Best LED Grow Lights Of 2024
When you have decided to upgrade your indoor grow, you’ll definitely want to learn about the best LED grow lights.
LEDs are regarded as some of the best indoor grow lights on the market. It’s hard to find good brands and models among the many cheap and low-quality options available.
And with the price of some of these grow lights, it’s crucial that you do your research before purchasing. Lucky for you, we have curated a list of our top picks for various applications.
Before you buy an LED, you should make sure it’s the right light for your indoor garden.
Before we get started with our list of the best LED grow lights, we will cover some basics of this technology.
What Are LED Grow Lights?
LED stands for light-emitting diodes. LED grow lights have recently come down in price. This has allowed home growers everywhere to make the switch to using them as their lighting option.
These lighting systems produce low heat, come ready to plug and play, and produce high yields with incredible energy efficiency.
Whereas HIDs require a reflector and ballast for operation, LED lights do not. They can last for decades, whereas HID bulbs will often need to be replaced every couple of years. But, one of the main reasons LED grow lights are regarded as the best is due to the spectrum they produce.
Different Types of LED Grow Lights
LED grow lights are available in many different forms. Let’s look at each type so you can find the right LED light for you:
Multi-Rail/Bar Fixtures
Multi-rail, also known as multi-bar fixtures are the newest and greatest fixture type for many reasons. These are the main types of fixtures you will see on the market nowadays.
Their larger form factor means better PAR distribution/uniformity and higher coverage. These fixtures have spaces between each set of light bars. This allows them to disperse heat passively without the need for fans. This makes them more reliable.
Another benefit of the multi-bar design is better airflow through the canopy. Since there is no full panel that blocks the airflow from circulation or exhaust fans in your room.
These features among others make them the best option for grow tents, grow rooms, commercial applications, vertical growing, and greenhouses.
Another benefit to this type is many of them are built on a folding platform, making shipping less expensive and safer! Below you will see why many of our favorite LEDs feature the new multi-bar designs.
LED Grow Light Panels
Panels were once the most common type of LED grow light. However, recently they have been overtaken by the multi-bar fixtures mentioned above.
They include heatsinks for removing heat, a driver (think of it as a ballast), and often come with a warranty.
When you think of LED grow lights, these often come to mind. However, these heavy fixtures are being replaced by their lighter multi-rail counterpoints that have many more benefits to growers.
LED Grow Light Bars
Many growers add LED bars as an easy way to expand their lighting footprint or change up their light spectrum. LED Bars are a single row of diodes that come in different spectrums.
You typically wouldn’t use an LED bar to grow a plant from seed to harvest. Instead, think of these as supplemental lighting to a main light source (maybe HID).
Besides being used as supplemental lighting, many growers use specific low-wattage clone LED bars to start seedlings and for cloning.
Grow Light LED Bulbs
An LED grow light bulb is exactly what it sounds like – a single LED bulb. Similar to LED bars, you wouldn’t want to use one of these to grow plants through flower (usually).
But, they can be a great way to grow small leafy greens or start plants with a full spectrum. You can quickly replace all your old CFL bulbs with LED bulbs. This will give you all the added benefits of LED grow lights.
What Makes The Best LED Grow Lights For Plants?
The best grow light LEDs have a few things in common – a uniform spectrum, efficiency, high power, and reliability/durability.
Grow Light Coverage/Footprint
The footprint is an important factor when selecting a grow light for plants. You want to fill your growing space with plenty of light maximizing your growth potential.
PAR, PPF, and PPFD
The best full-spectrum LED grow lights will show their PAR, PPF, and PPFD specifications. These will help you determine the performance of a grow light ro choose the right one for your application.
This topic can be overwhelming for new growers, and many dont need to dive deep into it. For those with a strive for knowledge, we have a helpful blog category for all things grow light education.
Spectrum/uniformity
The best LED grow lights have an even spectrum. This way, if you have 4 plants under your light, they all get the same spectrum.
Most LEDs now use white LED diodes, but they still include other colors not easily noticed by the human eye.
