The 4 Best Grow Lights, According To Our Testing

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

We grew basil, spinach, and tomato plants indoors to determine the best grow lights for every environment.

In This Article

If you’re dreaming of a lush oasis indoors or just trying to help your plants survive cold snaps, grow lights have you covered. In our testing, we found that on average, grow light plants grew 22% taller than their natural-light counterparts by the four-week mark.The field is wide when it comes to choosing the best grow lights—there are hanging models, tabletop styles, options that sit on the floor like a lamp, and some that come with apps.

To help you pick the perfect grow light, we tested a variety of grow lights for four weeks. We grew three different plants from seed under each light—basil, tomatoes, and spinach—and grew the same plants in a control group by windows with natural light to compare the results. We considered factors like overall plant growth, timer options, adjustable light, setup difficulty, quality of instructions, and appearance.

More effective than natural light

Easy to set up and use

Compatible with lamp timers to schedule daily light exposure

Does not overheat

Instructions don’t mention how far to place bulb from plants

Light spectrum isn’t adjustable

In our grow light test group, this model encouraged noticeable improvements in plant growth and health compared to our control group in natural light. By week four, our tomatoes and spinach had almost doubled in size compared to the control group, while our basil plants nearly tripled. The plants grown under this bulb sprouted several days before the others, and by the end of our tests, the grow light group looked fuller and greener.

Unlike the Leoter and Soltech lights we tested, it does not have a timer, but we appreciated the simplicity of the grow lights and the compact size. Setup was as simple as screwing the bulb into a standard socket, and we liked that it can be used with a lamp timer to schedule how many hours of light per day the plants receive. However, the bulb’s width may require a larger lamp shade. We do wish there were a way to adjust the light spectrum for maximum growth, but at this budget price, it’s not expected.

At 24 watts, the Sansi Indoor LED Grow Light Bulb provides plenty of light without getting warm. While it doesn’t overheat, the bulb is very bright—so it isn’t ideal for growing plants in your regular line of sight.

When temperatures dip and you want to overwinter your plants, this model offers versatility when it comes to placement. You just need to find a patch of ceiling for the hook to hang the cord from or use it to replace an existing bulb in your light fixture.

Though not aesthetically the prettiest on our list, we thought this was an excellent value for how powerful the light is and how simple it is to set up.

Size: 5 x 6.7 x 5 inches | Bulb Type: LED | Wattage: 24

Four separate flexible arms

Multiple bulb color and timer options

Does not overheat

Good for small spaces

Didn’t perform significantly better than natural light

Doesn’t feature a continuous light option

The Leoter grow light has built-in timers and four flexible arms that make it easy to adjust the light around your plants. We liked how simple the setup was—just unbox, clip it on a shelf, and plug it in. We also appreciated the integrated timer with intervals for three-, nine-, and 12-hour settings to keep plant maintenance minimal, though we do wish it had the option of more than 12 hours.

When we tested this grow light, the plant growth results weren’t as impressive as the Sansi bulb. While it offers three different light modes designed to maximize growth, we didn’t see a beneficial difference between plants grown under the light and our control group (even when using the 12-hour mode).

In the first two weeks, all three control group plants grew more than the grow light group. By the end of week four, only our spinach plants had equal growth with the grow light versus natural light.

Although we don’t think this grow light can effectively serve as the only light source for plants, it could add an extra boost of light for plants near low-light windows or during darker months of the year. We like that a simple button on the wire allows you to switch between warm (white) light, red and blue, or red, blue, and white to give your plants the maximum chance for success. We appreciated that the 80-watt light wasn’t warm to the touch or bright enough to be distracting, and its space-saving design reaches easily across multiple plants.

Size: Total Height: 27.5 inches; 10.2-inch lights | Bulb Type: LED | Wattage: 80

Easy instructions, setup, and installation

Touch-sensitive brightness and on/off controls

Has multiple mounting options

Does not overheat

Short cord may require an extension cord

Included adhesive strips don’t stick very well

If you have space and want a mounted bar of grow lights, the Soltech Grove LED Grow Light has a lot of capability. This grow light performed better than the Leoter light with noticeable differences between the control and test groups.

