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Expert Picks for January 2026

Best Grow Lights

Indoor growing without adequate light is a slow death for plants. We compared grow lights from professional LEDs to budget panels—finding what delivers results and what wastes electricity.

Last updated: January 28, 2026

Best Overall Comparison All Products User Reviews Buying Guide FAQ

Best Overall Our top recommendation

Best Overall

Spider Farmer

SF1000 LED Grow Light

4.7 (15,678 reviews)

The light that proved budget LEDs could match expensive panels. Samsung diodes deliver real results—dense plants, vigorous growth, actual harvests. For a 2x2 grow space, this is the gold standard everyone compares against.

Power

100W

Coverage

2x2 ft

Spectrum

Full 3000K-5000K

Diodes

Samsung LM301B

Pros

✓ Samsung LM301B diodes
✓ Full spectrum
✓ Dimmable

Cons

✗ Small coverage area
✗ No timer built in
✗ Driver runs warm

$149

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Product	Rating	Price	Action
SF1000 LED Grow Light Best Spider Farmer	4.7	$149	View
45W LED Grow Light Panel Value AeroGarden	4.4	$79	View
TS 600 LED Grow Light Mars Hydro	4.5	$69	View
P2000 LED Grow Light VIPARSPECTRA	4.6	$279	View
T5 LED Grow Light 4-Pack Barrina	4.5	$35	View

* Prices may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

All Recommended Products

Best Overall

Spider Farmer

SF1000 LED Grow Light

4.7 (15,678 reviews)

Power

100W

Coverage

2x2 ft

Spectrum

Full 3000K-5000K

Diodes

Samsung LM301B

Pros

✓ Samsung LM301B diodes
✓ Full spectrum
✓ Dimmable

Cons

✗ Small coverage area
✗ No timer built in
✗ Driver runs warm

$149

View on Amazon

Best Value

AeroGarden

45W LED Grow Light Panel

4.4 (8,765 reviews)

Designed for seedlings and herbs, optimized for exactly that. The adjustable stand grows with your plants. Not powerful enough for flowering, but perfect for starting seeds, growing microgreens, and keeping herbs alive through winter.

Power

45W

Coverage

1.5x1.5 ft

Spectrum

Full spectrum

Stand

Adjustable height

Pros

✓ Height adjustable
✓ Full spectrum
✓ Timer ready

Cons

✗ Limited coverage
✗ Not for flowering
✗ Basic spectrum

$79

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Budget Pick

Mars Hydro

TS 600 LED Grow Light

4.5 (23,456 reviews)

Entry-level pricing with mid-level performance. Mars Hydro delivers solid results for beginners without premium cost. No dimmer means less flexibility, but for starting seeds and growing herbs, you won't miss it.

Power

100W

Coverage

2x2 ft veg, 1.5x1.5 ft flower

Spectrum

Full spectrum

Cooling

Passive

Pros

✓ Very affordable
✓ Full spectrum
✓ No fan noise

Cons

✗ Not dimmable
✗ Smaller diodes
✗ Limited to 2x2 max

$69

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Premium Pick

VIPARSPECTRA

P2000 LED Grow Light

4.6 (6,789 reviews)

When your growing ambitions exceed a 2x2 space. The P2000 covers a full 4x4 area for vegetative growth with quality Samsung diodes. Enough power for serious yields if you're growing... tomatoes.

Power

200W

Coverage

4x4 ft veg, 3x3 ft flower

Spectrum

Full spectrum

Control

Dimmable

Pros

✓ Samsung diodes
✓ Large 4x4 coverage
✓ Dimmable

Cons

✗ Higher heat output
✗ Expensive
✗ Heavy 9 lbs

$279

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Barrina

T5 LED Grow Light 4-Pack

4.5 (34,567 reviews)

The budget seed-starting solution. Four linkable light bars cover a standard rack shelf. Not powerful enough for mature plants, but perfect for seedlings, microgreens, and getting starts ready for outdoor transplant. Incredible value.

Power

42W total

Length

2 ft each

Quantity

4 pack

Feature

Daisy chain

Pros

✓ Four fixtures included
✓ Linkable design
✓ Super affordable

Cons

✗ Lower intensity
✗ Not for flowering
✗ Limited spectrum

$35

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Buying Guide: How to Choose Grow Lights

How to Choose a Grow Light

Indoor growing without adequate light produces leggy, weak plants that never thrive. The right grow light makes indoor gardening actually work—seed starting, winter herbs, year-round greens, whatever you're growing.

Light Types

LED: Current standard. Efficient, cool-running, long-lasting, full spectrum available. Worth the upfront cost.

Fluorescent: Older technology, less efficient, works for low-light plants and seed starting. T5 tubes are the best of this category.

HID (HPS/MH): Powerful but hot, power-hungry, and declining. Industrial scale only.

### Coverage and Intensity

Manufacturers exaggerate coverage claims. A "4x4 coverage" light often only delivers adequate intensity for a 3x3 space. For seed starting, you can push those limits. For flowering/fruiting plants, be conservative.

Light intensity decreases dramatically with distance. Seedlings need lights 2-4" away. Vegetative plants: 12-18". Flowering plants: 18-24". Adjustable height is essential.

### Spectrum Basics

Full spectrum (3000K-6500K): Works for all growth stages. The modern default.
Blue-heavy (5000K+): Vegetative growth, compact plants
Red-heavy (2700K-3000K): Flowering and fruiting

Most home gardeners should choose full spectrum and not overthink it.

### Wattage Reality

Ignore "equivalent" wattage claims. Actual wall draw matters. Roughly: 30-50 watts per square foot for leafy greens and seedlings, 50-80 watts for flowering plants. More light is better until you start burning plants.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grow Lights

How many hours should grow lights run?

Seedlings: 14-16 hours. Vegetative growth: 14-18 hours. Flowering: 12 hours (some plants need this short day to bloom). Herbs and greens: 12-16 hours. Use a timer—plants need consistent schedules and darkness periods.

How close should grow lights be to plants?

Depends on intensity. Fluorescent tubes: 2-4" for seedlings. LED panels: follow manufacturer guidelines, typically 12-24" depending on power. Signs of too close: bleaching, curling leaves. Too far: stretching, weak stems.

Can any LED light be used as a grow light?

Technically yes, but poorly. Regular LEDs lack the full spectrum plants need and operate at wrong intensities. Actual grow lights are designed for plant absorption spectra. The price difference isn't worth the poor results from desk lamps.

Do grow lights use a lot of electricity?

LEDs are efficient. A 100W grow light running 16 hours daily uses about 48 kWh monthly—roughly $6-8 depending on rates. Small price for year-round growing capability. HID lights cost 3-4x more to operate.

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