Three different light bulbs to showcase the light bulb guide

Prior to introducing our super handy light bulb guide, we thought it might be helpful to give you some additional information on a few types of bulbs you may not be quite so familiar with. We’ve already discussed LED light bulbs and incandescents, but here are a few more:

1. Halogen

These are similar to incandescent light bulbs in that they have a filament inside that’s heated up to glowing. However, halogen bulbs actually consume far less electricity — between 25 and 80 percent less than incandescents — depending on the specific bulb. They emit a very pure, white light that is similar to natural daylight, making colors appear clearer and more vibrant.

Halogen bulbs are available from 5 to 500 watts, last between two and three years, and are fully dimmable. A couple warnings about halogen bulbs, though: they get extremely hot, so allow them to cool before trying to touch them. They aren’t ideal for fixtures like table lamps or any fixture where the bulb is within easy reach. Also, don’t change them without wearing gloves. Natural oils from your bare hands will transfer to the bulb, causing it to heat up too fast and possibly explode.

2. Compact Fluorescent Lights

Unlike the traditional tube fluorescents, which flicker, buzz and emit a stark bluish light, CFLs turn on more quickly and radiate a softer, more pleasing glow. CFLs outdo incandescent bulbs by being 75% more efficient and by lasting a long time — seven to nine years. They can generally be found in sizes from 3 to 120 watts (note that a 60-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to a 14-watt CFL).

The downside to compact fluorescent lights is that not all are dimmable, and some CFLs are delayed in reaching full brightness in extremely cold temperatures. Also, they contain mercury in trace amounts, so caution should be exercised with shattered bulbs.

3. WiFi Capable Bulbs

We include this especially for the geeks out there — yes, with this technology, you can control your lights from anywhere in the world. After installing a WiFi-capable bulb into your fixture, download the app and enjoy turning lights on and off, adjusting brightness, and setting up timers, from any remote location. Note, however, that these specialty bulbs often only work with a specific device, with their compatibility limited to either an Apple or Android.

How to Use the Light Bulb Guide

Now, down to actually choosing the correct bulb for your specific purpose. Let’s be totally honest — light bulbs can be quite confusing. If you have ever had the experience of heading down to the local hardware store, purchasing a bulb that you thought was yours, and then going home and finding out it’s not exactly the right base/shape/bulb, you know all too well what I’m referring to.

With so many types, shapes and sizes of bulbs, it’s easy to get lost in the forest of choices out there. Fortunately, we got our expert lighting gurus together and created this handy interactive guide. Follow the steps below:

Look at your bulb and figure out which “family” your bulb belongs to
Click to expand each bulb family. An infographic will expand.
Click again to collapse the infographic and jump back to the top.
Once you’ve found what you need, you can stop into one of our stores or shop online to get your bulb today.