LED vs CFL: Which Is Right for You?

The lighting world has moved beyond incandescent bulbs, but choosing between LED and CFL can still be confusing. Here's everything you need to know.

Energy Efficiency

LED bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and about 25-30% less than CFLs. For a typical household running 30 bulbs, switching from CFL to LED saves approximately $50-75 per year.

Lifespan

• LED: 25,000 - 50,000 hours
• CFL: 8,000 - 15,000 hours
• Incandescent: 750 - 2,000 hours

An LED bulb can last over 20 years with average use. That's roughly 3x longer than CFL.

Cost Comparison

While LEDs cost more upfront ($2-8 per bulb vs $1-3 for CFL), the total cost of ownership over 25,000 hours:

• LED: $38 (bulb + electricity)
• CFL: $48 (bulbs + electricity)
• Incandescent: $169 (bulbs + electricity)

The Verdict

Go LED. The slightly higher upfront cost pays for itself within the first year through energy savings. LEDs also contain no mercury (unlike CFLs), dim smoothly, turn on instantly, and work better in cold temperatures.