Lumens vs. Watts: How to Choose the Right LED Bulb
Zach HamStill thinking in watts?
Here's the translation.
LED bulbs don't work like the old ones. This guide gets you up to speed — fast.
What's my old bulb in LED?
Watts used to mean brightness. With LED, they don't anymore — watts just measure energy use. The brightness number is now called lumens. Find your old wattage below and see exactly what to buy.
| Your old bulb | LED replacement | Brightness (lumens) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25W incandescent | 3–4W LED | ~250 lumens | Night lights, accents |
| 40W incandescent | 5–6W LED | ~450 lumens | Small lamps, closets |
| 60W incandescent | 8–10W LED← most common replacement | ~800 lumens | Bedrooms, living rooms |
| 75W incandescent | 11–12W LED | ~1,100 lumens | Kitchens, reading nooks |
| 100W incandescent | 14–16W LED | ~1,600 lumens | Home offices, task areas |
| 150W incandescent | 22–25W LED | ~2,600 lumens | Large rooms, garages |
LED technology is dramatically more efficient. A 9W LED produces the exact same brightness as a 60W incandescent — it just uses 85% less electricity to do it. Same light. Much lower energy bill.
How bright does each room need to be?
Different rooms need different amounts of light. Here's a simple rule designers use: multiply your room's square footage by the lumens per square foot it needs.
100 sq ft bedroom × 15 lumens = ~1,500 lumens total across all the bulbs in that room.
100 sq ft kitchen × 75 lumens = ~7,500 lumens total — spread across all fixtures.
Warm light or cool light?
Lower number = warmer, cozier light. Higher number = cooler, crisper light.
This has nothing to do with brightness — it's purely the color of the light. The scale is measured in Kelvins (K). Here's what each range actually looks like in your home:
Warm Amber 3000K
Soft White 4000K
Neutral 5000K+
Daylight
The bulb we reach for every time
If you're not sure where to start, this is where we'd start. It's our most popular bulb — and once you see it lit up, you'll understand why.
LED Globe G25
— Milk Finish
A classic globe shape with a soft white glass that hides the filament and diffuses light beautifully. No harsh spots. Just a clean, even glow that looks great in any room.
- Finish: Milk glass — soft, diffused light
- Shape: G25 globe — works in pendants, sconces & ceiling fixtures
- Color: 2700K — warm white, closest to incandescent
- Dimmable: Yes — fully compatible
- Base: E26 — standard medium base
Clear and amber glass bulbs expose the filament — beautiful, but they can cast harsh shadows if your fixture doesn't have a shade. Milk glass diffuses the light evenly in all directions, so the whole room glows instead of one bright spot. It's the most forgiving option for most homes.
Dimming & Smart Bulbs
One of the best upgrades you can make to any room is the ability to control how bright your light is. Here's what you need to know.
🔆 Dimmable LED Bulbs
Not all LED bulbs can be dimmed — you need one that specifically says "dimmable" on the box. Our G25 Milk bulb is fully dimmable. When you dim it, the light gets softer and shifts warmer — perfect for switching from dinner party bright to movie night cozy.
⚙️ Dimmer Switches
You'll also need a dimmer switch on the wall — a standard on/off switch won't dim anything. Make sure your dimmer switch is rated for LED bulbs, not just incandescent. Most modern LED-compatible dimmers are labeled clearly. When in doubt, check the dimmer's packaging for compatibility.
📱 Smart Bulbs
Smart bulbs let you control brightness and sometimes color temperature from your phone or voice assistant — no dimmer switch needed. They screw into any standard E26 socket. We don't carry smart bulbs, but they're widely available at home improvement stores and online retailers. Look for ones compatible with your home system (Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, etc.).
💡 What to look for in a smart bulb
When shopping elsewhere for smart bulbs, check for: E26 base (standard size), 800+ lumens for a 60W equivalent, 2700K–4000K tunable range if you want to adjust color, and compatibility with your wifi or smart home hub. Most major brands have these clearly listed.
All of our All-in-One fixtures work with dimmer switches. Just make sure you pair them with a dimmable bulb — like our G25 Milk — and a compatible LED dimmer switch, available at any hardware or home improvement store.
Which bulb tint is right for you?
The glass finish affects both the look of the bulb and the quality of light it casts. Here's the difference at a glance:
Clear Glass
Full brightness, exposes the filament. Clean and modern. Can cast sharper shadows.
Shop Clear →
Amber Glass
Slightly warmer, visible filament. Vintage feel. Great for exposed-bulb fixtures.
Shop Amber →
Milk Glass ⭐
Soft, even glow. Hides the filament. Our most popular — works in almost any room.
Shop Milk →
Mirrored Glass
Directs light upward. Decorative and unique. Best as an accent, not a primary light source.
Shop Mirrored →