It is important to mention that the best spectrum consists of not just white light. They also include red light, blue light, infrared (IR), and Ultra-violet (UV).
Full spectrum LED grow lights allow you to grow from seed to harvest with the same light.
Efficiency
In general, LED grow lights are very efficient. But, the best LED grow lights tend to also be the most efficient. Operating at a high level, producing high power, and maintaining a low cost to run is very important.
Power
The more light your LED actually gives off, the bigger yields you’ll get. So, the best LED grow lights for plants need to be incredibly powerful.
Reliability/Durability
Given the cost of LED grow lights, they need to be seen as an investment. Obviously, your investment needs to last you a long time for it to show a return.
Therefore, the best LED grow lights are reliable and durable, standing the test of time.
All of the lights we will be listing are from the most reputable brands and include some sort of warranty. This will give you peace of mind when you purchase, knowing you are protected.
Best All-Around LED Grow Light
We’ve shown you some awesome LED grow lights, and we truly do consider these the best of the best. But, if we had to choose just one, which would it be?
We consider the all-around best LED one that factors in all aspects of a grow light from price to performance. But also one that works well for any grower, from beginner to commercial.
Growers Choice ROI-E720 LED Grow Light
This was tough because there are so many incredible LED lights on the market right now
But, after evaluating, we’ve determined the best all-around LED grow light to be the Growers Choice ROI-E720.
While you may expect the most expensive LED to be the best – such as the Black Dog line. However, the Growers Choice ROI-E720 is actually significantly cheaper than some of its competitors. Yet it’s still our #1 pick – that means you can get the best for even less than you may have expected!
This LED grow light is the end result of years of hard work and R&D between Growers Choice & TSL Horti Tech. These two are known as two of the greatest minds in horticulture lighting.
Here are some of the reasons Growers Choice ROI-E720 LED Grow Light is the best LED light on the market:
- 2080 μmol/s Total PPF Output
- 2.6 μmol/J PAR Efficiency
- Onboard dimming function (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%)
- Fanless design for heat dissipation
- GC-3k Full Spectrum with 660nm deep red (top bin Osram diodes)
- Certifications: IP65 Waterproof; Horti DLC; UL1598 and UL880
- Unrivaled automation & control with the Growers Choice Master Controller
There are many more reasons we consider Growers Choice ROI-E720 the best on the market. Click the button below and learn more!
What Our Customers & Staff Say About The ROI-E720
Not only is the ROI-E720 our top-selling LED on Hydrobuilder.com, but is also a staff and customer favorite for many reasons. Its consistent availability, affordable price, high performance, reliability, and the Gowers Choice brand reputation are all factors that have helped this LED shine as the overall favorite on this list.
Best Beginner LED Grow Light
When just starting out, you may not need the most powerful grow light, or even the best all-around grow light.
But, that doesn’t mean you should buy some cheap Amazon LED that is going to disappoint you with a lackluster harvest.
Covert LED-X 250 Watt Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light
The Covert LED-X 250-watt grow light provides a full spectrum LED light without costing an arm and a leg.
The modern open bar design minimizes heat and reduces hot spots on your plants while creating an even light footprint.
This is a great beginner LED with many of the same benefits as top-tier lights without the huge price tag. It costs just around $10 a month to operate. It is great for tents sized from 2′ x 4′ all the way to 4′ x 4′.
From a spectrum standpoint, it features a perfect blend of white LEDs and far-red LEDs. These contribute to the perfect spectrum for all phases of growth. The Covert LED-X is also powerful for its size. It pushes out 525 µmol s-1, and achieves an efficiency of 2.1 µmol s-1 per watt.
- Balanced Spectrum For Full-Cycle Growing
- Low Energy Use & Virtually No Heat Output
- Increased Yield & Crop Quality
- Simple Plug-and-Play Set-Up & Use
- Great For 2′ x 4′ & 3′ x 3′, 4′ x 4′ Grow Tents
- Compatible with the Covert Advanced Master Lighting Controller
The Covert LED-X 500 Watt Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light
If you want this light but have a bigger tent or grow room, check out the Covert LED-X 500-watt. It brings all the same value in a slightly larger, more powerful fixture.
