W to ensure safety.

Specifications:

  • HPS Replacement: 400W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 3′ x 3′ at 22″
  • Flowering Coverage: 2.5′ x 2.5′ at 16″
  • Spectrum: Full-spectrum
  • Actual Power Draw: 230W±3%
  • Input: AC100-240V, 50-60Hz
  • PAR: 790 μmol/m2/s
  • Weight: 3kg
  • Lifespan: 100,000 hours
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • High-quality LEDs
  • Dimmable veg and bloom feature
  • Dual chips full-spectrum
  • Daisy chain support
  • Active and passive heatsinks
  • bang for your buck

Cons:

  • Not waterproof
  • Quite heavy
  • Slight noisy fans
  • Sometimes gets hotter

Buy Viparspectra 1000W


#8 – Mars Hydro TSW 2000W Review

#8 - Mars Hydro TSW 2000W

Mars Hydro TSW 2000W is a full-spectrum light unit that comes with daisy-chaining support. It is a dimmable light so that you can use it for the veg and bloom phase effectively. With IR (660nm), red (760nm), white light (3000K), and blue light (5000K) bands, it nearly resembles natural sunlight.

The build quality of this LED light system is extraordinary. The aluminum material works great to dissipate the extra heat. It also reduces glares wasted on walls and aisles, making it 20% more efficient in light intensity.

The PAR/lumen output is 1122 μmol/m2/s at 16 inches, which produces a 30% higher yield than traditional blurple lights. This light is controlled by 2 auto-sensing power supplies, supporting 120V, 240V, and 277V AC power input.

You can expect 2.0g of yield per wattage, which is acceptable at this price point. It’s almost double n energy efficiency when compared to HPS lights. It’s a fantastic LED grow light to use for indoor, greenhouse, and hydroponics planting.

Specifications:

  • HPS Replacement: 450W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 4′ x 4′
  • Flowering Coverage: 3.5′ x 3′
  • Spectrum: Full-spectrum
  • Actual Power Draw: 300W
  • Input: 120-277V AC
  • PAR: 910 μmol/m2/s at 18″
  • Weight: 3.5kg
  • Lifespan: 50,000 hours
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Easy dimming
  • 2 auto-sensing power supply
  • 30% higher yield than blurple
  • Daisy-chaining support
  • Latest SMD LED chip technology
  • Over 90% light absorbtion
  • Uniform and wide-beam light distribution

Cons:

  • No switch available
  • No fans for heat dissipation
  • Protective eyeglasses required
  • Sometimes pick up heat

Buy Mars Hydro TSW


#9 – Bestva DC Series LED 3000W Review

#9 - Bestva DC Series LED 3000W - Best LED Grow Lights

The Bestva DC Series grow lights are created using modern LED technology. With 10W dual-chip LEDs, it produces higher PAR/Lumen output with bright glitters. It comes with 9 different bands to ensure your buds receive all the essential wavelengths while growing.

It comes with veg and bloom switches to let you maintain the light spectrum as per the cultivation stage. The company recommends using this unit for 12 to 18 hours.

If you want your plants to get more energy for faster development, you can also activate veg and bloom switches at the same time.

You will get a large coverage area of 8′ x 7.8′ at 24-inch height. On the other hand, you cannot use the daisy chain feature to connect multiple units. The 3mm aluminum plate radiator is mounted in the system to let heat pass flawlessly. Besides, the rectangular holes on the chassis function perfectly as air ventilation.

You will get 3 years of warranty, which is not as impressive as you get with other brands, but still better than many companies provide. Along with that, if you are not happy after using your light for 90 days, you can give it back and have your refund.

Specifications:

  • HPS Replacement: 2000W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 7’x6.5’
  • Flowering Coverage: 6‘x5.5’
  • Spectrum: Full-spectrum
  • Actual Power Draw: 615W±5%
  • Input: 85V-265V AC, 50-60Hz
  • PAR: 1390 μmol/m2/s at 18″
  • Weight: 4.7kg
  • Lifespan: 100,000 hours
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Dual chip technology
  • Full-spectrum
  • Energy efficient
  • Equivalent to 900W HPS
  • Powerful cooling system
  • Can be controlled by a timer
  • Excellent customer service

Cons:

  • No daisy chain available
  • Not waterproof
  • Average pink spectrum

Buy Bestva DC 3000W LED


#10 – King LED King Plus 4000W Review

#10 - King LED King Plus 4000W - Best LED Grow Lights

King Plus 4000W LED unit has 390pcs of 10W LEDs. It is made for large plantation areas of around 10.4 by 9.8 feet. Moreover, it’s not surprising that many professional cannabis growers use King LED 4000W LED Grow Light for extended cultivation.

