LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lights are a more durable, eco-friendly way to mimic the sun for your indoor plants. These lights don’t use gas, contain zero lead & mercury, have a long life, and produce low amounts of heat. What’s not to love, right?

For these reasons, many people are swapping out their current grow lights with LEDs. As manufacturers become more innovative, LED grow lights are becoming less expensive and more energy efficient. If you feel drawn to exploring the LED options out there, then check out this article.

What is the PPFD of LED Grow Light?

So what the hell is this PPFD? Full daylight sun at noon in the summer produces a PPFD of about 2000 (μmol/m2/s). But we don’t need to shine that much artificial light on our plants, they might be damaged and it would cost more money. Often manufacturers quote PPF — this is the maximum amount of light that comes out of a light source and is often measured right up close to the lamp or LED board. This isn’t much use to compare lights with, and lumens are used the same way as PPF. PAR is another measure of the total amount of light that reaches a plant during the day — this measurement is also not easy to measure and use. So it is best to speak in terms of PPFD to get an even playing field, the density of light reaching plants, which still changes depending on the distance from the light source. PPFD also needs to be varied depending on the size of the plant. For example, heavy flowering plants need a different amount of PPFD light depending on their size and stage of growth.

For Seedlings — 200 to 300
For Veg Phase — 300 to 600
For Flower Phase — 500 to 1000
Autoflower — 300 to 600 for whole life

ECO Farm 760W Commercial Full Spectrum LED Grow Light 

Features:

ECO Farm LED grow light is equipped with -Samsung LM301B & Osram 660nm Diodes and MEANWELL Driver, boast the market-leading efficiency 2.7 µmol/J, with 30% higher Average PPFD, get 50% greater yield & quality compared with the old lights! Only consumes 760Watt, perfect for 4x4ft grow tent/ grow room. The wide 8-bar form factor offers even & broad canopy coverage, maximize grow space, is easy to install, IP65 waterproof, ideal for high PPFD cultivation with single or multi-tier racking. Aluminum heat-sink,no-fan no noise design, and highest quality removable Meanwell Driver equal unmatched performance in heat dispersing & lifespan save 50% more energy than other old grow lights! Yield Max spectrum speeds up blooming & fruiting, perfect for Density Buds. This indoor grow light is widely suit for commercial, home, grow tent, grow room, hydroponic, soil full-cycle growing.

Watt: 760W-8bars 
Actual power: 760W±10% 
LED Chips: 2816 LM301b 3030 white chips
+ 64 Osram 660nm Red chips
Weight: 30.8lbs/14kg 
PPF : 1944 μmol/s 
Footprint: 6x6 ft
Efficacy: 2.7μmol/J
AC Input Voltage: 120–277V AC,347–480V AC,50/60Hz
Mounting Height: >=6'’(15.2cm) Above canopy
Thermal Management: Passive
Max. Ambient Temperature: 95°F/35°C
Dimming: 0–10V Dimmable
Total Harmonic Distortion(THD): <15%
Warranty: 5 Years Standard Warranty

Mammoth Lighting Commercial UV Series — 10 Bar 740W LED Grow Light

Features:

Mammoth Lighting has been developed by indoor growers over many years of careful experimentation and testing. Scientifically engineered to deliver the highest level of PAR output and balanced Coverage in the LED grow the market. The Mammoth LED grow lights are built with high-quality Samsung diodes. The lights encompass a continuous range of wavelengths from blue and green to red, creating a light blend matching the natural sunlight. Mammoth customized their light spectrum to optimize plant growth and increase yields while consuming less energy and reducing operating costs compared with traditional horticulture technologies. Higher Light Intensity, Better Coverage, More advanced features, Same Warranty, ETL Listed.

Product: LED grow light 10 strips, 8 standards + 2 UV, dimming, RJ port
Power: 640w + 100W (50w each UV bars)
Voltage: AC100–250V 50–60Hz
LEDs: SAMSUNG LM301B SK bin + UV diodes
LED driver: Constant Current
Spectrum: 3500K add 660nm, UV bars 400nm + 310nm
LED lifespan: 50000 Hours
Dimension: 47.9 x 43 x 3.9"
Plug: 10 Foot standard 120v (US appliance) or add 240v

Buyer’s Guide: Things to Look For Before You Buy LED Grow Light Strips

One must remember that these light strips are never the primary source of light but act as a secondary source of light to areas where the primary source cannot properly reach.

This is particularly beneficial for those growers who are growing a large number of plants. If you are a grower who is growing on a small and personal scale you might skip it.

