How To Tell What LED Light Bulbs Are Compatible With Classic Fixtures

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Upgrading your home's lighting with energy-efficient LED bulbs can be a game changer for your electric bill while maintaining or even enhancing your lighting vibe. These bulbs not only reduce energy costs, they also last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs and are even recyclable. Thankfully, every fixture in your home can be updated with an LED bulb, even your vintage lamp in the corner, or that 1990s fluorescent tube over the kitchen sink.

All LED bulbs are helpfully labeled on the box (or in the online description) with the information you will need to make a compatible match with your old fixture. Bulb wattage and type of base are your first important considerations. Before heading to the hardware store, look for a sticker on your old socket that states the maximum wattage your fixture can tolerate. Putting too much wattage in an old fixture can melt it and even spark a fire. Since LED bulbs run at a much lower wattage for the same level of brightness, you won't have a problem finding one within your wattage limits. No sticker? Choose an LED with an equivalent output of 60W or lower, the standard for most lamps. Another thing to check before buying an LED is ensuring it will fit into your old fixture. Does the base of your old bulb screw in or have prongs or pins in its base? You'll be able to find an equivalent in LED. 

Choosing the right LED bulb for your older fixture isn't only about wattage and fit. Think about the type of lighting you want to fill your space. Is this a room where you want a warm, cozy light or a bright daylight effect? LEDs are available in a wide variety of brightness, which is measured in lumens. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light. Check out this conversion chart for an easy cheat sheet on what wattage and lumens to choose for your replacement bulb. You can even find LEDs for your dimmable or color-changing fixtures.

What about style? Vintage-style bulbs, like GE's LED Edison Light Bulbs, might be a good choice for that classic-looking pendant in your dining room, while brighter round bulbs, like the BUBO Vanity Light Bulbs, might be the right choice for your bathroom vanity mirror. Candle-style LED bulbs that fit within older sconces are also widely available. Outdoor security and landscape lights can also be easily upgraded to LED versions. With all of these choices, you'll have no problem finding an LED bulb compatible with your fixture and lighting needs.