The build quality of this LED is terrific as it is crafted with upgraded aluminum radiators and incorporates high-speed mute fans for smooth performance. The veg and bloom switch will help you increase the harvest with an appropriate light setup.

The full spectrum of this light also includes IR and UV lights, which are needed for the flowering and fruiting stage. The 10W high-tech double-chip LEDs manifest intense lights while saving much of your electricity.

Truly bang for your buck!

This stunning LED Grow light is enough to replace your 2400W HPS grow light. More notably, the lamps of this grow light operate at only 50°F to 60°F, making them efficient and cool than many other bulbs. This model got 4.5 out of 5 stars among 1800+ satisfied shoppers on Amazon, making it a great buy.

Specifications:

  • HPS Replacement: 2400W
  • Vegetative Coverage: 10.4′ x 9.8′
  • Flowering Coverage: 9.4′ x 8.8′
  • Spectrum: Full-spectrum
  • Actual Power Draw: 610W
  • Input: 85v-265V, 50~60Hz
  • PAR: 55.80 lm/W
  • Weight: 8.5kg
  • Lifespan: 100,000 hours
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Price: Best deal

Pros:

  • Easy to install
  • Energy-saving technology
  • high-speed fans
  • Works smooth and quiet
  • Veg/Bloom switch
  • Large vegetative and flowering footprint

Cons:

  • Not waterproof
  • Somewhat expensive
  • Protective eyeglasses required

Buy KingLED 4000W King Plus


Modern LED Grow Lights for Cannabis: A Complete Guide

The research on LED innovation has been on the verge for the last three years. There was a time when growers were using a random light to nurture their weed strains. But the advancements in technology let us enjoy full-scale LED grow lights that are specifically designed to achieve high yield and better quality buds.

LED grow lights have become a go-to solution for many indoor weed gardeners because these lights are capable of replicating the natural sunlight. As we come across the freshest line of products, convenience, features, and output are truly beating our expectations!

LED grow lights are becoming better and better!

From convenience to availability and light spectrum to energy efficiency, here’s everything you need to know before purchasing an LED grow light.

Take a glance at the following characteristics and be an expert on LED Grow Lights.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Ease of Use

LED grow lights come with a plug-and-play mechanism so that you don’t have to tangle in the light configuration process. That’s what makes LEDs easy to use in a swap.

If it comes with a dimmer, you can even control the intensity of light. You will also get hanging hooks to mount your LED system in your grow cabinet safely.

Durable Material and Solid Construction

The durability and lifespan of the light system depend on the quality of construction. It’s not just a tiny bulb, but so many miniature components are tightly assembled to furnish a rugged LED grow light.

The light packs so many things—cables, hanging kit, timer, switches, heat sinks, cooling fans, protective covers, and more. So, make sure that everything is tightly coupled in a high-quality aluminum case. Aluminum is a preferable choice to have a lightweight system.

Full-spectrum LED Grow Lights

Before moving any further, let’s first learn the basics of the light spectrum.

When we refer to the “full” spectrum, in general, it defines the continuous spectrum emitted from the sun. From gamma rays (< 0.01 nanometers) to radio waves (1mm to 100km), the “full” spectrum actually covers all the wavelengths known to humans.

Now, the visible wavelength ranges from 400nm (violet) to 750nm (red). It is the only portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that human eyes can see. VIBGYOR (Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red) is a mnemonic we use to remember the colors in this spectrum. When we see all these colors together, we perceive the white color.

LED grow lights are created to render the colors of this visual band only.

So, there’s no complete full-spectrum LED grow lights!

However, as advanced LEDs illustrate all these visible lights, we cumulatively decided to call them full-spectrum LED Grow Lights.

Along with visible lights, some full-spectrum LEDs also have warm/reddish (3000K), MIGRO (3500K), neutral (4000K), and cool/bluish (5000K) spectrum to achieve better yields.

Always go for the full-spectrum LEDs as they maintain intensity between warm and cool lights. Your plants can receive a wide range of colors. You can check the CRI (Color Rendering Index) rating to verify if your LED unit is full-spectrum or not.

Light Coverage Area (Footprint)

Coverage area is the most crucial factor to consider before choosing an LED Grow light. Needless to say, the coverage area varies with the height. Now, you need to ensure that each of your plants receives at least 32 watts of intensity.

Generally, you can assume that each plant occupies 1 square foot of area. So, if you’re growing 8 plants, the whole crop will fit in 8 square feet. Thus, you need to pick an LED that has a footprint of 3’×3′ to cover everything.

