Dark Days Ahead? These Top-Rated Grow Lights Are Just What You Need (2024)

• Our Picks

• How We Tested

• What to Look For

• FAQ

• Why Trust The Spruce

Tested in one of our own homes, our pick for the best overall grow light is the GE BR30. This light offers an advanced red spectrum, ideal for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, fruit trees, and flowers. At 120 volts, it conveniently fits into most standard lamps, which means you don’t have to go out and buy any additional accessories or equipment, and it should blend in pretty well with your other decor. Plus, we found that it requires very little setup (just screw in the lightbulb!). However, you do need to have a lamp on hand to use it, or multiple lamps if you intend to use more than one bulb.

We tested this bulb in a desk lamp and were able to adjust the neck of the lamp to shine on the plant. We found that the bulb gave off a nice, warm glow without being as glaringly bright as other options. The light was still plenty bright to give seedlings what they needed though, and we noticed rapid growth within just a few days. We also used it on a yucca plant and reported noticeable improvements after three weeks.

Unlike many other grow lights on this list, you will need to replace the bulb in a few months (depending on how often it is used). However, you can buy it in packs of four so you'll always have a replacement handy. Overall we think this is an easy, versatile, and affordable option utilizing what you may already have at home.

_{Dimensions: 4.06 x 5.94 inches | Type: LED | Wattage: 9 watts}

After installing and testing the Soltech Solutions Hanging Grow Light, we can confirm that it is as sleek and stylish as it is functional. It comes in two sizes: 5.8 by 3.8 inches with 2,000 lumens, and 7 by 4 inches with 4,000 lumens. Both are extremely powerful and provide a nice amount of natural-looking light. We also like that this lamp comes in two colors—black and white—to match your decor. Although this hanging light is one of the more expensive options on the market, it should last longer than the competition. According to the manufacturer, it can last for up to 15 years when used for an average of 16 hours per day.

We tested this 20-watt lamp on an aloe plant with very favorable results. After three weeks of use, we noticed several new growths sprouting up, which was much more than we had experienced without the light.

Each unit includes a 15-foot fabric cord, three ceiling hooks, two wall fairleads, and a swag hook for do-it-yourself installation. Just note that despite clear instructions, we found the installation process to be somewhat tricky, requiring two people, a ladder (given the ceiling installation), and a drill. Tricky installation aside, we believe the Soltech Solutions Hanging Grow Light is highly effective and aesthetically pleasing.

_{Size: 3.8 x 5.8 inches | Type: LED | Wattage: 20 watts}

The Aceple Desk Plant Grow Light produces excellent results at an affordable price, and offers a combination of red and blue LEDs. The 660 nanometers (nm) of red light is ideal for flowers and fruits, while 460 nm of blue light encourages photosynthesis. We tested this light in a house and greenhouse on African violets and lemon cucumbers, and noticed a vast improvement in their growth. In particular, after two weeks of use, one of the African violets started to produce a new bud, after not sprouting for years.

We love how versatile this grow light is: Thanks to a wide-opening clamp, you can attach it to almost any table, chair, desk, or countertop. It even has rubber pads on the clamp to prevent surface damage. Plus, the flexible gooseneck allows you to adjust the angle of the light easily.We found it to be extremely portable, easy to set up, and small enough to tuck away in a drawer. We think its compact size makes it ideal for households with a few small plants. You can even screw it into the wall for a more permanent yet space-saving solution, but keep in mind that you will lose the portability.

We do want to note a few flaws in the design: Unlike many other options, this light doesn’t come with a timer, but it is easy enough to turn it on and off manually. Also, it would be helpful if the gooseneck arm were a little longer for even more versatility. But overall, we found this light to be an excellent budget-friendly option.

_{Size: 2 x 2 x 16 inches | Type: LED | Wattage: 6 watts}

If you want a "set it and forget it" indoor garden system, complete with an LED grow light and self-watering feature, you'll love the AeroGarden Bounty Basic Indoor Gardening. We tested this hydroponic system for three months in our lab and found it to be an effortless way of growing herbs and vegetables. Overall, we think this system is especially helpful for those who may forget to water, feed, or turn the light on for their plants, as you can set up the timer and be alerted on the touch screen when food or water runs out. And if you are going on vacation, you don't have to worry about finding someone to water your plants!

