When it comes to LED bulbs and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs which one lasts longer? Which one is overall a better buy or is there more to it than just “best”?
Read on and I’ll explain it all – along with some other interesting things you may not know.
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What Is the Difference Between LED and CFL Light Bulbs?
The way the bulbs emit light is the main difference between the two light bulb options. By using light-emitting diodes, the LED light runs off an electric current. LED lights run purely off an electric current. The current then creates visible light when the electrons run through them.
Visible light is emitted by the LED light when the electrons mingle because of the introduction of a power source. The drawback to how these lights work is that dust can get into the bulbs, resulting in a dimmer light than a clean bulb.
CFL lights work by creating visible light when the gases contained in the bulb react with the interior fluorescent coating. Once these filaments heat up with electricity, they burn and produce light.
The drawback here is that once the filament in the bulb burns out, you will need to replace the bulb. The bulb does not last long since the filament is burned to create light. An LED light does not burn a filament because it emits light from a reaction of electrons.
It is essential to learn the differences in how LED and CFL light bulbs work when deciding which one is better.
LED Light Bulbs vs. Compact Fluorescent: Which Is Better?
Based on how they work, the research heavily favors LED light as the premium choice of light bulbs.
CFL lights used to be the best option because they last longer and are more energy-efficient than the previously used fluorescent lights, but LED lights are here to stay as the best option.
LED light bulbs are the most energy-efficient and the most durable lighting options today. Additionally, LED lights emit less heat than CFL lights.
There is a drawback to the way that the LED lights work, however. Their light will dim over time, and they will need to be replaced. The trade-off here is that the light emitted is bright and will use less energy.
In addition to this fact, LED lights will save money on your power bill. These lights use 75 percent less energy and last longer than CFL light bulbs.
Their long lifespan brings up another question: do CFL or LED bulbs last longer?
Which Lasts Longer, CFL or LED Bulbs?
As mentioned in the previous section, LED bulbs last longer than CFL bulbs. Since LED lights run off of an electric current as opposed to running off of a chemical reaction like CFL lights, they tend to last longer.
In general, CFL lights are designed to be in places where the bulb would need to be turned on for more than 15 minutes because it also takes a lot of energy to heat them enough to emit light.
LED lights do not have this issue and are also best suited for dimmer lights.
The average lifespan of an LED bulb is up to 50,000 hours. Conversely, the average lifespan of a CFL bulb is up to 20,000.
CFL lights emit about 80 percent of their energy as heat, so these bulbs burn hot and burn quickly. LED lights emit less of their energy as heat, which helps sustain their lifespan.
Are CFL or LED Bulbs Better for Colors?
Depending on the look you want to achieve in your home or business place, you may decide on CFL or LED bulbs based on the color of light they emit.
LED lights emit a blue light, which is the same light emitted from computer screens, phone screens, and other electronic devices.
CFL lights emit a more warm-toned, orange-colored light. This coloring is associated with a more inviting feel to a home.
Each light color, the blue light or the orange light, interacts with certain colors in the home differently. Deciding what kind of feel you want in the space would be an excellent place to start when deciding on LED or CFL bulbs.
Regarding the color of the bulb, both CFL and LED lights are good options. Based on the way an LED light works, there are now possibilities for color-changing light bulbs controlled by remote or Bluetooth capabilities. Currently, there aren’t any options available that work in this same way for CFL lights.
There are, however, colored CFL bulbs that provide visible color to your room, but they will not be as strong as their LED counterpart, nor will they be able to be changed by remote control or Bluetooth controls.
Price Differences Between CFL and LED Bulbs
In general, LED bulbs (aside from the absolute cheapest low end types) are known to be more expensive than CFL bulbs due to the nature of their complexity and the additional parts needed inside for them to work.
- The average price for a good quality standard LED bulb is around 5 dollars per bulb. The average cost for a CFL light with a similar light output is around 2 dollars per bulb.
- These prices can be a bit higher than the average if you decide to invest in larger bulbs, colored bulbs, or color-changing LED bulbs. The brand name is often a big influence on the cost as well as the quality of the color output – very cheap bulbs have a generally poor color while mid-tier to higher quality bulbs often have a more natural color output.
- As mentioned earlier, LED bulbs last longer and save money on energy costs so the price may work out to be the same or slightly lower based on your needs.
