The "LED vs fluorescent" debate has been settled at the commercial level for years — but at hobby prices, fluorescents still hang around. We ran the same basil crop under a $60 T5 fluorescent shop light and a $60 full-spectrum LED bar for 8 weeks to see which one earns its shelf space in 2026.
The numbers
- PAR at canopy: LED 210 µmol/m²/s · T5 140 µmol/m²/s
- Wattage: LED 45 W · T5 96 W
- Heat above canopy: LED +3 °C · T5 +9 °C
- Yield (dry basil, 8 weeks): LED 118 g · T5 74 g
- Rated life: LED 50,000 h · T5 20,000 h
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Where fluorescents still make sense
Two cases: seed starting (a cheap T5 4-tube fixture over trays is still hard to beat on price-per-square-foot) and cool basement grows where the extra heat is welcome in winter.
Where LEDs win outright
Everything else. Countertop kits, closet grows, apartments where heat is a problem, and any setup where you'll leave the light on 14+ hours a day — the electricity savings pay off the LED within a year.
What to buy
For a small shelf, a Barrina LED bar. For a full closet, a Mars Hydro TS-1000 or Spider Farmer SF-1000. Avoid anything sold as "1000 W" for $40 — actual draw is usually 100 W and PAR is dismal.
LED grow lights we recommend by setup size
Last checked: 2026-07-05 · affiliate disclosure
| Product | Coverage | Best for | Where | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barrina T5 Grow Light Strips (6-pack) Best for shelves | $59 | 24 W | 2 × 4 ft shelf | Seed-starting, herbs on a rack | Check price |
Spider Farmer SF-1000 Editor's pick | $139 | 100 W | 2 × 2 ft canopy | All-round countertop and small tent | Check price |
Mars Hydro TS-600 | $79 | 100 W | 2 × 2 ft canopy | Budget herbs and seedlings | Check price |
HLG 100 V2 | $169 | 95 W | 2 × 2 ft canopy | Fruiting — tomatoes, peppers, strawberries | Check price |
Soltech Aspect Pro | $299 | 40 W | 3 × 3 ft pendant | Living-room and kitchen aesthetics | Check price |
GE Grow Light LED Bulb | $19 | 9 W | 1 plant | Single-jar Kratky or a desk basil | Check price |
- Price
- $59
- Actual wattage
- 24 W
- Coverage
- 2 × 4 ft shelf
- Best for
- Seed-starting, herbs on a rack
- Price
- $139
- Actual wattage
- 100 W
- Coverage
- 2 × 2 ft canopy
- Best for
- All-round countertop and small tent
- Price
- $79
- Actual wattage
- 100 W
- Coverage
- 2 × 2 ft canopy
- Best for
- Budget herbs and seedlings
- Price
- $169
- Actual wattage
- 95 W
- Coverage
- 2 × 2 ft canopy
- Best for
- Fruiting — tomatoes, peppers, strawberries
- Price
- $299
- Actual wattage
- 40 W
- Coverage
- 3 × 3 ft pendant
- Best for
- Living-room and kitchen aesthetics
- Price
- $19
- Actual wattage
- 9 W
- Coverage
- 1 plant
- Best for
- Single-jar Kratky or a desk basil
Related: Best Grow Lights for Herbs · Indoor Garden Cost Breakdown · Hydroponics for Beginners · Best Plants for Hydroponics
Frequently asked questions
Are LED grow lights safe for eyes?
Yes at normal distances, but don't stare directly into a full-spectrum panel — the blue and red intensity is uncomfortable. Position lights so they shine down, not out.
Can I use a regular LED bulb from the hardware store?
For seedlings and low-light herbs, yes. For fruiting plants, no — screw-in bulbs rarely exceed 100 µmol/m²/s at canopy, which is well below what tomatoes and peppers need.
Do LEDs work for flowering plants?
Yes. Modern full-spectrum LEDs include the red wavelengths flowering plants need. That was a real gap in older 'blurple' panels.
Are LED grow lights better than fluorescent?
Yes, for almost every setup. In our 8-week basil test the LED delivered 210 µmol/m²/s vs 140 for a same-price T5, drew half the wattage, added a third of the heat, and produced 60% more dry basil.
Do LED grow lights use less electricity than fluorescent?
Roughly half. A 45 W LED bar produced more PAR than a 96 W T5 fixture in our test. Over 14 hours a day the electricity savings pay off a mid-range LED within a year.
When is a T5 fluorescent still worth buying?
Two cases: seed starting over wide trays (price-per-square-foot still wins) and cool basement grows in winter where the extra heat is welcome.
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