The LED-X 500 puts out an impressive 1050 μmol/s at 2.1 μmol/s, making it both powerful AND efficient. Just like the 250w LED-X, it puts out a full-spectrum white light with enhanced red (Seedling to Flower).
What Our Customers & Staff Say About The Covert LED-X Lights
If you are budget-conscious, the Covert LED-X series is a great option. They are reliable and affordable and feature many of the benefits of modern LEDs. Its controllability, low energy use, even coverage, and plug-and-play design make it a great choice for new growers.
Best New LED Grow Light Of 2023
Gavita RS 1900e 650 Watt LED Grow Light
Gavita took the industry by storm in 2018 with their 1650e LED. Gavita made improvements to it and came out with the Gavita Pro 1700e Gen 2 LED in 2020.
Now you will be able to experience the power of the Gavita RS 1900e LED Grow Light here in 2023. This All-New 3rd Generation of our most popular LED ever, the Gavita RS LED (Formerly 1650e & 1700e).
The Gavita RS 1900e produces 1900 µmol/s PPF and an impressively efficient 3.0 µmol/J. It delivers a broad white light with an enhanced blue spectrum. Studies show this spectrum intensifies secondary metabolites, such as terpenes and cannabinoids.
This powerful full-spectrum LED grow light is intended for full-term plant growth. This makes it great for use in the vegetative stages to higher-light-requiring bloom and finishing stages.
Using the Gavita Master EL3 Controller (sold separately), the fixture is dimmable to 10%. The RS 1900e is built with high-quality components, including a Gavita broad-range driver and custom-made Gavita diodes. These help to deliver the performance and lifespan you expect from a Gavita product.
What Our Customers & Staff Say About The Gavita 1900e
The most anticipated LED to come in years has finally hit the shelves. At a starting price of $800, we know this will be a very sought-after LED for years to come.
It took Gavita almost 10 years of research and development to finally get into the grow light LED game. Since then they have made their LEDs a gold standard in the market.
Most Efficient LED Grow Lights
LED grow lights are incredibly efficient in general, but what is the most efficient LED grow light?
This was a tough choice as well. Smaller grow lights for plants tend to run more efficiently than larger ones, so the playing field is not entirely level.
We picked a few top full-footprint LEDs to show love to in this category. It is hard to say one stands alone as the best, so below are some of our favorites.
Gavita Pro RS 2400e 800 Watt LED Grow Light
The Gavita Pro RS 2400e produces 2400 μmol/s at an impressively efficient 3.0 μmol/J. Similar to the 1900e, the 2400e delivers a broad white light with an enhanced blue spectrum. This helps to intensify the flavor and aroma profiles. No wonder why we call it our favorite most efficient grow light in the world!
This super powerful, full-spectrum LED grow light is designed for full-term plant growth. This LED is ideal from the vegetative stages to the bloom and finishing stages.
Using the Gavita Master EL3 Controller, the fixture is dimmable to 10% without any loss of efficiency. The RS 2400e is built with top components just like all Gavita products are.
Many 2400e LEDs are being used in top-end grow facilities around the country including Green Label RX!
What Our Staff Say About The Gavita 2400e
The big brother of the Gavita 1900e, the 2400e is an absolute beast of an LED. Pushing out 800 watts and 2400 μmol/s with 3.0 μmol/J, this LED is one of the most efficient LEDs available.
Horticulture Lighting Group HLG Tomahawk 650 LED Grow Light
HLG Tomahawk’s revolutionary design has been created specifically for high PPFD cultivation in vertical farming or low-ceiling applications. With 650 watts of power and full-spectrum white and deep red LEDs, this light provides a wide range of light that will enhance plant growth and maximize yields.
This improved open design allows for unobstructed airflow for more efficient ventilation, making it an ideal choice for vertical rack and tent growing. This LED lamp produces over 1859 PPF output with a photon efficacy of 2.81 µmol/joule.
