Daylight Light Bulbs - Full Spectrum Light Bulbs Customer Reviews

Daylight and full-spectrum bulbs replicate the sun’s natural light and can be used in the same way as any other bulb, though they may also have health benefits for some users.

Daylight Vs. Full Spectrum Bulbs

Though the terms daylight and full spectrum are sometimes used interchangeably, they refer to two different types of lighting.

Daylight refers to color temperature, measured in degrees Kelvin. These Kelvin degrees are described in different tones of white. A Kelvin temperature between 2,700K-3,000K would be considered warm white; daylight is 5,000K-6,500K. To see how a space is different when lit with different color temperatures, try our color temperature selector tool.

A full spectrum bulb represents the entire visible light spectrum, which is the same as the sun. The closest we can come to measure this is with the CRI (color rendering index) on a scale of 0-100. The higher the CRI of a bulb, the closer it is to representing the full spectrum of visible light.

80 CRI is a fairly common CRI in household bulbs. When looking for a full spectrum bulb, 90+ is very good, and 100 is perfectly full spectrum.

What are Daylight Bulbs Used For

Daylight and full-spectrum bulbs can be used for anything other bulbs are used for. They do have a few applications that regular bulbs do not cover.

A bulb that is both daylight and full spectrum is closest to the sun’s light at noon that technology has been able to mimic. This style of bulb or fixture is often used in light therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). The people who use these fixtures - often called light boxes - find they lessen their symptoms of S.A.D.

The research that has been done indicates that light therapy boxes positively affect the brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep patterns. By doing this, it can be concluded that light therapy boxes have relatively the same impact on mental health as sunlight.

It is important to note that the lights used for treating Seasonal Affective Disorder require more than just being daylight and full spectrum. If you are interested in using a light box, discuss it with a doctor or therapist to find your best option.

When looking for bulbs for plants, view our selection of plant and aquarium lighting.

Where to Use Daylight Bulbs

Where daylight/full spectrum bulbs are used depends largely on the atmosphere you want to create.

For a look of natural light, daylight bulbs are your best option. If you want a warm and cozy space (often recommended for bedrooms) color temperatures in the 2,200-3,000K range are what you’re looking for.

Though the daylight look can be used anywhere, people especially prefer it in productive areas, such as the kitchen. Using daylight bulbs in your bathroom may help when putting on makeup so you don’t have the yellow light to contend with. Daylight bulbs and fixtures are popular in retail applications for these same reasons.