The footprint of the flowering stage differs from the vegetation stage. And, grow lights should be positioned further away in the blooming phase. So, the best way to practice this adjustment is to follow the manufacturer’s recommended footprint parameters.

Lower Running Cost and Better Yields

Some lights come with the latest LED technology (such as Samsung LM301B diodes) to make your unit truly energy efficient. Such advanced utilities can help your LEDs run flawlessly with minimum power draw and maximum PAR output.

Not just that, many LED lights even offer uniform canopy penetration to benefit each of your plants evenly. If you locate this feature in any model, consider it an LED Grow Light crafted with modern parameters.

Having such a power-saving mechanism lets LED bulbs to consume almost 50% less power than traditional HPS lights. Thus, you can use it for maximum hours in a day and get quick and better cannabis growth.

Customized Dimming Feature

Modern LED Grow lights come with a dimming knob to let you adjust the light intensity as and when needed. If you have a large grow tent or opt to go for a commercial-level crop, this feature will be super valuable on many occasions.

Some contemporary LED grow lights even come with a remote control instead of a knob. So you can control the light without interrupting your grow room ambiance.

Veg/Bloom Switch

As your favorite strain develops from the vegetation stage to the flowering stage, it needs a relevant light spectrum to achieve vigorous growth.

Blue and white LEDs promote weed growth in the vegetative stage. You can turn on the Veg Switch while your plants are in this stage so that they receive the maximum benefits. Besides, red, white, and IR are essential to promote buds production in the flowering stage.

As you will find many LEDs specifically designed to demonstrate a perfect combination of the light spectrum for different stages, you don’t need to worry about these things.

You can simply turn on and off the Veg Switch or Bloom Switch on your light unit. Many experts recommend keeping both switches on during the flowering stage.

Energy-saving technology

You will find a 1-watt chip, 3-watt chip, 5-watt chip, and higher in different LEDs. However, researchers have stated that a 3-watt chip provides the optimum combination of light intensity, heat, and cost.

You will also find double-chip technology in advanced Led grow lights that can save lots of electricity. Whatsoever, LED grow lights consume less energy overall than CMH or HID lamps.

Adequate Cooling System

The operating temperature of LED Grow lights is much lower than conventional lamps. Yet it’s good to have a cooling solution attached to it, so they don’t waste your precious energy in heating.

You can buy LEDs with heat sink technology to dissipate heat. High-speed cooling fans are available in modern LEDs to blow away hot air. Moreover, you will also find aluminum radiators in some models that keep the temperature of diodes between 50°F to 60°F.

Having an efficient cooling system is necessary if you plan to quicken your plant growth by keeping your LED unit on for 18-22 hours a day.

Professional Service

Customer support is equally important as the quality of your lights. If you buy your light unit from a genuine company, you will get many of the below-mentioned advantages:

  • After-sales service
  • Warranty
  • Moneyback guarantee
  • Quick query resolution
  • Installation and usage guidance

Before making a purchase, make sure you get maximum service benefits. Many elite manufacturers provide up to 3 years of professional service.

If your product doesn’t work well, you can even return it within 90 days and get your money back. Moreover, some of them also offer 24/7 customer service to help you resolve your queries immediately.

Value for Money

If you spend $100, you would expect output worth $100, or even more. If you really get benefits that are so much worth than your investment, that’s what I call a value for money product.

But hey, there’s a catch!

We are talking about LED Grow lights. So, it’s not just the price we count, but the operating cost should also be taken into consideration. Some companies even charge for after-sales service; you might have to pay for shipping; you might not get a full refund on return.

If you add up all these expenses, you will realize that it’s wise to spend a little more now and save a lot later, rather than keep pouring your hard-earned money into all these uncertain factors.

That’s one of the main reasons behind the success of LED Grow lights because once you pay a somewhat high upfront cost, you will get to conserve so much electricity over the years.

Free service, 2-3 years of warranty, a moneyback guarantee, and excellent customer service are additional benefits that can save a lot of money for you. Reliable brands provide all these benefits, so make sure to check all conditions.