The improved efficiency and lower price point make this a great option and are why we chose this as one of our favorite most efficient grow light LEDs.
Fohse Pisces LED Grow Lights
The Pisces design is perfect for hobbyists and home gardeners alike. This fixture can be folded and stored. Its compact size and light weight make it optimal for hanging in grow tents.
This is a Fohse light stripped down to its bare necessities. Now. growers won’t have to break the bank to get a long-lasting light.
This fixture series comes in 700W and 900W options offering potential photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) values of 2494 umol. At these light intensities, the Pisces provides the power needed to push any cultivar to its potential for yield and quality.
- Pisces 9 Light Output – PPF: up to 2494 µmol/s. & PAR: 2.61 – 2.71 µmol/J
- Pisces 7 Light Output – PPF: up to 1,899 µmol/s. & PAR: 2.61 – 2.71 µmol/J
Most Powerful LED Grow Light
When it comes to power, there are some incredible LED options. This was a tough choice because there are lots of very powerful LED grow lights, but one stood out to us at the best.
Photontek XT 1000 Watt CO2 Pro LED Grow Light
Photontek is one of the most scientific and researched-backed companies in the grow lighting industry, and they use this to produce the most powerful LED grow light on the market.
The Photontek XT 1000 Watt CO2 Pro LED Grow Light pulls 1000 Watts from the wall and puts out an impressive 2925 µmol/s at a PAR efficiency of 2.9 µmol/J.
It operates on a 120 or 240-volt outlet and costs around $45 per month to run. This powerful LED implements ultra-advanced diodes, which can penetrate a dense canopy and fill out plants in areas that other lights cannot. For best results, we recommend using CO2 burners or tubing in your grow space.
The Photontek XT 1000 Watt CO2 Pro creates a 6′ x 6′ veg footprint, or a 5′ x 5′ flower footprint. You would think this much power may result in excess heat, but you’d be wrong!
Although we do have higher wattage LEDs available, when using this LED with CO2 it takes it to a new level of power, allowing your plants to take in more energy and therefore produce better yields.
Best COB LED Grow Light
COB, or Chip On Board, is a newer technology that more and more LED grow lights are starting to employ.
It allows the grow light to produce a higher quality of light both in terms of intensity and uniformity. COB grow lights are also more stable, and reliable, and tend to have a longer life span.
California Lightworks SolarXtreme 1000 Full Spectrum 800w LED
The California Lightworks SolarXtreme 1000 is by far the best COB LED grow light currently on the market.
It comes in two options – with or without supplemental UVB light. If you are a serious grower, there is no reason not to add to your spectrum!
This grow light is super easy to use, and provides you with a full, balanced spectrum for all cycles of growing. It also features a new direct AC drive technology, eliminating the need for noisy, inefficient LED drivers.
The California Lightworks SolarXtreme pulls 800 watts from the wall, and only puts out 2550 BTUs of heat. For the power and size of this light, that is not very much!
This beast can fill a veg footprint of 8′ x 8′, or a flowering footprint of 5′ x 5′. You can expect to pay around $34.56 per month to run this light. California Lightworks will appear in more than one instance on our list of the best LED grow lights.
Best Overall Commercial LED Grow Light
At just under $1,200, the Gavita Pro 2400 LED isn’t a feasible option for all commercial growers.
If you are a small commercial grower on a budget, we don’t want you to feel like you need to shell out that much for a quality, commercial light.
We have a ton of awesome less expensive commercial grow lights that we wholeheartedly endorse, but one in particular comes to mind.
Growers Choice ROI-E900 LED Grow Light
Introducing the Grower’s Choice ROI-E900, the new LED series, Heavyweight.
This XL 8 bar powerhouse commercial fixture boosts up to 1,000 watts of supercharged photon output, earning its nickname “Fat Boy”. Using Growers Choice’s proven PAR formula, the ROI-E900 radiates across 4’x5’ grow spaces utilizing our unique PAR formula and 3k-full phase spectrum producing tremendous light output and canopy coverage.