The setup was simple and took less than five minutes. We just had to insert the post into the garden base, followed by inserting the light into the post (both clicked in to let us know that they were in properly). After we plugged in the pump cord and power cord, the touch screen lit up with a "Quick Plant" page to let us know the next steps. It also gives you an estimate of how many days until growth, the water level, and when plant food is needed. We also appreciated the included "Trellis System" that is also easy to click in an install—like most trellises, this is to help support the plants as they grow taller.

We loved that each of the plant pods has a note indicating the plant's eventual height (short, medium, or tall), which we found particularly helpful when figuring out where to plant them (front for smaller plants, back for the taller ones). For example, the dill pod indicated that it would grow tall, and we found that it grew surprisingly tall (in fact, it grew faster. and taller than any of the other pods). We had to adjust the arm of the light panel higher because the dill started to burn. Luckily, the light is easy to adjust, so you can make it taller as the plants grow (as high as 24 inches). Also, note that we received 11 pods (it has room for nine), and swapped out two of the extra pods that we initially planted that seemed slower to grow.

While this is one of the most expensive options on our list, we think it's worth it if you want a self-sufficient way of growing herbs and vegetables. Keep in mind that you do need to purchase special pods and plant food. However, AeroGarden does provide many different types of pods and plant food for purchase. Also, this is one of AeroGarden's largest systems, so while it does hold up to nine plants, you may want to make sure you have the right amount of space for it. While we found that it doesn't make a lot of noise, the light could be a little distracting if you are in a small space trying to work or watch TV while it is on.

_{Dimensions: 16 x 6 x 8 inches | Type: LED | Wattage: 30 watts}

Designed to be mounted flush or hung against a ceiling or wall, the Feit Electric Dual Grow Tube Light is meant to replace traditional greenhouse lighting and delivers a full spectrum to help achieve optimal results for a variety of plants and flowers. The energy-efficient LED bulbs have low heat emissions, so you don’t have to worry about burning your plants' leaves. The bulbs emit 450 nm of blue light and 655 nm of red light, an ideal combination that encourages plant growth and photosynthesis.

For added convenience, the light arrives fully assembled and is easy to install. The unit comes with two 6-inch hanging wire harnesses, a 5-foot plug-in cord, and all the necessary mounting hardware.

Although the stated life expectancy of the bulbs is 25,000 hours, some users have noted that the bulbs stopped working within several months. However, this light is more affordable than some of the other options in this roundup, should it need to be replaced.

_{Dimensions: 23.33 x 4.9 x 1.73 inches | Type: LED | Wattage: 19 watts}

Similar to the AeroGarden Bounty Basic, the Click & Grow is an all-in-one system that keeps your plants thriving with both water and light, with little effort on your part. However, if you are looking for a smaller system for a few herbs, we love the Click & Grow, for its simplicity, and compact footprint. We also tested this product in our lab for three months and found it very easy to put together, living up to its name. Although it required a little bit more than clicking and growing, we just had to insert the pods, place the clear domes on top of them, pour water into the basin, and plug in the power cord.

We do want to note that, unlike the AeroGarden, there is no screen with instructions telling you that everything is set up properly, how many days until growth, or when food might be needed. You just have to wait for growth and monitor the water level indicator, which we found is very subtle and easy to miss. We do like that the light is self-timed and turns off and on automatically. Also, the system comes with two extension arms that you can click on when your plants grow tall. We found them helpful as our plants did grow pretty tall and burned on one occasion. However, even though the lights were powerful, we found them to be aesthetically pleasing (even more so than the AeroGarden). It's also worth noting that although the basil grew very slowly at first (we had the extension arm at first and the light might have been too high), once it did grow, we found it to look really healthy and taste great!

Although this garden comes with three basil pods, the company offers many different options you can purchase. Plus, we love that you can also use your own seeds with the Grow Anything Plant Pods. Overall, we think this is a relatively affordable system, with simple, yet very helpful features.

_{Dimensions: 9 x 4.9 x 12.5 inches | Bulb Type: LED | Wattage: Not listed}

Affordable and energy-efficient, the Venoya LED Grow Light is an excellent choice for a full-spectrum hanging light, with a spectrum of 390 nm to 730 nm, which includes UV, IR, red, and blue light. These lights have a vegetative coverage of 2 x 2 feet.

In addition to encouraging herbs and seedlings, this light can spur even the most delicate tropical plants and flowers to flourish year-round and at every stage of growth. At 75 watts, this grow light is powerful without getting hot.

The Venoya Full Spectrum Grow Light is lightweight and comes with four stainless steel wires and an S-hook, which you can attach to a dowel, rod, or hook. A potential downside is that it lacks a timer, so you need to reach the light to turn it on or off. We like that it comes with a 12-month warranty, should you have any issues.