Pros of LED Grow Lights

  • Better for tighter grow areas and grow tents
  • Easiest grow lights for flowering marijuana
  • Quick harvest cycle
  • Full-spectrum (control the wavelengths of light)
  • More energy efficient (i.e., less power draw)
  • Less heat dissipation (thanks to heat sinks, vents, cooling fans)
  • Lights can be dimmed (if available)
  • No need for ballasts to pull electricity from sockets
  • No breakable filament
  • Environment friendly (no toxic materials used)
  • Access using a remote (with some models)
  • Long-lasting lifespan (around 50,000 to 150,000 working hours)
  • The market is bustling with highly-rated and reliable manufacturers
  • State rebates (to encourage growers to use energy-efficient lights)

Cons of LED Grow Lights

  • Higher upfront cost
  • Risk of light bleaching (if placed too close)
  • Diodes are sensitive to high temperatures
  • Need glasses (that matches LED spectrum) for eye protection
  • Noisy fans (in some models) might annoy you
  • Lack of standard specifications among companies
  • Less intense than HIDs (so large-scale growers mightn’t prefer)

Are LEDs really better than HPS and CMH lights?

Traditional lamps are a cost-effective solution. So, small growers may find it economical to use it. However, they emit more heat and draws more energy than LED grow lights. Consequently, it inflates the operating cost.

Moreover, LEDs last longer and work for tens of thousands of hours. Some LED units you will find in the following section provide 50,000 to 80,000 hours of working. It means, if you use your LED light for 12 hours every day, you can use it for 10-15 years!

Well, that’s one thing, but as we stated, LEDs produce the same amount of yield in less energy than traditional lights; you will also save lots of money on power consumption in all these years.

Imagine the cost of electricity it saves over 15 years!

What more?

LED grow lights are made up of quality stuff, and its body doesn’t carry any toxic material. You will not find lead, gas, or mercury in any of its parts, so the marijuana plants will not be contaminated and remain healthy.

The bulb of other grow lights might get broken, while LED Grow light lamps are more rigid on that front. As I expressed above, LED lights are cooler than traditional lights. Thus, it will not burn your plants even if you keep them close to the canopies.

Overall, LEDs offer so much more and have successfully disrupted the traditional grow light market.

Final Verdict on LED Grow Lights

So, what’s the bottom line when selecting an LED Grow light?

I understand that you might grow multiple strains indoors. You might have restricted space inside your grow room. And you definitely want to yield more buds from your plants. Plus, you also need to consider the budget – upfront cost and power consumption – before investing in LED Grow lights.

Respecting all these reality checks, I picked these LED Grow lights that are best in one or another category, such as value for money, fully-featured, powerful, professional, best budget LED, long-lasting, and the best-overall.

In short, the LED grow lights reviewed above should help you locate the best piece for your needs. Get it right here.

Bookmark and share this comprehensive guide to help yourself and your friends in the future quest of finding the perfect LED grow light.

FAQ – LED Grow Lights for Marijuana Indoors

What are LED Grow Lights?

As the name implies, LED (Light Emitting Diode) Grow Lights are the electronic lights that help marijuana plants grow by providing them artificial lights in the absence of sunlight, i.e., indoor weed growing in grow tents.

Why use LED grow lights?

Cannabis plants need light to thrive and produce healthy buds. In a condition where sunlight is too little, LED grow lights can promote weed growth with specific color temperature, light spectrum, and luminous efficacy in the vegetative and flowering stage.

What makes the best LED grow light?

Here’s a list of features that makes a fantastic LED grow light for cannabis:

First of all, the construction of the LED lights should be durable.

Secondly, ensure that it does not emit excessive heat. If it does, it’s a cheap quality LED.

Moreover, also look for LEDs that can equally distribute PAR so that all your plants receive PAR light instead of one or two plants. Also, high PAR output helps you achieve high yields.

Go for full-spectrum LED grow lights as they deliver all wavelengths beneficial for cannabis plants.

Excessive heat can damage your weed plants, so try to get an LED with a heat sink, air vents, or cooling fans. They are cooling systems for LED grow lights.

Finally, you can also buy programmable LED grow lights to help you adjust the light spectrum, light intensity, and light cycle as and when needed. It will spare your time as you don’t have to maintain all these things manually.

You can also buy an LED with a switch that can be used to maneuver the light between the vegetative and flowering stage.

What are the advantages of LED Grow lights over HPS and HID lights?

LEDs provide fantastic PAR-per-watt value. Further, full-spectrum LEDs deliver all the necessary light spectrum, from ultraviolet to infrared, as required by different cannabis cultivation stages. Other lights don’t provide this advantage.

Traditional lamps need more power and generate more heat in the growing space, which could damage the light unit as well as plants. On the contrary, LED grow lights draw very little power that reduces your operating cost. As a result, they dissipate less heat and improves the product’s durability.

As per the US Department of Energy report, LEDs consume 75% less energy than standard lights. Consequently, LEDs can be used for tens of thousands of hours. Even if you pay a lower upfront cost for CMH, HID, and HPS lights, it’s nothing compared to the benefits that LED grow lights provide.