This will benefit those growers who have a very thick foliage layer on the top portion of their plants. If your grow light isn’t able to reach the bottom portions you might want to use these light strips to enhance that area.

Another type of growers that this light is for those who are using low-intensity grow light panels and want to ensure an extra dose of brightness.

Pros and Cons of Using LED Light Strips

Now that you know what these light strips are, which are some of the best options in the markets as well as what to look for before you buy them, here’s a quick look at some pros and cons of using these light strips:

Pros

LED grow light strips offer the growers one big advantage in that they can provide lighting from many different angles where traditional grow light panels cannot penetrate.

LED grow lights are also great for growers who are growing in a compact setup as they occupy very little space. Since there’s no bulk that is usually associated with a grow light panel, these strips of light fit in anywhere with ease.

LED grow light strips are also beneficial as they generate very low heat compared to normal lights. This means you can place them closer to the plants. They even consume very little power as there’s nothing in them other than the LEDs.

Cons

Cannot be used in isolation and are not a standalone replacement to LED grow lights but are an add-on enhancement.

Conclusion

LEDs are already quite cheap and utilize less energy even though they provide enough intensity for the plants to grow naturally. If you are someone who watches out for their carbon footprint and looks for energy-efficient devices, a cheap LED grow light is your best bet.

There are still many options and when choosing something for your grow tent, focus on the area of your indoor garden and the kind of plants you will be growing. A full spectrum is obviously the best.

Do LED grow lights cost less to run?

LED grow lights may have the highest initial cost of all the lighting types, but they pay for themselves over time. These lights are the most efficient, and cost far less to run than MH/HPS and CMH, while providing arguably the highest performance.

On top of this, LED’s generate less heat than other grow lights. This cuts HVAC costs, further lowering your energy bill.

How much will it cost to run Black Dog LED grow lights?

To run a PhytoMAX-2 1000 12 hours per day at a utility rate of $0.12/kWh will cost $1.51 per day, or $45.36 per month.

Running a PhytoMAX-2 1000 12 hours per day uses 12.60 kWh per day, or 378.00 kWh per month.

How much will it cost to run G8LED grow lights?

One of the main advantages of growing with LED grow lights is their lower power usage. G8LED grow lights are very efficient at growing healthier indoor plants with increased potency while reducing the operating expense of an indoor grow at any scale. G8LED lights reduce the amount of electricity needed to grow plants and minimize the heat output, which in turn reduces the HVAC tonnage necessary to keep the grow room in the desired temperature range of 72–88 degrees F.

To calculate the monthly cost of operating a G8LED light, use the actual power draw in wattage. For example, the G8–600 Veg/Flower light has a power draw of 380 Watts. This means the light consumes 0.38 Kilowatts (Kw) per hour.

Multiply this number by the number of hours the light is on per day (ex:18 hours per day during vegetative growth.

0.38kW x 18hours = 6.84kWh (kilowatt hours)

Multiply the total kilowatt hours by your electrical rate. You can find this on your power bill or check the map above. The average price in the USA is 12.83 cents per kilowatt-hour ($0.1283/kWh).

6.84kWh x $0.1283/kWh = $0.8776

This is the daily cost to operate the G8LED 600W Veg/Flower grow light.

Multiply by 30 to get the monthly operating cost.

30 x $0.8776 = $26.33

In addition to the lower power usage of the light, the lower heat output means less HVAC and more savings. Furthermore, G8LED grow lights do not need any ballasts, hoods, or reflectors. G8LED grow lights also require less water to grow plants. G8LED lights are a wise investment for any indoor grow operation to increase your return on investment (ROI).

ECO Farm ECOT Dimmable Samsung LM301H Quantum board LED Grow Light with UV&IR

Eco Farm LED grow light designs with high-density aluminum shell, ultra-thin and convenient. NOISE FREE-Fanless design will make your growing life easy and quiet. Perfect for indoor plants growing.

Different from the traditional grow light, Eco Farm LED grow light adopts a high-tech LED chip can save 80% energy and replace 3–5 times high power HPS grow light to produce your best, most energy-efficient harvest ever, which also can save a lot of money for you.

IP65 waterproof grade, unique lens reflector design improves the PPFD intensity. Turn your seeds into your own supply, produce beautiful high yielding plants. Easy to see the true colour of your plants.

The actual power consumption of this 480W LED PANEL is only 3.32kwh, and 24 hours is 1440 minutes. In this way, the power consumption for 24 hours a day is about 3.32 * 1440/442 = 10.82kwh，According to the current electricity bill in the U.S., which is $ 0.125 per kilowatt-hour, you can cover the area of a 25.00 square foot cannabis nursery area for only $ 1.352 a day. 1 square foot (sq.ft) = 0.092903 square meters (㎡), which can cover an area of 2.32 square meters.

