The 4 Best LED Grow Lights That Save Energy

Written by Angie Menjivar
Published: January 20, 2023
© iStock.com/Iryna Imago

Advertisement


This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species.

You already know when your house plants need water, and you keep an eye on the temperature, ventilation, and humidity levels. However, it may just be that no matter how many windows you have, you’re just not getting the perfect amount of light during certain months. It could also be that you have placed your plants in an environment that requires a little bit of help with light. Whatever the reason, it’s important to invest in LED grow lights that also help you save energy.

You want a happy household and that includes having happy plants and an electric bill that doesn’t make you want to rip it up, ball it up, and throw it into your trash bin! The good news is you have a couple of different options. Below, we highlight some of our top picks for LED lights that help you grow your plants and help you save energy. We present different styles at different price points to give you a selection you can work with.

Top Picks: The Best LED Lights for Growing that Save Energy

  1. GHodec Grow Light for Indoor Plants,6000K 126LED
    • Available in 75 or 150 watts.
    • Three timing options available: four, eight, or 12 hours.
    • Estimated monthly cost is $2 in electricity, provided users have it on for eight hours a day.
    • Suitable for a number of environments and rooms.
    Check Amazon
  2. SUWITU Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, 6000K 144 LEDs Clip on Grow Light Plant Growing Lamps for Succulents
    • Features 10 dimming levels.
    • Available lighting options include warm white light, purple light, and daylight.
    • Three timing settings, for three, nine, and 12 hours.
    • 144 LED beads offer a full spectrum of light, from 380 to 800 nanometers.
    Check Amazon
  3. LED Grow Lights Strips for Indoor Plants
    • 10 brightness settings to meet different stages of plant growth.
    • Three lighting modes for different plant types.
    • Daily timer function allows for three, nine, or 12 hours of lighting each day.
    Check Amazon
  4. SANSI 700W LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum
    • Offers customization of plant lifecycle light program, imitating as closely as possible the solar spectrum.
    • Covers the entire visible spectrum of 400 to 780 nanometers.
    • Non-conductive, ceramic heat sink allows for faster heat conduction.
    Check Amazon

#1 Best Overall: GHodec Grow Light for Indoor Plants,6000K 126LED Clip Plant Lights with Flexible Gooseneck

Best Overall
GHodec Grow Light for Indoor Plants,6000K 126LED
  • Available in 75 or 150 watts.
  • Three timing options available: four, eight, or 12 hours.
  • Estimated monthly cost is $2 in electricity, provided users have it on for eight hours a day.
  • Suitable for a number of environments and rooms.
Check Amazon

The best overall LED lights for growing that save energy are GHodec Grow Lights for Indoor Plants. These LED lights are available in 75 watts or 150 watts. the 75-watt option is equipped with 5 red and 37 sunlight-white LEDs. This is in each one of the bars and there are three bars total. They’re flicker-free and deliver a soft light that isn’t just great for your plants, but also provides you with a nice reading light in the evenings after the sun has set.

There are three timing options for lighting throughout the day and there is an automatic on-and-off feature, so you don’t have to manually operate them. Each LED bar functions separately so you can turn one on and keep two off or turn two off and keep one on. These are also equipped with an anti-slip clamp and a 360-degree adjustable gooseneck. You can place it in any direction as needed. The estimated monthly cost for this lamp is about $2 when you use it for eight hours a day. It’s appropriate for use in dark rooms, offices, greenhouses, and even balconies.

What Buyers Say

Customers rate these LED lights 4.5 out of five stars. One customer needed to supplement light from a basement window and has been using these lights for about two months. They’ve proven extremely effective. The plants that needed the extra support are back to thriving and flowering after suffering quite a bit in the basement. He loves the internal timer and appreciates the reliability they offer. Another customer mentions how much she appreciates the flexible arms. The clamps are great because they’re firm and you can affix them to a table’s edge or even a shelf. She says they give off a really nice glow that’s helping her plants thrive even through the dark of winter. She also loves that these lights double as mood lighting for the evenings. Based on her experience, she highly recommends them with five stars.

PROSCONS
5 red and 37 sunlight-white LEDs per barDepending on the coverage, you may need more than one set of these LED lights
Flexible gooseneck and sturdy clamp 
Automatic settings 

2. Best for Succulents: SUWITU Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, 6000K 144 LEDs Clip-on Grow Light

Best for Succulents
SUWITU Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, 6000K 144 LEDs Clip on Grow Light Plant Growing Lamps for Succulents
  • Features 10 dimming levels.
  • Available lighting options include warm white light, purple light, and daylight.
  • Three timing settings, for three, nine, and 12 hours.
  • 144 LED beads offer a full spectrum of light, from 380 to 800 nanometers.
Check Amazon

If you have a couple of succulents you’d like to give a little love to, these grow lights are perfect. They have an automatic on-and-off timing function that works continuously after setup. This is great if you are away from home. It also has three switch modes and 10 different dimming levels. The lights include a warm white light, a purple light, and daylight you can use for your plants. These LED lights are equipped with 6000K 144 LED beads. They’re ideal for different types of plants, promoting photosynthesis all the way through to bloom and fruit-bearing. They’re easy to install because they have a clamp. Use them anywhere and adjust the 360-degree gooseneck as needed to light your plants perfectly.