Designed to accommodate commercial cultivations with wider tables or trays, the ROI-E900 provides the highest potential for extended coverage, penetration, and quality yields.
Featuring the same amazing GC-3k Full Spectrum with 660nm deep red (top bin Osram diodes) as their other flagship ROI-Series LED lights, this larger more powerful version makes it a fantastic option for commercial growing. That’s why we selected it as the best commercial grow light for serious high-end cultivation.
Best Multi-Use LED Bar Light
We touched on LED bar lights earlier, but they are generally not used as a primary light source. Rather, LED bar lights are typically used as supplemental lighting. However, there are exceptions.
Serious growers will string bar lights on the sides of their plants to fill out areas that don’t get a ton of light, or simply to add in a different spectrum. But now there are new bar LEDs that can do it all! Check out the new Scynce LED Dragon Alpha that pushes out a full 630 watts with impressive features like Spectrum Adjustability, Optics For Deep Canopy Penetration, Wireless Control, & more!
Scynce LED Dragon Alpha 2.0 650 Watt LED Grow Light
The Dragon Alpha 2.0 has improved efficiencies, a better optical delivery system, and full-power spectrum tuning!
The DRAGON alpha just changed the rules of the game. Never before has a grower had so much control. No matter what style or strain, the alpha can morph into exactly what’s needed and deliver every time!
A light is nothing more than a tool of the trade and should be able to be mastered and manipulated by the best growers to enhance their craft. The alpha is the choice of craftsmen who need a high-output, small-footprint indoor warehouse, high bay or greenhouse solution. Enter the DRAGON!
The alpha is the choice of craftsmen who need an all-in-one solution for high-output, small footprint, indoor warehouses, high bays, or greenhouses.
Best Cloning LED Grow Light
Iluminar Clone 18 Watt LED Grow Light
Drive consistent canopies, crop quality, and productivity with a continuous supply of healthy, homogenous, and vigorous clones. The new LED Clone 18W twin-pack contains two energy-efficient LED bars, each one ideal for illuminating two full-sized propagators or equivalent cloning machines.
Using just 33% of the energy required by similar high-output T5 fluorescent tubes and lasting over twice as long, LED Clone bars deliver a superior 9000K spectrum, specially tailored to promote quick rooting, overall plant health, and vigorous early growth in both stem cuttings and seedlings.
We highly suggest considering moving away from fluorescent light for your cloning and seed starting needs and moving over to a low-wattage clone LED bar such as the Iluminar clone LED.
Best Cheap LED Grow Light
A cheap grow light doesn’t have to be low quality. There are tons of budget-friendly LED options on our site, most of which are single LED bulbs or LED bars. But, you can actually get a pretty great LED light for under $150
Horticulture Lighting Group HLG 150 Patriot LED Grow Light
The HLG 150 Patriot is a 150-watt LED grow light powered with HLG’s new custom QB288 Quantum Board. Each board has 272 Full Spectrum Samsung LM301H LEDs, 8 Deep Red 660nm LEDs, and 8 Blue 470nm LEDs. The extended cord allows for remote mounting of the driver.
The Best LED Light For Grow Tents
Many growers who use grow tents grow with LEDs. There are a number of reasons for this, but LEDs just work so well in tents. They are low heat which is very important in tents where heat can build up easily.
But, there is a different “best” LED for each size tent. The size of your tent will determine which LED will work best in it.
So you must be asking yourself, What are the best LED grow lights to use in a grow tent? Below we list out our favorite options for 2×4 grow tents, 3×3 grow tents, and 4×4 grow tents. Need a perfect LED for another size tent? Give us a call!
Best LED for 2×4 tent
KIND X420 Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light
The best LED in a 2′ x 4′ grow tent would be the KIND X420 Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light. It’s one of the newest fixtures on the market, and offers intense, efficient, optimized light for your crop! This fixture will perfectly fill out your 2′ x 4′ tent. But, there are other versions of this light available if you’re looking for something a bit bigger.