What exactly is full-spectrum LED grow light, and why is it important?

Full-spectrum LED grow lights can deliver all light spectral output needed by marijuana plants on different cultivating phases from time to time. As we know that natural sunlight has all light wavelengths, it’s a good idea to use this cutting-edge solution that mimics natural sunlight so that you can get healthier plants and high yields.

How to use LED grow lights?

You can use adjustable stands and hanging kits to install your lights. Depending upon the wattage, you should set up your LED grow lights from 15 to 42 inches above your indoor cannabis plants. Set timers for light exposure as plants also need darkness to bloom.

What is the best brand of LED grow lights?

The market is bustling with so many brands that develop stunning LEDs. However, I recommend users to go for reliable brands when it comes to choosing the LED lights. And I have included all those top-rated brands in this post.

Black Dog, Spider Farmer, King LED, Philson, Maxisun, Viparspectra, Advanced Platinum, Vivosun, Mars Hydro, Grow Star, and COB LED are among the best brands.

Which grow lights do professional growers use?

It all depends on the size of the cultivation. But one thing is sure: professional growers only use the most reliable and high-quality grow lights to obtain a greater yield of top-shelf flowers.

While many indoor weed cultivators still use HID lights, many have shifted to Spider Farmer SF-2000, Black Dog LED PhytoMAX-2, Vivosun VS1000, and Phlizon CREE Cob 1000W. They are some of the most sought-after LED grow lights among worldwide professional cannabis growers.

How much coverage does a 1000W LED grow light offer?

In general, if you set up your LED grow light 30 inches above the plants, the light spread covers the area of 5 by 5 feet. However, it varies with wattage and height adjustment.

How many watts per plant do I need?

LED Grow Lights should provide a minimum of 32 watts per plant. Moreover, 50 to 70 watts per square foot is perfect intensity. Now, let’s assume you use a 300W LED light with a coverage area of 2 by 3 feet, and each plant requires 1 square foot of space. It means you can plant a maximum of 6 plants in that area, where each of them will get approximately 50 watts per plant.

How many LED grow lights do I need?

This question directly leads to another critical question: “What is the size of your grow space? Another thing to consider is the wattage of your grow light.

You must adjust your indoor gardening in such a way that each plant receives at least 32 watts. One weed plant almost occupies 1 square foot of area.

If your growing space is 15 square feet, you need at least one piece of 480W LED Grow Light to provide a sufficient light spread (32W×15sq ft=480W). If your growing area is 30 square feet, you can use two LEDs of 480W or one LED of 1000W (32W×30sq ft=960W).

What is Photosynthetically Active Radiation PAR?

PAR is the visible light spectrum that weed plants use to thrive using photosynthesis. Now, photosynthesis is a process carried out by plants to receive light and create oxygen. The PAR intensity of 400 to 600 μmol/m2/s is ideal for the vegetative stage at 25-30° Celcius. Besides, you can set PAR value between 750 to 1200 μmol/m2/s for the flowering phase.

How far should LED grow lights be from plants?

It’s not difficult to decide how high LED grow lights should be hanged to plant weed. The equation is simple: the higher the wattage, the farther the distance.

200-400 watts = 15-24 inches
400-600 watts = 20-32 inches
600-900 watts = 24-36 inches
900+ watts = 28-42 inches

LED grow lights tend to work more with the light spectrum, so do not keep them too close to your weed plants to avoid light bleaching, which is as harmful as overheating due to intense bulbs.

How long to keep LED grow lights on for indoor plants?

When your plants in the vegetative phase, keep LEDs on for 18 hours a day. On the other hand, weed plants also need darkness, so 6 hours of gloom can do well. However, some cultivators prefer to keep it on for as long as 20 to 22 hours to speed up germination in the vegetative phase.

When your plants reach the flowering stage, it’s essential to provide them with 12 hours of complete darkness. So, you need to set a 12-12 light-dark schedule at this stage to increase yield. So many LEDs come with the flowering switch to help you take care of the lighting schedule automatically.

Are LED grow lights worth the money?

Having learned this complete guide, it goes without saying that installing an LED Grow Light is worth every penny if you wish to have total light control when growing weed indoors.

You can even get budget-friendly LED Grow Lights that offer stunning features. Whatever you choose, just make sure to check all the features you need. And most importantly, don’t compromise the quality over price because a good LED is always a better solution in the long run.

Here, I conclude the all-inclusive guide on LED Grow Lights. I hope you find the perfect LED grow light for your weed growth.

Twinkle some LEDs, sparkle your buds;
Hit some bongs, and lighten your life.

Cheers!