Light Bulb Comparison Chart

Lamp type

Energy-Saving Incandescent (Halogen)

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

Light Emitting
Diod (LEDs)

Energy savings compared with regular incandescent

25%

75%

75-80%

Purchase cost

$

$$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Five-year est. total cost (bulbs + energy)

$29 (mostly energy $)

$10 (mostly energy $)

$24 (mostly bulb $)

100-watt equivalent available?

yes

yes

Not yet. Only up to 75-watt equivalent

Lamp life (hours)

1,000 - 3,000

8,000 - 10,000

25,000+

Expected life span (at 1,000 hrs/yr; about 2.8 hrs/day)

1 to 3 years

8 to 10 years

25+ years

Dim well?

yes

most no

some yes/some no

Color shift warmer when dimmed?

yes

no

no

Okay for frequent switching?

yes

no

yes

Color temperature options

warm only

warm to cool

warm to cool

Ability to make colors look true to life (color quality or CRI)

excellent

very good

very good

Okay for enclosed fixtures?

yes

some yes

some yes

How much heat does the bulb give off?

lots of radiant heat

moderate radiant heat

moderate conductive heat

Works well in cold temperatures?

yes

some yes

yes

Contains mercury?

no

very small amount

no