We may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website. Our Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services.
Grow lights for indoor plants mimic natural sunlight, making them a great choice for growing or flowering plants inside. They come in several different styles and run the gamut in pricing from under $50 to over $500. Size, power consumption, build quality, and extra features all factor into the pricing.
If you’re looking to start an indoor garden, read our review below to learn about the best LED grow lights on today’s market.
Top 6 LED Grow Lights
- Best Overall: Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light
- Best Kit: MARS HYDRO LED Grow Light
- Best for Large Areas: Spider Farmer SF-4000 LED Grow Light
- Best Tubular Lights: Barrina Plant Grow Lights
- Best for Small Areas: VIPARSPECTRA P1000 LED Grow Light
- Best Value: Juhefa LED Grow Lights
Compare Top LED Grow Lights
| Product | Vegetative Coverage | Flowering Coverage | Lifespan | Warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light | 6×6 feet | 5×5 feet | 100,000 hours | 5-year limited | |
| MARS HYDRO LED Grow Light | 3×3 feet | 2.5×2.5 feet | 50,000 hours | 5 years | |
| Spider Farmer SF-4000 LED Grow Light | 6×6 feet | 5×5 feet | 100,000 hours | 5-year limited | |
| Barrina Plant Grow Lights | Not listed | Not listed | 50,000 hours | 2 years | |
| VIPARSPECTRA P1000 LED Grow Light | 2.5×2.5 feet | 2×2 feet | Not listed | 3 years | |
| Juhefa LED Grow Lights | 2×2 feet | 1.5×1.5 feet | 50,000 hours | 2 years | |
| Product | Vegetative Coverage | Flowering Coverage | Lifespan | Warranty |
Best Grow Lights Overall
Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light
- $249.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Offers full-spectrum lighting, including red, blue, and white
✔ Is made of durable materials that won’t leak heat
✔ Includes three years of after-service maintenance in some countries
✘ Is more expensive than some other grow lights on the market
✘ Does not have a built-in fan
What Customers Are Saying
Our team learned that customers liked this grow light’s full-spectrum quantum board, low power consumption, and simple but polished design. However, some customers also said it wasn’t worth the expensive price.
Best Grow Light Kit
MARS HYDRO LED Grow Light
- $109.99
- $129.99
- 15% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a reflective design that maximizes light
✔ Offers sun-like full-spectrum lighting to help with all stages of growth
✔ Has low energy consumption at 150 watts with 354 LEDs
✘ Doesn’t feature a waterproof power cord interface
✘ Comes with only one ratchet hanger, making it challenging to hang
What Customers Are Saying
Our team found that customers liked this product because of its efficiency and daisy-chain functionality. On the other hand, a common complaint among dissatisfied customers was that the instructions manual was difficult to follow, making assembly and usage complicated.
Best Grow Lights for Large Areas
Spider Farmer SF-4000 LED Grow Light
- $399.99
- $459.99
- 13% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Uses significantly less power than other LED lights and blurple lamps
✔ Is built with a customizable dimming knob and light switch
✔ Has a noise-free operation
✘ Is heavier than some other lights at nearly 38 pounds
✘ Has flickering lights, per several customer reviews
What Customers Are Saying
We found that satisfied buyers said that this light provided excellent heat dispersion. They said that although it was expensive, the results it produced were worth the price. Negative reviews we noted mentioned issues with flickering lights and burned plants. Several customers also said they could not reach the seller to replace or repair their faulty product.
Best Tubular Grow Lights
Barrina Plant Grow Lights
- $99.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Can be used with a variety of plants, including lettuce and orchids
✔ Comes with power cords, connector cords, and mounting clips needed for installation
✔ Boosts efficiency by as much as 17%–20% with a reflector
✘ Features a narrow design, which may require multiple packs for supplemental lighting
✘ Doesn’t come with a dimming option
What Customers Are Saying
We found that several customers felt the Barrina Plant Grow Lights worked well for those who were just learning about indoor gardening because of their energy efficiency, price, and high-quality results. Unsatisfied customers said the Barrina Plant Grow Lights had a weak light output. Several also mentioned not receiving their order in full.
