Why Are My LEDs Too Bright?

Your old incandescent has gone out and you decided to replace it with an LED bulb. You screw it in, turn it on, and… gahhh! While blinking away the spots in front of your eyes, you realize something: this LED bulb is too bright! But it was the same wattage equivalency as your old bulb, so why is it so much brighter?

Perception is Everything

The light that can be seen with the human eye called the visible spectrum. It is measured in wavelengths and falls between 380 and 760 nanometers. On either side of the visible spectrum is ultra violet and infrared light, both of which are invisible to us. Incandescent and LED bulbs give off very different light spectrums. Below is a graph showing a general incandescent spectrum:

When a light source is operating, part of its energy is burned off as heat becoming infrared light. By looking at the graph above, incandescent light follows a very smooth curve that gradually goes up. Its strongest light is toward the red end of the visible spectrum. As light approaches the end of what we can perceive, most of its energy (up to 90%) is burned off making it invisible. Now let’s take a look at the LED bulb in the graph above.

Notice the difference in delivered light. Designed to target the visible spectrum, the highest spike of LED light is in the middle. Since LEDs also generate a lower amount of heat, they do not lose as much light on the infrared end. What this means is that LEDs appear to be brighter compared to incandescent bulbs because they generate a higher amount of light that can be seen by the human eye.

However, remember that true light output is measured in Lumens. This is why it is best to look at the Lumens when considering which bulbs to pick out. Sometimes LEDs can be listed with a certain wattage equivalent but vary on lumen output, exceeding the average lumen count of the light source it is designed to imitate. Going only by equivalent wattage can cause you to choose a light that is too bright for your intended purpose. To give you an idea of the standard output, the table below shows an average Lumen count per bulb wattage:

Kelvin (color of the light) can also alter the perceived brightness. Kelvin ranges from an orange color, around 2200 Kelvin, up to a blue color (i.e. 6500 Kelvin, which simulates daylight). A standard incandescent is usually around 2700 Kelvin, emitting the warm light you are used to. An LED of the same color temperature and Lumens will have a similar glow but will still be brighter. If you replace that 2700K incandescent with a 4000K, you are going to go from a yellowish light to a bright white. Large jumps like that are noticeable and can seem very drastic.

Tips for Cutting the Brightness

While the light may seem very bright at first, you will adjust. If the light really bothers you, there are several ways that you can go about decreasing the brightness. If your bulbs are dimmable, then you can pair them with a compatible dimmer switch. We carry several types of wall dimmer switches and plug-in dimmers for table lamps. Lamp shades are also a useful tool for cutting light brightness by redirecting the light out into the room. If your ceiling lights are too bright, swap out clear covers and globes for frosted covers to soften the light. The frosted lens will help diffuse the light to more bearable levels, reduce glare on shiny surfaces like countertops and tables, and also look nice. There is also the option of purchasing bulbs that have frosted glass. This is especially helpful for decorative lighting like chandeliers and sconces where the bulbs are exposed.