What Buyers Say

Customers rate these LED lights 4.4 out of five stars. One customer wasn’t even a fan of these types of lights but he picked these up and he loves them. The timer function is really what sold him and he’s already planning on purchasing some more. Some people have a little bit of trouble figuring out the timer at first but once it’s set up, they are good to go. Another customer appreciates the versatility of the gooseneck and the different light options. She loves the look they give the room her plants are in because it’s like a purple glow. She uses them for many different kinds of plants, and they continue growing, they’ve re-flowered, and she only warns that you keep an eye on the timer because it can be a little bit funky at first.

PROSCONS
360-degree gooseneckTimer setup may be difficult the first time
10 dimming options 
Three light options 

3. Best Light Strips: LED Grow Lights Strips for Indoor Plants

Best Light Strips
LED Grow Lights Strips for Indoor Plants
  • 10 brightness settings to meet different stages of plant growth.
  • Three lighting modes for different plant types.
  • Daily timer function allows for three, nine, or 12 hours of lighting each day.
Check Amazon

These LED grow light strips are perfect for your indoor plants. They have three different working modes and 10 dimmable levels. They have a 12V3A US standard adapter and help to provide high-efficiency heat dissipation. Additionally, they won’t flicker or short circuit and are ideal for a variety of indoor plants like potted plants, hydroponics, succulents, seedlings, and greenhouse vegetables. They work to create a sunlike environment in a safe way. They also have an auto-cycle timer that you can set for every three, nine, or 12 hours. This allows you to cater to your plants depending on their different needs as they grow. The installation is flexible. You can install the grow light strips with the included double-sided tape and cable ties. You also get some clips and screws so you can affix them to your shelves, cabinets, walls, or any wooden boards.

What Buyers Say

Customers rate these grow light strips 4.3 out of five stars. One customer shared that this is exactly what she was looking for. They were super simple to install and both the brightness control and the timer work perfectly. Her plants were previously in a very dark corner of her house, and they just weren’t doing well. After she installed these lights, her plants got really happy. Another customer shared that she already had the grow lights on gooseneck arms, but she needed something that was a little bit more versatile. These ended up working perfectly and she appreciates that her order included everything she needed.

PROSCONS
The full kit includes clips, screws, zip ties, double-sided tape, and extension connectionsSome customers received a defective product but the seller was quick to send a free replacement
Auto on/off feature and three working modes 
10 brightness levels 

4. Best With Optical Lens: SANSI LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants, 70W Grow Lamp (700 Watt Equivalent)

Best With Optical Lens
SANSI 700W LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum
  • Offers customization of plant lifecycle light program, imitating as closely as possible the solar spectrum.
  • Covers the entire visible spectrum of 400 to 780 nanometers.
  • Non-conductive, ceramic heat sink allows for faster heat conduction.
Check Amazon

This LED grow light for your plants is a little bit different. It helps to imitate the solar spectrum and improves light utilization, which allows your plants to enjoy more supplementary light. It allows you to customize a better full-lifecycle, supplementary light program that is a lot closer to natural light than some of your other LED options. You can use it for plants at any growth stage because it helps to promote their growth and improve crop yield and crop quality. You enjoy faster heat conduction and better reliability. The body of the lamp is made from ceramic material, and it has a reinforced insulation design. You don’t have to worry about the risk of electric shock. Plus, it’s ETL listed and has a CE certification.

What Buyers Say

Customers rate these grow lights 4.6 out of five stars. One customer says that it almost perfectly matches the sun spectrum. It has blue, green, red, and far-red spectrums that help you grow any non-fruiting or fruiting plants. He suggests that you raise these lights at least two to three feet above your plants’ canopy. He does offer a little bit of criticism saying that it doesn’t have an ultraviolet spectrum to completely fill the grow light unit. To have a complete grow light setup, you have to purchase a separate ultraviolet grow light. Other customers comment on how well-constructed it is. It has a heavier feel, and they feel comfortable leaving it on 24 hours a day.

PROSCONS
Full spectrum, close to sunlightThe spectrum does not include ultraviolet light
Less heat radiation means fewer burns 
High color rendering index (close to 100) 

Criteria: What to Look for in the Best LED Lights for Growing that Save Energy

Wavelengths and Spectrums

Before you make a final purchase, make sure that you take a look at the wavelengths and spectrum the LED lights offer. This crucial piece of information helps you determine whether or not these LED grow lights are appropriate for the type of plants you’re looking to help flourish.

Coverage Needs

The other factor to consider is the coverage needs of your specific plans. Consider the PAR output. Is it high enough for all of your plants to continue growing? Do the lights cover the space you need and are they intense enough for healthy plants to continue thriving? Remember that IR and UV wavelengths provide that extra protection and allow for extra growth, so make sure to look out for those as well.

Styles

As you can see in the list above, there are different styles for LED grow lights. You can go for chips on a board or those gooseneck styles that allow for a lot of flexibility. Make sure you pick something that works both for your plants and for the space they live in.

Extra Features

Extra features are super helpful, especially when you’re not always at home to care for your plans. For example, having an automatic on-and-off timer takes the stress away and lets you enjoy nights away from home with more calm. Being able to dim your lights is another great feature that gives you complete control over the intensity of the lights. Although some of these awesome features are something you can go without, they definitely add a lot to your growing experience and are worth considering.

Up Next, Learn More About Plants…

About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

The 4 Best LED Grow Lights That Save Energy FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Do LED grow lights save electricity?

Absolutely! LED lights offer considerable energy savings when you compare them to traditional grow lights.

Is it better to leave LED lights on or turn them off?

These are the most efficient lights you can find, and you can leave them on 24 hours a day or as needed. They don’t get affected by turning them on or off. They don’t produce heat like traditional lights.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.