Night Light Bulb Brightness & Color Comparison

Want an LED bulb for your plugin night light? Compare various replacement night light bulbs to see which looks best. Lighting technology is rapidly undergoing changes, so determining the best nightlight bulb for your home takes some consideration. To compare bulb features see the LED Light Bulb Comparison Chart below.

New LED Light Bulbs vs. Old Incandescent Bulbs

Comparison - See photos of a 4W incandescent night light bulb vs. LED light bulbs in various wattages so you can compare the color of the bulb, the direction of the beam of light, and how bright it actually appears.

Usage - Each night light bulb is shown lit up with and without glass mounted in front of it to give you the best idea of what it will actually look like in a nightlight fixture.

Best to Worst - To see which LED bulb best matches an incandescent, we've listed each LED bulb brand from the one that best matches an incandescent bulb to the worst match. 

Standard Incandescent Night Lighb Bulb - 4W

• 4W (5W and 7W bulbs are also commonly available)
• Warm to the touch
• Rated safe (cool enough) for use in UL-listed night light fixtures with unshield bulbs
• Note: 5W and 7W bulbs cannot safely be used in unenclosed night light fixtures

G7 Power Boulder Night Lighb Bulb - LED 0.5W

• 0.5W, 15 Lumens
• 2900K
• Warm golden glow
• Clear glass bulb
• Emits light nearly 360 degrees
• Remains cool to the touch
• Instantly turns on at full brightness
• Great replacement for incandescent nightlight bulbs
• Not dimmable
• Cannot be used with automatic bases or motion sensors
• Indoor or outdoor use
• By G7 Power

Luxrite Warm White Bulb - LED .7W

• 0.7 watts, 50 Lumens
• 2700K color temperature
• Clear bulb emits yellow light 260 degrees
• Closely resembles incandescant bulb
• 13.7 year lifespan (with use of 3 hours/day)
• Cannot be used in completely enclosed fixtures
• Not dimmable
• Indoor/dry use only
• Mercury free
• By Luxrite, found on Amazon

Meridian Replacement Nightlight Bulbs LED 0.75W

• .75W
• Brightness level - 23 lumens
• Average bulb life 15,000 hours
• Frosted bulb
• Saves energy and money
• Cannot be used with dimmers
• Cannot be used in totally enclosed fixtures
• Depending upon the brand the bulbs may or may not work with photosensor night light bases.
• Cannot be used with night light plugged into an extension cord.
• Mercury and lead free
• Will not fade furnishings or fabrics
• Cool to the touch
• By Meridan Lighting, also available at Home Depot

Lightvita Night Light Bulb - LED 0.5W

• .5W
• 25 Lumens
• 2900K
• 30,000 hour lifespan
• Clear bulb
• Very bright warm orange glow is brightest in upward direction, less bright around base
• Stays cool
• Not dimmable
• May not be compatible with automatic bases
• By Lightivita, found on Amazon

Globe Electric LED for Life Accent Bulbs - 1W

• 1 watt, white light
• Very dim glow
• Cool to the touch
• Lasts 30,000 hours
• Frosted bulb
• Textured bulb
• By Globe Electric

GE Lighting Night Light Bulbs - LED 1.5 C7/W/CD2

• 0.5 watts, 2700K, soft white light
• Brightness level - 3 lumens
• Just top half of blub emits light, so in decorative night lights the lower portion of the design will not be well iluminated
• Lasts 8.6 years when used an average of 8 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Cannot be used with dimmable fixtures
• Operates on most photosensor bases
• Cannot be used in totally enclosed  luminaires
• Mercury free
• By GE Lighting, found at Target

Maxxima Night Light Bulb LED C7 - 100W 

• 100W, 7 Lumens
• Clear bulb
• Instant on
• Bright white glow
• Illuminates to side and upward but not down
• Saves 90% energy
• Very fragile
• By Maxima

Sylvania Accent Series Bulb - LED 0.6W

• 0.6W, 4 Lumens
• Clear (non-frosted) bulb
• Lasts 15,000 hours
• Bright light with blue glow, 6500K
• Tend to flicker or strobe (especially in automatic light sensor bases)
• Light beam upward rather than omni-directional (no light falls around night light base)
• Indoor use only
• Use in dry locations only
• Not for use in dimmers, do not dim
• By Osram Sylvania

Feit Electric Night Light Replacement Bulbs - LED

• Lasts 50,000 hours, up to 45 years (with 3 hours of use per day)
• Lights up instantly
• Bright white light
• Bottom of bulb white, top is clear - light emits upward from top only
• Does not give omni-directional glow - bottom half of night light won't be lit
• Mercury free
• Withstands stock and vibrations
• Non-dimmable 
• By Feit Electric, found at Target

LED Night Lightbulb Advantages & Drawbacks

It's a whole new world of lighting out there. Carefully check packaging before buying to be sure your replacement LED bulb can be used in your night light base.

Things to Note When Choosing the Best LED Bulbs for Night Lights

• Dimmable - Some LED nightlight bulbs can be used with dimmers while others cannot.
• Enclosures - Many LED night light bulbs can't be used in enclosed fixtures. Be sure to read the caution section on packaging when selecting replacement LED night light bulbs.
• Beam Direction - If bottom of bulb is not clear or light is emitted upward only (both effects noticable on Feit bulb above), your decorative night light will not be lit evenly. 
• Flickering Effect - Some brands of LED bulbs flicker. Flicking gives a twinkling effect when used in quantity but is generally not desirable in a decorative night light. LED bulbs tend to strobe or flicker when placed in automatic or light sensor bases.

*Lifespan and cost per year based on regular household use of 3 hours/day.

**Color based on how it appears to the eye. Temperature is what manufacturer lists on packaging.

✝ May opperate in sensor base depending on the base. Not guaranteed.

N/A means product information not found readily on packaging or manufacturer's website.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Kyle Design is not responsible for incorrect or missing information.

Shop Kyle Design's Unique Night Lights to find a style or theme to match any decor.