If you’re a hobby grower who wants to grow like an expert, this is the fixture for you. Each bar features premium, top-bin Osram & Phillips diodes that offer 2.55 μmol/J and a total PPF output of 1071 umol/s. They also combine spectrums that feature UV and IR light to help you grow your heaviest, most potent plants yet.
KIND makes some pretty big claims about this new fixture – including a 2x increase in PPF vs. their previous generation, 50% greater efficiency, 3.5x better light distribution, independent, precision UV/IR control, and more. It even offers a 25% reduction in heat!
The fixture is very lightweight and low profile, which is a perfect design for any grow space – but particularly those that are short on head height. You can buy this fixture in confidence knowing it is backed up by a five-year warranty.
Best LED for 3×3 tent
Growers Choice ROI-E420 LED Grow Light
The Growers Choice ROI-E420 LED Grow Light grow light is relatively new to the market, and perfect for a 3′ x 3′ grow tent.
This home grower style of light offers all the features of a higher-end light without the price tag and is comprised of bars to passively cool the growing environment.
At only 420 watts, this LED costs under $18 per month to operate! It operates at an incredibly efficient 2.6 μmol/s while putting out a whopping 1090 PPF.
It’s entirely plug-and-play, and could have been chosen as the best beginner LED, the best cheap LED, and more – this light is right up there with the very best, particularly in this size range.
The Growers Choice ROI-E420 features a balanced spectrum for full-cycle growing. It’s perfect for keeping your favorite mother plants/ strains available but can take a plant from seed to harvest as well.
If you have a 3′ x 3′ tent or smaller, the Growers Choice ROI-E420 will help you increase the yield and quality of your plants. Learn about more features by clicking the button below!
Best LED For 4×4 tent
Growers Choice ROI-E680S LED Grow Light
The best LED for a 4′ x 4′ grow tent is the Growers Choice ROI-E680S, An Enhanced 2nd Generation Redesign Of One Of The Best Lights On The Market.
This light covers a veg space of 5′ x 5′, and a flower footprint of 4′ x 4′. It pulls 680w from the wall and will cost no more than $30 a month. It now comes with a 5-year warranty.
The ROI-E680S produces a PPF output of 1770 umol/s and a PAR efficacy of 2.6 umol/J making this fixture incredibly efficient compared to other commercial fixtures.
It comes with many of the certifications the Gavita does, including IP65 water resistance and ETL certification.
Continuing its renowned heritage of proven harvests with optimal light distribution, greater heat management for higher performance, and an upgraded conformal coating resulting in a greater resilience to chemical contaminants.
The fixture has been re-engineered with enhanced controller capabilities, a balanced slimmer profile, and upgraded internal components to enhance performance to the limit. True to its legacy, the ROI-E680S continues to lead the industry in cultivation technology.
We are pretty confident this will achieve better results in a 4×4 grow tent than you would ever expect. We feature this LED in many of our 4×4 grow tent kits for just this reason. And better yet, it’s only $600!
Best LED For Vertical Farming
Scynce LED Raging Kush 2.0 650 Watt LED Grow Light
The Raging Kush was designed specifically for flowering in vertical farming. The Raging Kush 2.0 just changed the rules of the game. Never before has a grower had so much control. No matter what crop, style, or strain, the Kush 2.0 can morph into exactly what you need and deliver every single time!
A light is nothing more than a tool of the trade. The best tools are able to be mastered and manipulated by the best growers to enhance their craft.
The Kush 2.0 is the choice of craftsmen who need a high-powered, spectrum adjustable, waterproof, vertical grow light that delivers even PPFD onto and down into the canopy.
The Raging Kush delivers the entire spectrum of light – The Raging Kush was designed for close proximity & high PPFD cultivation with zero hot spots. Wireless three-channel control of over 4,000 LEDs puts you in the driver’s seat.
Although it’s not the cheapest LED light on our list, it is hands down one of the best for vertical farming. If this is out of your price range, give us a call and we can discuss other popular options to retrofit your rack system with vertical gardening-specific grow light LEDs.
Best LED Veg Light
If you have a separate room for veg, then you should optimize that space with the best-LED veg light.