Covering cannabis growing and flowering areas can cover 6.61 square feet. 1 square foot (sq.ft) = 0.092903 square meters (㎡), which can cover an area of 0.61 square meters.

If your room is 30 square meters (323sq.ft) with a width of 5 meters and a length of 6 meters, remove the non-planting area in the space. The area of the planting area is about 20 square meters, then 27 lights are enough. Cannabis grows. The light is usually turned on for only 16 hours a day, so the real daily electricity bill should be 23.95USD.

Establish Whether Your Grow Tent is for Veg, Flowering, or Full Cycle Growing

How do you want to set up your grow operation? Do you plan to transfer plants between a dedicated veg tent and a flowering tent? Or do you plan to guide your crop through its full harvest cycle in the same enclosure?

growWHAT SIZE LED GROW LIGHT DO I NEED?

The size of light you need is going to depend on the size of you grow space and how many plants you have. Generally speaking, LEDs need to draw ~32 watts from the wall for each square foot of grow space. So if you were growing in a 1×1 foot space, you’d need that 32 watts of power to efficiently grow in that space. 2 square feet? 64 watts. 4 square feet? 128 watts. You get the idea. There are additional variables that might necessitate tweaking this a bit — plant height for example, but as a general rule, a 32 watt draw per square foot of grow space is what you want to shoot for.480Watt LED grow light suitable for 3*5 ft grow tent and 4*4 ft grow tent!

When choosing the best grow light to recommend, there are a few things we usually look at: the true output wattage, the spectrum, the coverage, the ratings, and the price

ECO Farm ECOR Samsung LM301H 480W Dimmable Quantum Board with Meanwell Driver

ECO Farm LED Grow Boards utilize the latest in high yielding LEDs technology today-Samsung LM301H 3500K diodes, high Energy Efficiency with 2.8umol/J, make you get 30% higher yield compare OLD blurple led lights. Max 2.2g yield per wattage (power draw), achieve maximum quality and quantity, much better than traditional HPS grow systems. 480W Veg footprint is 5x5ft, Bloom footprint is 4x4f

Idea for all growth stages, excellent full spectrum- white, red, IR and UV(3500K, 660nm and IR760nm&390nmUV). The 3500K color spectrum has a good amount of both blue spectral output (400–450 nm for vegetative growth) as well as red spectral output (600–660 nm for flowering); The 660nm red and IR light is especially useful during bloom, where it speeds up flowering time and boost yields. UV light can speed up the germination process for starting seeds when grown indoors

$478.57 USD

ECO Farm 480W LM301B Quantum Board Dimmable Cycle Timing UV IR Independent Controlled

Meanwell Power Supply; 480w power draw (dimmable to 60w), 1000W SE HID replacement.
Flower Footprint: 4' x 4', Veg Footprint: 5' x 5'
480W LM301B designed full-spectrum high efficiency white light quantum boards with Samsung LM301B (5000K+3000K) 664 PCS + 660nm 224PCS+156 PCS uv + 24 PCS IR total 30W
System PPF Efficacy: 2.7 μmol/joule; Total Output: 1467.9 PPF; Reliable passive-cooled design & ETL certified

IR UV are independently controlled
· Cycle Timing design

$471.45 USD

HYPHOTONFLUX HPF4000 Full Spectrum Led Grow Lights For 5x5ft Coverage

HYPHOTONFLUX LED Grow Lights Application: grow tent, grow room, greenhouse, hydroponics, indoor gardening and more places for different indoor plants. Specification Model: HPF4000 Size: 34.25” X 29.72” X 4.06” (870 X 755 X 103mm)Net Weight: 24.3 lbs (11KG) Spectrum: 3000K+4000K plus deep red 660nmPower : 480W±3%@AC120V 480W±3%@AC240VCoverage footprint: Vegetative Stage: 4'x4' (1.2m*1.2m) to 6'x6' (1.8m*1.8m) Flowering Stage: 4'x4' (1.2m*1.2m) to 5'x5' (1.5m*1.5m)Input Voltage: AC100–277V Amp: 2.7A@AC120V 1.45A@AC240V 1.3A@AC277VFrequency: 50–60HZPower Factor: >0.95Surge Protection: 4KVEfficacy: 2.7umol/JDimmable:Knob dimmable+ RJ Port dimmablePackage Including: 1, 1 x Hyphotonflux HPF-4000 LED grow light 2, 1 x 6' (1.8M) Power Cord 3, 1 x Hanging Kits