Comparing Lighting Life spans: Which Lasts Longer?

When it comes to choosing the right lighting for your home or business, understanding terms like Average Rated Life (ARL) can help you make informed decisions. ARL refers to the “half-life” of a light bulb, measured in hours. It represents the point at which 50% of the tested bulbs are still functioning, while the other 50% have burned out. This metric gives valuable insight into a bulb’s longevity.

Comparing Different Types of Bulbs

Most people choose between LED, halogen, or incandescent bulbs for their lighting needs. Below, we’ll break down the differences in these types of bulbs and their lifespans to help you choose the best option for your situation.

LED Lighting

LED bulbs are the most energy-efficient option among the three. Unlike incandescent or halogen bulbs, which produce light by generating heat, modern LEDs use light-emitting diodes to create illumination. This method not only conserves energy but also contributes to the bulb’s extended lifespan.

A single LED bulb can last up to 50,000 hours, making it an ideal choice for long-term use and energy savings.

Incandescent Lighting

The incandescent light bulb, invented by Thomas Edison, has been around for over a century. These bulbs create light by heating a filament wire until it glows, a process known as incandescence. Despite their long history and widespread use, incandescent bulbs are the least energy-efficient option.

The average 60-watt incandescent bulb has a lifespan of around 1,000 hours, making it the most affordable option but also the shortest-lasting.

In recent years, energy-efficient incandescent bulbs have been introduced, offering up to 2,000 hours of use. While these bulbs still have a relatively short lifespan, they are a slightly better option for environmentally conscious consumers who want to reduce their energy consumption without switching to LED or halogen.

Halogen Lighting

Halogen bulbs are a more energy-efficient and longer-lasting alternative to traditional incandescent bulbs. Like incandescents, halogen bulbs use a tungsten filament, but they also contain halogen gas, which helps prolong the bulb’s lifespan. When the tungsten filament heats up, it vaporizes, and the halogen gas helps redeposit tungsten back onto the filament. This process enhances the bulb’s durability and brightness consistency over time.

A standard 60-watt halogen bulb can last up to 1,250 hours, making it a good option for a range of uses, from household lighting to car headlights and office buildings.

Price and Lifespan Comparison

When comparing bulbs based on price and lifespan, there are clear trade-offs between initial cost, energy efficiency, and longevity:

• Incandescent Bulbs:
  • Cost: $0.40 to $1.00 per bulb
  • Lifespan: Around 1,000 hours
  • Efficiency: Least efficient, but cheapest upfront.
• Halogen Bulbs:
  • Cost: $1.00 to $2.75 per bulb
  • Lifespan: 1,000 to 2,250 hours
  • Efficiency: More efficient than incandescent bulbs, with a slightly longer lifespan.
• LED Bulbs:
  • Cost: $11 to $22 per bulb
  • Lifespan: 10,000 to 25,000 hours
  • Efficiency: Highest energy efficiency and longest lifespan, with the highest initial cost.

Making the Right Choice

While incandescent bulbs are the most affordable upfront, they are less energy-efficient and have the shortest lifespan. LED bulbs, although more expensive, offer superior energy savings and can last much longer, making them a more cost-effective option in the long run. Halogen bulbs fall somewhere in between, offering moderate energy efficiency and lifespan at a mid-range price.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs, such as how often you plan to use the lighting and whether energy efficiency is a priority.

This post was written by a professional at GlowbackLED. GlowbackLED has been the industry leading custom corner mount LED strip channel  located in Miami, FL for years. They specialize in custom LED light panels for backlighting translucent stones, artwork, stained glass, and resin. They have been manufacturing robust lines of recess linear, surface linear, and pendant linear LED light fixtures (suspended or hanging). Proudly offering industry leading project management and support, Glowback is second to none! Their goal is to make your purchasing experience as simple and headache free as possible.