This light needs to feature a spectrum that’s dialed in for that phase of growth and help produce bushy, compact plants.
Growers Choice ROI-E200 LED Grow Light
If this sounds like you, you need the Growers Choice ROI-E200 LED Grow Light.
This premium, budget-friendly LED grow light features a spectrum and design that thrives in both phases – but truly excels and outshines the competition during vegetative growth.
It’s really powerful and efficient, too. It delivers 500 umols/s total PPF at 200 Watts of power, giving this system a PAR efficiency of 2.5 umols/J.
The ROI-E200 works great in commercial grow rooms and can be mounted 6″ away from the canopy without risk of light burn, to deliver the ultimate uniformity and light efficiency. So, every dollar you spend on electricity actually goes into illuminating your plants.
Learn more about what makes this LED veg light so great by clicking the button below.
Best Greenhouse LED Grow Light
While some growers try and grow in a greenhouse without the need for supplemental lighting – you are limiting the full potential of your crop.
By adding the best greenhouse LED to your structure, you’ll be able to make sure your plants are actually getting enough light (12-18 hours of light a day) – because this isn’t always possible just using the sun.
And, you’ll know for sure they’re getting the right intensity. No more slow growth because of cloudy days or lackluster harvests because your greenhouse isn’t positioned correctly – with a greenhouse LED, there are no limits on your yield potential!
ThinkGrow Model-I 720 Watt LED Grow Light
Engineered specifically for greenhouse growers, the ThinkGrow Model-I 720-watt LED Grow Light is perfect for adding supplemental lighting to help fill out your plants in a greenhouse environment.
A really unique feature of this light is the independent far red channel. You can tune the spectrum as you wish, adding UV or far red to optimize plant growth. While it’s not exactly the sun, it’s as close as you’ll get artificially!
In terms of intensity, you can’t get much more powerful than this fixture while maintaining its efficiency – it’s rated at 1829 μmol/s total PPF output with an efficiency of 2.54µmol/J.
If you’re growing in a greenhouse, you’re probably not going to need just one of these fixtures – you’ll need to fully outfit your space to produce even, compact plants. You can get everything on the same channel, controlled and automated with the TrolMaster Hydro-X Grow Room Controller.
You should also consider the ThinkGrow Model-I PLUS 720 Watt LED – an upgraded version of this fixture. It puts out even higher PPF while allowing even more control over the spectrum. If you want the best of the best greenhouse LED grow lights, these are for you!
Best LED To Replace An HPS Grow Light
So many growers have been using HPS grow lights along their entire gardening journey, and even as everyone around them upgrades to more modern technology – they’re hesitant to do the same.
But what if there was an LED specifically designed to replace an HPS grow light?
That’s what the Gavita 1930e does.
Gavita CT 1930e 780 Watt LED
Brand new to the market in 2021 was the Gavita CT 1930e 780 Watt LED – labeled as a true 1:1 replacement for your hot, inefficient, outdated HPS grow light. It’s time to finally upgrade, and give your plants the lighting they deserve!
You’ll be glad you did when your electricity bill drops and plant quality & yield skyrocket.
The CT in the name stands for Compact Toplight because this fixture is great for growing in tight spaces. Part of the trick in replacing your HPS grow lights is finding an LED fixture that fits in your current grow light setup.
That isn’t an issue with the Gavita CT. It’s designed to perfectly replace any HPS fixture you currently have in your facility or grow room.
If you’re concerned about switching because you think your HPS is more powerful, think again. This fixture puts out an impressive 1930 µmol/s output of optimized lighting at up to 20% energy savings vs. 1000 W DE HPS fixtures. It does this with an insane efficiency of 2.47 µmol/J PAR rating.
With a wide, even light distribution, you still get the HPS light throw you’re used to – but with improved coverage, so less light gets wasted.
Former Hydrobuilder Favorites
A few of our favorite LEDs are no longer available, but we figured we would mention them for those who remember how well they performed. Luckily we have even more advanced technology that has brought the newest and best to the market for future growth.
