Choosing the right lighting for the rooms in your home is essential for setting the right ambiance. When you’re shopping for LED bulbs, it’s pretty easy to know what the ones labeled as “soft white” will look like. However, some of the other options, like daylight and bright white, might be confusing.
The main difference between these two bulbs is the type of light they project. Bright white LED bulbs emit a pure white light, while daylight bulbs give off more of a blue color and are brighter.
It sounds simple, but there’s a lot more to these bulbs than the color hue they give off. So, if you need to know the difference between them before you decide on the best one for your living room or kitchen, then you’re in the right place. Read on to learn more about these bulbs and which rooms in your home are better suited for them.
What’s the Difference Between Daylight and Bright White LED Bulbs?
Daylight and bright white LED bulbs have a few significant differences. Daylight bulbs are meant to mimic natural sunlight, so they have a more blue hue. These bulbs are higher up on the Kelvin scale, which is used to denote the type of color a bulb will give off.
Your average incandescent bulb will have a Kelvin rating of 2,700-3,000, which gives a soft yellow glow and makes the room feel cozy. Daylight bulbs have a Kelvin rating of 5,000-6,500, so they give off a sharp blue color that’s excellent for creating contrast between colors in a room.
Bright white LED bulbs have a lower Kevlin rating of 4,000-5,000. The color of these bulbs often falls between white and blue, and it gives off noticeable energy in the room it’s in.
What Are Daylight LED Bulbs?
Daylight LED bulbs work just as the name suggests. These bulbs are made to mimic natural sunlight, so they’re very bright and emit a bluish color. These bulbs are high on the Kelvin scale, with a rating of 5,000-6,500.
Daylight LED bulbs are excellent for creating contrast between colors in a room, lighting up a small space, and allowing you to focus more clearly on the details of your room. These bulbs are excellent to use in rooms you’re redecorating or in your kitchen, bathroom, or basement.
What Are Bright White LED Bulbs?
Bright white LED bulbs are a bit lower on the Kelvin scale than daylight bulbs. They have a rating of 4,000-5,000, so the light they emit is between white and blue color tones.
These bulbs are excellent for creating a brightly lit room while still providing a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Bright white LED blubs give the room an energized feel, but it’s more relaxed than the ambiance a daylight bulb creates. These bulbs are perfectly suited for use in your living room, dining room, or bedroom.
Comparison Questions (Daylight vs Bright White LED Bulbs):
Which Lightbulb Is Brighter?
While you might think that bright white and daylight bulbs will be equally bright, that’s not actually the case. Daylight bulbs rank higher on the Kelvin scale, so they give off a brighter light. Daylight bulbs also emit a more bluish light, which can feel sharper and brighter to your eyes.
Do Daylight or Bright White LED Bulbs Use More Electricity?
All LED bulbs use as much as 95% less electricity than regular incandescent bulbs, which is why they’ve become such a popular choice in recent years. Using LED bulbs can lower your electricity bill by using less energy, and they also last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
When it comes to comparing the electrical usage of daylight and bright white LED bulbs, they’re actually very comparable. Bright white LED bulbs use slightly less electricity than daylight bulbs because they aren’t emitting as bright of a light, but it’s not a big enough difference to be noticeable on your energy bill at the end of the month.
Which Lightbulb Is More Affordable?
The price range for these lightbulbs is pretty comparable. The biggest factor in how much these cost and which is more affordable really comes down to which brand you decide to go with. Here’s a quick table showing the breakdown in cost for each lightbulb based on some popular brands that sell them:
| Brand | Price Per 1 Daylight Bulb | Price Per 1 Bright White Bulb |
| Slyvania | $1.06 | $1.25 |
| EcoSmart | $4.58 | $4.62 |
| Phillips | $3.48 | $3.25 |
As you can see, each brand has a very different price range for their light bulbs. Some brands have special features that raise the price of their bulbs, such as dimming settings or extended lifetimes. Pricing also depends on the wattage each brand offers, so if you want a bulb with more features and higher wattage, then you can expect to pay a higher price per bulb.
Do Daylight LED Bulbs Last Longer Than Bright White LED Bulbs?
Daylight and bright white LED bulbs will probably last the same amount of time. There are some factors that will affect how long your lightbulb lasts, regardless of whether they’re daylight or bright white.
The amount of time you leave your lightbulb on is the biggest factor that determines how long it will last. Most LED lightbulbs advertise their lifetime in terms of hours, usually between a range of 15,000-25,000. Most daylight and bright white LED bulbs have a lifetime guarantee closer to 25,000 hours, which means you shouldn’t need to replace it for at least twenty years.
Which Lightbulb Is More Environmentally Friendly?
Since daylight and bright white LED bulbs use a similar amount of electricity, are made the same way, and generally have the same lifetime, these bulbs are equally environmentally friendly. All LED bulbs are more environmentally friendly than incandescent bulbs because they use up fewer energy resources and prevent excess waste by lasting for a very long time.
Related Questions:
Daylight vs Bright White Light LED Bulbs For Kitchens
Kitchens are typically a room that see a lot of activity. Cooking, organizing groceries, and cleaning up all requires you to be able to see to the best of your ability. Kitchens also typically feature many contrasting colors, such as white countertops with black appliances.
A daylight bulb would be best for your kitchen. It’ll give you the sharper blue light necessary to see everything in detail, and it’ll help stress the contrast of the colors in your room.
Bright White vs Soft Light LED Bulbs
Bright white bulbs sit in the 4,000-5,000 range on the Kelvin scale, while soft white LED bulbs are generally int he 2,700-3,000 range. Bright white bulbs give off a color somewhere in between the white and blue spectrum. Soft white LED bulbs will give off a more yellowish hue, similar to the light incandescent bulbs emit. If you’re looking to create a more relaxed atmosphere in your bedroom, then soft white LED bulbs would be a better choice than bright white bulbs.
Daylight vs Bright White LED Bulbs For Living Rooms
Daylight bulbs produce a bluish, sharp light that’s excellent for seeing all the details in the room. Bright white LED bulbs give off a more gentle color and provide a more energetic but relaxed atmosphere. Living rooms are a great space for families to gather today, play games, and just generally relax in each others’ presence. A bright white LED bulb will feel more comfortable in your living room than a daylight bulb.
The Verdict– What’s the Difference?
There are quite a few differences between daylight and bright white LED bulbs. The most obvious difference is where they sit on the Kelvin scale. Daylight bulbs are generally rated between 5,000-6,500, while bright white bulbs are between 4,000-5,000. Daylight bulbs give off a sharper blue light, so they’re perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Bright white bulbs emit a color between the white and blue spectrums, so it’s ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms.
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Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.