By week four, all of our plants grown with the light were double or almost double the size of those in the control group. Additionally, the seedlings under the grow light sprouted several days before those in natural light and looked healthier overall.

The setup was very minimal, and we appreciated the magnetic cord that rotates easily during installation. However, we did think the 6-foot cord could be longer, as it required an extension cord (not included) to reach our outlets. We enjoyed the simple instructions for mounting the light and using the timer.

During setup, we found it best to use separate hanging strips to attach to your surface to prevent paint peeling or adhesive not sticking. The good news is the unit did not break or become damaged when we initially mounted it with the included adhesive and it fell off. After setting it up, it stayed scheduled on its own, so all we needed to do was water the plants.

We appreciated the integrated timer, which has little "pins" you pull out to indicate which hours the light should be on and which times it should be off (1 through 12 a.m. and p.m.). Also, the light is touch-sensitive so you can turn it off or adjust the brightness at any time. Even though it’s only 11 watts of LED, the brightness can be distracting, so like all the models on this list, placement is key. We liked using this option so much that we will continue to use it going forward.

Size: Light: 16.5 x 1 inches; cord: 6 feet | Bulb Type: LED | Wattage: 11

Easy setup and height adjustments

Covers a large area

Does not overheat

Stays on continuously

Light isn’t adjustable

Setup requires two people

The elegant iron frame of the iGrowtek grow light makes this versatile when considering aesthetics. The setup could not be easier—put it on the stand, use the little straps to adjust how high or low you want the light to sit next to the plants, then plug it in. We appreciated that once it’s on, it stays on, so it doesn’t require resetting. While it’s not especially large, its shape and size does require a dedicated space, so it may not be ideal for every home.

In testing, our tomatoes and spinach plants both grew noticeably larger under the grow light, but the basil plants grew to the same size as the control group. Even though the iGrowtek light doesn’t have multiple light modes, our plants grew much better under it than the Leoter model.

Thanks to its wide width, it’s easy to grow multiple plants with this light at the same time (but taller plants like tomatoes may require a higher light as they grow).

The 10-watt LED light gave off plenty of light without getting warm, though we do wish the bulb were adjustable. Our seedlings thrived with this set of grow lights and we think the setup is perfect for starting plants, but value-wise, we think you should wait for a sale to purchase this set.

Size: 27.2 x 19.7 x 7.9 inches | Bulb Type: LED | Wattage: 10

The Sansi Grow Light Bulb is an affordable, user-friendly grow light that effectively grew plants larger and healthier than our natural light control group during testing. We were pleased with its simple setup, timer compatibility, and versatile design that can be used in most lamp sockets. This grow light produced the most noticeable plant growth of all the models we tested, doubling the size of two plants and tripling the size of one plant versus the control groups.

For a larger grow light setup, we love the Soltech Grove LED Grow Light for its integrated, customizable timer and adjustable brightness. This grow light also made a noticeable difference in the growth of our testing group versus the control group, with all plants doubling or nearly doubling in size. If you’re planning to grow multiple plants under the same light, we think the Soltech light is worth the investment.

We tested six grow lights for four weeks, growing three different types of plants under each light. For each test, we planted six seed packets in six separate pots: two basil plants, two tomato plants, and two spinach plants. We grew one of each plant variety under the grow lights, then grew one of each variety in natural light by a window to serve as our control group.

To test the effectiveness of the grow lights, we compared each plant’s growth results to its control group counterpart. The grow lights were placed in rooms with little to no natural sunlight to accurately assess their results. We tended to each identical plant exactly the same throughout the testing period, then compared the differences in height, fullness, color, and overall plant health for the grow light group versus the control group.

During testing, we noted how many days it took the seedlings to sprout under the grow lights versus in windows with natural light. At weeks two and four, we measured the height of the tallest sprouts for each plant and determined whether the grow light plants performed better or worse than the control groups.

We also assessed the practicality and efficiency of each grow light when used at home. We looked at factors like ease of use and setup, quality of instructions, and overall size. Features like built-in timers, multiple light color modes, and adjustable brightness options were considered when evaluating each light’s value and ease of use.