- Luxx Lighting LED Pro 645 Watt Grow Light Fixtures
- Gavita Pro 1700e 645 Watt LED Grow Light
- Covert PRO 630 Watt Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light
- Covert UFO 150 Watt Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light
- Horticulture Lighting Group HLG 650R 630 Watt LED Grow Light
Why Trust What We Have To Say?
We have been in the business for a long time, and have learned a ton about it during our growth. Hydrobuilder Holdings is a leading omni-channel retailer of specialty agriculture and hydroponics equipment and supplies.
Hydrobuilder Holdings was initially formed through the acquisitions of Hydrobuilder.com, GreenCoast Hydroponics, Elevated Equipment Supply, Way to Grow, Home Grown Ventures (HGV) Nutrients, and New England Hydroponics.
Together, the six businesses create a leading omnichannel retailer of specialty agriculture and hydroponics equipment and supplies with over 200 employees.
Our acquired businesses have been operating for approximately 85 combined years and are integrated through an omnichannel model, which includes a large retail and distribution network and a scalable eCommerce platform, providing us with a unique competitive advantage.
This experience has brought us a wealth of knowledge about grow lights, and specifically LED grow lights which continue to be by far our top-selling type of grow light we offer.
Our industry experts are also growers themselves, so we not only know what our customer experiences have been, but we have our own as well that we factor into this list.
How We Selected The Best LED Grow Lights?
As you just read above, we are not just another online store. A leading team of passionate horticulturists dedicated to helping you achieve the most weight while streamlining your business flow with automated technology.
Our list includes top manufacturers and premium grow light brands, not cheap Amazon knock-offs that have no support or actual knowledge of growing. Our experienced staff of growers actually pick up the phone when you call and are happy to help answer your questions or just talk about growing.
Our list of best LED Grow Light recommendations is created from a long list of factors that include brand reputation, build quality and included components, actual test PPF/PPFD results, real-life experiences, customer and employee feedback, pricing, and much more!
LED Grow Light FAQ’s
Can I use any blue and red LED light to grow plants?
There is no exact spectrum that plants need to grow. Rather, plants prefer a ratio of various colors, including red, blue, white, IR, UV, etc. that help provide a plant with energy to increase growth rates, overall plant health, and the rate of photosynthesis.
Any grow light on this list, and others on our website were designed specifically to grow plants, so make sure to choose a brand we sell to be sure you are getting a quality product with a proper spectrum for growing plants.
How much does it cost to run an LED grow light?
The cost it takes to run a grow light depends on the wattage of the light and your average kilowatt-hour in your state. This can vary greatly depending on what state you live in. Below is a basic example of the equation.
We use the 12-hour light on time during flower for the equation since your plants will be in flower longer than in veg.
How we estimate energy costs
The displayed energy cost per month was calculated at the national average of $0.17 per kW/hr used.
Total watts * how many hours ‘on’ per day / 1,000 to get the total kW hours in the ‘on’ period
Total kW hours in period * cost of kW hr * days in month = $TOTAL MONTHLY COST
3×3 Grow Tent Package Example:
600 watts * 12 hours on / 1,000 = 7.2
7.2 * $.17 per kW/hr * 30 days per month = $36.72
How to choose the best LED grow lights for indoor plants?
At this point in the article, you should have a great idea of how to choose a good LED, but if you are unsure, give us a call and we will help you decide.
Our list of best LEDs are all great options, but they do vary based on application and intended use. So make sure to pick one based on what your goals are.
Need Help Choosing An LED Grow Light?
These are the best LED grow lights on our site, but they may not be the best for you.
Every plant is unique, and we recognize that! We want to see your plants thriving the way they should be. If you are looking for other top LED brands not mentioned on this list like AC Infinity, Mars-Hydro, we have those too! Hopefully, soon we will also have brands like Sprider Framer and more!
If you want help selecting an LED grow light, or have any questions about which one is best for you, reach out to our experts at 888-815-9763.
Have questions about your grow? We're Here To Help!
Our Northern California based experts can help. We're here to make sure you get what you need to maximize your harvest.