Best Grow Lights for Small Areas
VIPARSPECTRA P1000 LED Grow Light
- $79.99
- $89.99
- 11% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Is a full spectrum grow light, so it provides light for plants in all stages of growth
✔ Does not require installation
✔ Has a daisy chain feature that allows you to connect up to 20 pieces
✘ Driver is difficult to remove
✘ Some customers felt it wasn’t bright enough
What Customers Are Saying
Many of the customer reviews we found praised this set’s adjustable temperature, the daisy chain feature, and the ample coverage area. However, some felt it lacked brightness, and some were disappointed in its lack of an on/off switch.
Best Value Grow Lights
Juhefa LED Grow Lights
- $23.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a combination of light colors that produce different effects on plants
✔ Has full spectrum capabilities
✔ Includes a steel hanging kit and a power cord
✘ Offers less coverage than some other models
✘ Does not have an on/off switch
What Customers Are Saying
We learned that satisfied customers were pleased with the growth of their plants under these lights, while others we noted were impressed with its lightweight and compact design. However, others who didn’t care for this product said that it had less coverage than they were expecting, and we also saw others that were frustrated with its lack of an on/off switch, meaning it has to be plugged in/out of an outlet to turn the device on or off.
LED Grow Light Buying Guide
Before buying an LED grow light, read our buyer’s guide below to learn about important factors to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Grow Light Coverage
Grow lights typically give you measurements for how much vegetative and flowering coverage they offer. Be sure to choose a light that matches the amount of light and type of coverage you need for your indoor growing area, grow tent, or plant wall.
Grow Light Wattage
A grow light’s wattage determines how many lumens of light it produces in your grow room. Different plants require different amounts of light, so don’t just choose the light with the highest wattage to ensure optimal plant growth. Instead, match the wattage to the plants you’re growing. For example, if you’re growing tomatoes, choose a grower that offers about 32 watts of light per square foot.
Adjustability
Several features of your LED grow light should be adjustable.
- Brightness: In addition to color adjustability, LED growers usually have knobs for adjusting the brightness of their light bulbs to ensure optimal light intensity.
- Color: Plants need a different color light for every step of their growing cycle. The best grow lights offer red lights, blue lights, and white light color options.
- Proximity: You can also adjust how close the lights are to your plants by lengthening or shortening the rope or chain they’re hanging from.
Grow Light Installation
Grow lights are usually mounted to the ceiling with a chain or rope. This installation process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
Other Ways To Help Indoor Plants Grow
LED grow lights are a great way to help indoor, clean-air plants grow, but there are various other ways to help your indoor plants reach their full potential. Here are important steps our team found that you can take to help your houseplants grow and increase their versatility.
Be Aware of Light Conditions
While LED grow lights help, try buying plants that most closely match the light situation in your household. For example, if you have small windows or little natural light, focus more on plants that can thrive with minimal sunlight. Also, you should be aware of how well a particular plant does in terms of distance from the window and sun direction to help ensure it will grow to its maximum potential.
Water With Caution
Everyone knows plants need water, but overwatering can also become an issue if you’re not careful. To help your plants grow to their peak, check the soil carefully before watering. Put your finger 2 inches into the soil to see the moisture level. If it’s not fully dry, you may want to hold off on watering it.
Pay Attention to Pests
Pests can be a significant nuisance to plant growth. To help ensure your plants are being infested, check them regularly for bugs such as aphids, gnats, and whiteflies and treat them immediately if you see them.
Avoid Winter Fertilizing
In the winter, plants become dormant and do not need fertilization. Fertilize only in the spring and summer months to ensure proper growth.
Be Mindful of the Pot
Choosing the proper plant container for your plants is an important factor when it comes to growth. The first step is making sure your plant pot has holes for drainage. Additionally, you should also purchase a container that’s at least 1 inch larger in diameter than your plant’s root mass. When a plant begins to outgrow its container, it’s crucial to re-plant with a larger container to help it continue to grow properly.
LED Grow Light FAQ
What is the semiconductor chip on my LED grow light?
The semiconductor chip is the piece that converts electricity into light. The chip will have a wattage rating, and 3 watts is the minimum for adequate light production.
Are there other types of grow lights that don’t hang from the ceiling?
Yes. Some freestanding grow lights sit on or clip to tables. They’re easier to install than hanging grow lights but can’t adequately cover as much area.
Will my LED grow light increase my electricity bill?
LED grow lights are energy-efficient so they won’t increase your monthly electricity bill by much.
How We Selected the Best LED Grow Lights
To provide our readers with the best grow light recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of LED grow lights with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is critical to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at [email protected].