With all of the different LED grow lights for cannabis available these days it can get a bit confusing trying to choose the best one. We wanted to save you the effort and potential headache by putting together a list of the 15 top LED grow lights we would suggest for your indoor growing operation. Whether your aim is to put together a state of the art grow room or a simple 1-plant set up, we have you covered.
| Model | Power Output | Max Coverage | Cost | Shop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Advanced Diamond Series XML 650 | 1000 Watts | 5.5' x 5.5' | $$$$ | Buy Now |
 | Advanced Platinum Series P600 | 600 Watts | 6' x 3.75' | $$$ | Buy Now |
 | Advanced Platinum Series P300 | 300 Watts | 4,5' x 3.8' | $$ | Buy Now |
 | Spider Farmer SF-2000 | 200 Watts | 4' x 3' | $$ | Buy Now |
 | GalaxyHydro | 300 Watts | 3' x 3' | $ | Buy Now |
 | California Lightworks Solarstorm | 440 Watts | 3' x 3' | $$$ | Buy Now |
 | G8LED 900 | 900 Watts | 6' x 4' | $$$$ | Buy Now |
 | G8LED 450 | 450 Watts | 4' x 3' | $$$ | Buy Now |
 | MarsHydro Mars II | 1200 Watts | 4.5' x 4.5' | $$$ | Buy Now |
 | ViparSpectra Reflector Series 450 | 450 Watts | 3.5' x 3.5' | $$ | Buy Now |
 | ViparSpectra Reflector Series 900 | 900 Watts | 5' x 4' | $$$ | Buy Now |
 | GrowStar GS1000 | 1000 Watts | 5' x 5' | $$$ | Buy Now |
 | King Plus | 800 Watts | 3.2' x 3.6' | $ | Buy Now |
 | Roleadro UFO | 138 Watts | 1' x 1' | $ | Buy Now |
 | MarsHydro Mars 300 | 300 Watts | 2' x 2' | $ | Buy Now |
 | Meizhi | 300 Watts | 2' x 2' | $$ | Buy Now |
Benefits of LED Growing Lights
Using LED growing lights in your indoor grow offers a whole host of benefits over more conventional HPS (high pressure sodium) light grows as well as CFLs (compact fluorescent lights).
Benefits of using the top LED grow lights include: reduced power demand (resulting in lower electricity bills), far less heat radiating off the lights, high yields come harvest (upwards of 0.5 grams per watt), improved potency, smell and bud development, no need for complex exhaust / duct system (in most cases) and LEDs last a LONG time.
Why Choose Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights?
Plants have been specializing in harnessing the power of the sun in order to convert CO2 + H20 into sugar to grow (a process known as photosynthesis). There is no better light source suited for plant growth than the sun itself, thanks to millions of years of evolution and adaptation. Growing cannabis plants indoors is extremely new when you consider this timeline, so the best way to ensure optimal, healthy growth of your plants is to mimic the light spectrum produced by the sun as closely as possible.
Full spectrum LED grow lights are the single best way to offer your plants a balanced and full light spectrum to optimize growth. Other lights (HPS / HID / CFL / MH) often spike in certain light spectrums and can be lacking in others.
Not all LED lights are full spectrum, and even those claiming to be “full spectrum” often aren’t entirely. Instead of full spectrum, I’d call these “broad spectrum” LEDs. Most LED light setups contain 9-12 band emitters, usually they look something like this:
UV : 380nm
Deep blue : 430nm
Blue : 460nm
Yellow : 580nm
Orange : 610nm
Red : 630nm
Deep red : 660nm
Infrared : 780nm
White : 14,000K
The Best LED Grow Light – A Buying Guide:
Choosing the right LED grow light is important if you want to get the absolute most out of your indoor marijuana grow. There are a few key things to look for when considering the best LEDs for your grow, but a lot comes down to your personal needs and budget.
Full spectrum LEDs are more costly than broad spectrum models, but they provide the best results as they closest mimic the sun’s spectrum.
LED bulbs emit less heat than other grow lights but they still radiate some heat, especially the larger, higher wattage models. Look for options with built in heatsinks and fans that pull the heat upwards and away from your marijuana plants.
A single LED lamp will only provide enough light for a certain area. Depending on how many plants you’re planning on growing, you may need a large light, or perhaps multiple. The LED grow lights reviewed above all have a coverage area specified to help you gauge how many lights you’ll need to complete your grow room.
Purchasing your grow light from a trusted manufacturer is important for a number of reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that they often offer a limited warranty for added peace of mind. Buying quality LEDs will help protect you from technical difficulties. Replacing a light halfway through a grow can be a big problem, not to mention a costly one. A quality LED light panel should last anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000+ hours, so you won’t need to worry about replacing them for a while.
How Many Watts Do You Need To Grow Cannabis Indoors?
