LED Bulbs

LED bulbs are the easy, energy-saving way to light every fitting in your home. They use a fraction of the power of old incandescent and halogen bulbs, last for years rather than months, and come in every common fitting and colour of light. The three things to get right are the fitting (so it fits your light), the brightness in lumens, and the colour temperature in Kelvin. Here's how to choose.

Watts or lumens: how bright a bulb do I need?

Watts measure the energy a bulb uses, while lumens measure the light it actually gives out, so with LED you should choose by lumens, not watts. Because LED is so efficient, a bulb that gives the same light as an old 60W bulb might only draw 8 to 10W. As a rough guide, around 400 lumens suits a small lamp, 800 lumens replaces a typical 60W bulb, and 1500 lumens and up gives bright light for a kitchen or main room.

What colour temperature should I choose?

Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K) and sets the whole mood of a room. Warm white is cosy and relaxing, cool and daylight white are crisp and better for tasks. Here's how the scale looks:

Warm white light bulb around 2700K — Warm white (~2700K) – cosy living rooms and bedrooms

Neutral white light bulb around 4000K — Neutral white (~4000K) – kitchens and bathrooms

Cool daylight light bulb around 6000K — Cool / daylight (~6000K) – task areas and garages

Which bulb fitting do I need?

Check the base of your old bulb, or the socket in the fitting, then choose the matching type:

GU10 bulbs – twist-and-lock, the usual fit for spotlights and downlights.
E27 bulbs – the larger Edison screw, common in pendants and lamps.
E14 bulbs – the smaller screw, used in chandeliers and smaller fittings.
B22 bayonet bulbs – push-and-twist, the traditional Irish bayonet fitting.
G9 bulbs – small two-pin capsule for compact fittings.
Decorative & filament bulbs – vintage-style bulbs meant to be seen.

Are LED bulbs dimmable?

Some are, but not all, so check the bulb is marked dimmable before you buy. A dimmable LED bulb also needs a compatible LED dimmer switch to run smoothly without flicker. If you already have a dimmer, an LED-compatible one gives you the full range from bright to soft.

Why switch to LED?

Up to around 90% less energy than old incandescent bulbs
A lifespan measured in years, so far less bulb changing
Cool to run and bright the instant you switch on

Buying LED bulbs in Ireland

We stock LED and light bulbs in every common fitting, in warm white, cool white and daylight, dimmable and decorative options included, all available to order online with fast delivery across Ireland and Europe.