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LED vs Halogen vs CFL: The Real Numbers
One bulb wins on every metric. Here's the proof.
February 3, 2025
4 min read
Intro
Every electrician gets asked the same question: which bulb is actually worth it? Here's the honest breakdown — no brand bias, just real numbers.
LED is the clear winner — and here's why. A standard LED bulb uses 8–10 watts. A halogen doing the same job uses 50–60 watts. That's nearly 6x more energy for identical brightness. Over a 25,000-hour LED lifespan, a halogen would need replacing 12 times. A CFL, 3 times. LED wins on energy, lifespan, and annual cost — every time.
What This Means For Your Home Switching a single halogen to LED saves roughly $6 per bulb per year. Switch 20 bulbs and you're saving $120 annually — without changing a single habit.
One Thing Most People Miss Swapping bulbs is easy. But if your fixtures and wiring aren't compatible with LED systems, you won't get the full benefit. A professional LED retrofit ensures everything works together efficiently and safely.
