Choosing the right lighting for your home starts with selecting the right light bulb type. There are a few types of bulb to choose from, each with their own advantages. We’ll walk you through the specifications of each type and help you choose the perfect light bulb type for your home.
Light Bulb Types
LED Light Bulbs
LED Light bulbs, including smart light bulbs, use less energy and emit the same amount of light as traditional incandescent bulbs, making them a great choice for everyday use around your home. They are more expensive than other bulbs but last longer and are made with no hazardous ingredients, making them environmentally friendly.
Halogen Light Bulbs
Halogen light bulbs provide a cool white light and are usually used in under-cabinet lighting, pendant lighting or recessed lighting. They can be dimmed, but run quite hot, and shouldn’t be touched with bare hands, as the oil from your skin can cause the bulb to heat up too quickly and burn out.
Popular Light Bulb Shapes
While there are many different types of light bulbs, you also need to consider their shapes as well. We’ll show you the differences between some common types.
Popular Light Bulb Base Types
There are many different light bulb bases in various sizes. We’ll show you some of the most common and detail their use by size, so you know which one will fit your fixture.
Screw Bases
Screw-in light bulbs have different base sizes. They are differentiated by the E size, which is a reference to their size in millimeters. For example, an E10 base would be 10 millimeters in diameter.
Here are the typical sizes:
10mm: Miniature Screw (E10)
11mm: Miniature Candelabra (E11)
12mm: Candelabra (E12)
14mm: European (E14)
17mm: Intermediate (E17)
26mm: Medium (E26)
27mm: European Medium (E27)
39mm: Mogul (E39)
Pin Bases
Pin bases don’t screw in, but rather slot into their outlets. Types of pin bases include miniature bipin, medium bipin, recessed double contact and others.