Southern Living

Many configurations and styles of grow lights are available on the market. Tabletop units are great for small spaces or a limited number of plants, while hanging or panel lights suit larger plant collections.

Meredith Bishop, owner of Bloom & Bounty in Nashville, says, “Grow lights can be placed anywhere, and there are many options on the market. Ranging from a tabletop arm light to 48-inch shop lights hung from baker’s racks, grow lights come in a range of sizes and can be easily manipulated to fit most home gardener’s circumstances.”

She adds, “Seeds need only warmth and moisture to germinate, and have all the initial food they will need contained in the first set of leaves (called the cotyledons). Because photosynthesis doesn’t commence until the plant produces its first set of ‘true’ leaves, lights can be completely omitted until that point.”

When considering size, evaluate the growing space you need to cover—the light should cover the entire growing area. Bishop adds, “Plants need the light source placed only 2 to 3 inches above the top growth point, so look for lights that can adjust as the plant grows. Second, be sure that the outer seedlings are covered by the light source as well as the center. Invest in a light that is large enough to cover the entire tray of seedlings. And third, buy a simple timer. This will alleviate the dual problems of too much or too little light.”

There are really three types of bulb: LED, fluorescent, and incandescent. All of the grow lights on our list utilize LED—they are more efficient, offer ideal light spectrum ranges, and emit less heat.

Fluorescent lights tend to be the middle of the road as far as prices go and perform with more energy efficiency than incandescent—the least expensive, most energy inefficient, and highest heat emitting.

According to Bishop, “While plants utilize the entire light spectrum to photosynthesize, the predominant color used to promote plant growth should be dictated by where the plant is in its growth cycle.”

She adds, “The most utilized wavelengths during photosynthesis are red and blue light. Red light promotes germination and flowering, and would be most appropriate for seedlings, while blue light controls leaf thickness and root development, and would be best used where vegetable growth is needed.”

Southern Living

In general, the higher-wattage lights are more intense and better for growing in larger areas. But the wattage your plants need depends on many other factors like plant type, what age they are, and how dense their foliage is. Most experts recommend somewhere between 32 and 40 watts per square foot for the best growth.

Sometimes the term PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) may appear on the grow lights’ label—it refers to the amount of light the grow lights give off. According to a 2020 study, 200 to 900 PPFD is optimal for plant growth, depending on their growth stage. But don’t be alarmed if PPFD is not listed; not all models have them on labels.

We found that lights were often too bright for the space in which they were placed, but the plant needed the brightness for proper growth, making placement an important consideration when shopping for grow lights.

LBW LED Grow Light: While we liked this grow light’s adjustable height, it wasn’t large enough to grow many plants at a time. In testing, there wasn’t a significant difference between plants grown under this light versus the control group—but we think it still makes a good option for houseplants needing extra light in the winter or growing near low-light windows. We appreciated its dimming features and portable design thanks to the built-in stand.

Mars Hydro LED Grow Light: We enjoyed this grow light’s warm glow that wasn’t as harsh as most grow lights, and because it points straight down, it’s not distracting. However, we think this light would be better for established plants, as its 100-watt bulb seemed to burn the leaves of our seedlings and didn’t improve growth overall. It isn’t overly heavy, but setup can be awkward and requires a sturdy rod or dowel to hang the light from.

Carrie Honaker is a food and travel writer who grew up on a farm and has owned her share of grow lights as she moved around the country. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she has maintained an active herb and vegetable garden at home—she knows the importance of the right amount of light for fragile seedlings, even in her home state of Florida's abundant, natural sunshine.

Caley Sturgill is a gardening, landscaping, architecture, and interior design writer. She has a decade of experience in growing healthy houseplants and gardens in locations from city apartments to her home in the Blue Ridge. As an enthusiast of all things plant-related, she knows what features to look for in an effective and practical grow light, whether for starting seeds indoors or improving the growth of plants with high sun-exposure needs in low-light conditions.

To compile this list, we tested six of the best grow lights available, evaluating them based on ease of use, design, performance, and value. For expert tips on what to look for in grow lights, we consulted Meredith Bishop, owner of Bloom & Bounty in Nashville.