Wattage doesn’t accurately determine coverage area when it comes to LEDs. It is a measurement best suited for HID / MH / HPS lights, but it’s often used to approximate LED coverage area.
PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) and DLI (daily light integral) are the correct metrics to use in order to determine the number / power of lights required. For the purposes of this article, we will be using wattage to approximate the coverage area, which doesn’t need to be much more than the area your cannabis plants occupy.
The flowering cycle requires the most intense light, so we will be estimating watts based on this phase.
On average, an LED grow should use a minimum of 32 watts per square foot, ideally closer to the 50 – 80 watt range.
Consult the grow room sizes below for a quick guide to how many watts you’ll need:
- 1’ x 1’ : 32 watts
- 2’ x 2’ : 128 watts
- 3’ x 3’ : 288 watts
- 4’ x 4’ : 512 watts
- 5’ x 5’ : 800 watts
- 6’ x 6’ : 1152 watts
LED Lights Vs. CFL Lights
CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lights) are a great way for beginners to get into growing their own plants indoors. They’re cheap, don’t draw nearly as much power as HPS lights and give off minimal heat compared to HPS lights.
There are some downfalls to using CFL lights for your grow though, especially if you want to run a professional setup with minimal work.
Using compact fluorescent lights for your indoor cannabis grow is helpful if you’re short on space and don’t want to invest too much in the initial setup. The lights have to be very close (a few inches) from the tops of the plants. It means you won’t need as much space in your grow area, but you’ll have to ensure there’s enough airflow and ventilation to dissipate the heat from the lights as quickly as possible.
Another nuisance that comes with CFL grows is the fact that you’ll need to adjust the lights as the plants grow. Swapping bulbs to ensure the correct light spectrum and height to prevent the plants from getting burnt. It doesn’t sound like much work, but it’s something you’ll have to check on almost daily.
The best LED grow lights provide much better yields than even the top CFLs, when comparing the same amount of energy used. This isn’t too surprising though, LEDs are extremely energy efficient and can produce far more light using far less energy. LEDs are very good at producing light energy with minimal heat energy, making them very efficient compared to other options. Plus, most LED setups have heatsinks and fans built in to draw the heat up and away from your plants and into the atmosphere.
Keep in mind that the LEDs should be hanging somewhere between 12” – 24” above the tops of your marijuana plants. This means you’ll need more space in your grow room, but as long as you’re not aiming for a super compact / stealthy grow this shouldn’t be an issue.
LEDs vs CFLs – Summary
- LEDs draw much less energy to produce the same amount of light as a CFL.
- LED setups give off less heat than CFLs and often have built in heatsinks / fans.
- Indoor grows using LEDs save big on energy costs.
- Aside from changing the light spectrum, LED grow lights require almost no maintenance.
- Many growers believe that LED lights improve the quality, potency, flavor and aroma when compared to CFLs and HPS lights.
LED Lights Vs. HPS Lights
HPS (high pressure sodium) lights are still the gold standard when it comes to grow lights, but LEDs are quickly gaining ground. Many professional marijuana growers actually use a combination of LED and HPS grow lights to get the best of both worlds.
As far as yields go, HPS lights are the way to go when it comes to grams per watt. High pressure sodium lights give off quite a bit of heat, so a functional exhaust system and plenty of airflow are of paramount importance to a successful HPS grow.
LEDs vs HPS – Summary
- LEDs give off far less heat than HPS lights.
- LED grow lights are ‘plug and play’ meaning you won’t need a ballast.
- Grows using LEDs will enhance the plant’s natural aromas, potency as well as aesthetic. LED grows generally produce more colorful buds.
- HPS grow lights result in better yields, but quality can suffer.
LED Grow Light Reviews – The Tried & Proven
You’ll want to look for a few things when choosing the right light for your grow. Bloom switches are a great way to switch between veg bloom cycles. When the time comes to bloom you simply throw the switch and your LED colors will switch to a more red-heavy spectrum. Another thing to look for would be lights that include a hanging kit, sure you can source this yourself, but it takes some of the guess work out of the equation. Most top LEDs will include a hanger kit, but it’s not a major issue to do it yourself if you choose a model that doesn’t.
Advanced Platinum P-Series
Advanced Platinum is one of the most trusted brands in LED grow lighting. They offer grow lights ranging in wattage from 150W up to 1200W, and can easily be daisy chained together. Advanced Platinum says their platinum LEDs offer 2x – 3x the lumen intensity as other LED grow lights. They offer a robust 12-band spectrum and even added a switch to quickly swap between the vegetative / flowering light spectrum.
Features:
- 5-year warranty. 90-day money back guarantee.
- Built in fans + aluminum heatsinks.
- LEDs made in the USA.
- Does not include hangers.
- 100,000+ Hour lifespan.
GalaxyHydro
A very well-known brand, GalaxyHydro’s 300W grow light is a bestseller on Amazon. They do a great job offering good quality grow lights for a bargain price. GalaxyHydro would be a perfect choice for a new grower with a limited budget.
The light spectrum isn’t as varied as some higher quality models, but it is sufficient for both vegetative and flowering plant cycles.
Features:
- 2-year warranty. 30-day money back guarantee.
- Built in fans + Sunflower radiator.
- Includes hanger.
- 50,000+ Hour lifespan.
Mars Hydro Reflector Series
Mars Hydro has been in the LED game for almost a decade, and they have been striving to offer the best quality LED grow lights since day one. Their reflector series of grow lights use a series of compact reflectors that surround each individual LED, maximizing the PAR output.
Easily swap between the vegetative and flowering cycle using the built in switches.
Features:
- 2-year warranty.
- Built in fans.
- Includes hanger.
- 50,000 – 100,000 Hour lifespan.
Bestva
Bestva LED lights are a fantastic and affordable option for your indoor cannabis grow. The dual chip LEDs provide an enormous amount of light compared to 3W and 5W LEDs. Bestva grow lights are quite affordable compared to models with similar watts, making them a good choice for growers on a budget.
Features:
- 3-year warranty. 30-day money back guarantee.
- Built in fans.
- Includes hanger.
- 100,000+ Hour lifespan.
King Plus
King Plus offer good introductory LED grow lights that are quite affordable. Wattages range between 600W and 1200W and feature a double LED chip that maximize light output. These are best suited for smaller grows as they cannot be daisy chained together.
Features:
- 3-year warranty.
- Built in fans.
- Includes hanger.
- 50,000+ Hour lifespan.
ViparSpectra Reflector Series
Ranging from 300W to 900W, the ViparSpectra Reflector Series is a great option for discerning cannabis growers. They added a reflective coating to each LED to significantly increase the PAR output, giving you the most light for the least watts used.
Easily switch between Veg / Bloom with the two built in switches. The lights have a great looking black powdercoat and growers report a very high quality feel. It’s no wonder why ViparSpectra can offer such an attractive warranty.
Features:
- 3-year warranty. 30-day money back guarantee.
- Built in fans + heatsink.
- Includes hanger.
- 100,000+ Hour lifespan.
G8LED
G8LED is a very popular brand of LED lights, having established themselves over the past decade. High Times Magazine awarded them the title of Best LED Grow Light in 2014 as well as 2016. G8LED uses an 8-band light spectrum and all the LEDs are made in the USA.
The G8LED series of grow lights is a bit more costly than other brands, but they’re widely accepted as some of the top quality LEDs on the market.
Features:
- 2-year warranty.
- Built in fans.
- Includes hanger.
- 50,000+ Hour lifespan.
Apollo Horticulture
Apollo Horticulture is a household name in grow lights, with top notch LEDs, HIDs, Fluorescent grow lights, ventilation, grow tents and more! They really cover the full spectrum of grow accessories and have a proven track record. They offer a range of lights, from the 75 Watt UFO-style light to their 1200 Watt LED panel.
Features:
- 2-year warranty.
- Built in fans.
- Includes hanger.
- 50,000+ Hour lifespan.
Helpful Accessories for an Indoor Grow
Sunglasses – Everyone knows that wearing your sunglasses inside is a cool move, but when entering your grow room it’s more of a necessity. The light from your grow lights can seriously damage your eyes if you don’t protect them from the harmful UV rays. So get yourself a pair of sunglasses and you’ll protect your peepers while looking like a seriously cool dude!
Light meter – It’s good to know how much light your plants are getting. It might seem like an extravagant and unnecessary item that only the pros will need, but we suggest getting one regardless of the size of your grow.
Thermometer – Monitoring the temperature of your grow room / tent is extremely important. You want to be sure that your plants are cooking, and if they are, you’ll need to ramp up your ventilation / heat dissipation system.
Hygrometer – You don’t only want to keep a close eye on the temperature of your grow, but the humidity / water vapor in the air as well. This handy little tool makes it dead simple.
Grow tent – Even if you’re growing in a room or closet, a grow tent can make your life / grow much easier. It adds an extra level of protection against stray light sources and is much easier to control the temperature / humidity. There are many top quality grow tents available that will help your grow succeed, even if it’s your first time.
Conclusion
Choosing the top grow lights for your indoor grow doesn’t have to be a confusing and daunting endeavor. We’d suggest going with LEDs regardless of the size of your grow or your experience growing cannabis, they’re simply the best in our opinion. It will be slightly more costly initially, but well worth the price when you take into account the convenience, quality and lifespan that LEDs offer. Our hope is that our list of the best LED grow lights reviewed will supercharge and simplify your indoor grow.