_{Dimensions: 12.2 x 12.2 x 1.4 inches | Type: LED | Wattage: 75 watts}

The LEOTER Grow Light emits a full spectrum of color to encourage varied phases of plant growth. It emits 660 nm of red light and 460 nm of blue light, and a full-spectrum bandwidth of 380 nm to 800 nm. A combination of all three delivers the most positive growth results.

This light is equipped with an array of convenient features, including three timing modes, 10 dimmable modes, and three switch modes. The timer has 3-, 9-, or 12-hour increments and automatically turns on and off each day. That way, your plants receive adequate light even if you are at work or away on vacation “We use timers on our lights for ease of maintenance every day, note Jamie Chan and Blas Herrera of Fog City Gardener. "It will automatically turn off and on based on our desired schedule."

This grow light can be powered by a USB port or plugged into a standard outlet. An adapter is included for added convenience. It has four light heads, and four flexible gooseneck arms that can be adjusted by 360 degrees. Thanks to a sturdy mounting clip, it can be attached to any surface up to 3 inches thick, allowing for versatile placement. The only downsides are that the light tends to stop working within months, and it's unclear if the company provides a warranty. However, at this price point, a replacement isn't too expensive.

_{Dimensions: 3.35 x 5.87 x 13.66 inches (only the package dimensions are provided) | Bulb Type: LED}

This modular unit from Gardener's Supply Company allows you to grow plants vertically and expand as needed. Measuring 31 x 15.5 x 21 inches at its base, the compact, stackable design frees up precious floor space. Each shelf can hold up to 110 pounds, and you can add up to two shelves—in addition to the base unit. When stacking two or more units, you may need to anchor it to a wall with the supplied brackets for added stability.

With 3.5 square feet of space on each tier, you should have plenty of room for seedlings and a variety of other plants. Meanwhile, two full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs cover a large growing area. High-tech reflectors direct light downward, reducing glare and encouraging plant growth.

The unit is easy to assemble: The pieces snap together, and no extra tools are required. It’s also lightweight, which is a major plus. Each shelf weighs 7 pounds, and they come apart for easy storage when not in use.

It’s important to note that water drips from the upper shelves onto the light fixtures. You can purchase small boot trays from the manufacturer, or another type of drip tray, to prevent this from happening. Also, this product lacks a timer setting, but you can plug it into a power strip that has a built-in timer.

_{Dimensions: 31 x 15.5 x 21 inches (base measurements) | Bulb Type: Fluorescent | Wattage: 62 watts}

With 5 x 5 feet of vegetative coverage, the Spider Farmer SF-4000 LED Grow Light illuminates a large area. This 450-watt grow light emits a full spectrum of colors: white, blue, red, and IR. You can adjust the dimming from 10 to 100 percent.

Despite their large capacity, the included LED lights are energy efficient, according to the manufacturer. Thanks to a new diode layout, the light is more evenly distributed at optimal intensity. For safety, this unit features waterproofing and protective covering on the cables. It’s made from durable aluminum, which doesn’t throw off a huge amount of heat.

The only feature this otherwise stellar performer lacks is a timer. Hanging it above your plants is easy, and it lives up to the manufacturer’s plug-and-play claim.

_{Dimensions: 25.3 x 21.1 x 2.32 inches | Bulb Type: High-power LED | Wattage: 450 watts}

Final Verdict

Our top pick is the GE BR30 Grow LED Light, which fits into any standard-sized lamp and helps a wide variety of plants and flowers grow year-round. If you only have a few plants, we recommend the Aceple Desk Plant Grow Light. This portable option is easy to set up and very affordably priced. However, if you are looking for an all-in-one solution to both provide light, water, and food to your plants automatically, we love the AeroGarden Bounty Basic, which holds up to nine plants.

FAQ

• How far should grow lights be from plants?

  Though it depends on the wattage and light wavelengths, you should position grow lights at least 2 feet away from your indoor plants to avoid overheating. LEDs and fluorescent lights typically have lower heat outputs, so they can be placed a little closer.

• How long should grow lights be on?

  To effectively mimic the sun's natural light, a grow light should be on 8-16 hours a day, depending on where you live, what time of year it is, and the type of plant. Generally, if your plants receive some natural light, they don't need as much artificial light. A plant that doesn't get any natural light may need the full 16 hours.

• Do you have to use LED lights?

  LEDs are most often recommended for grow lights, though some fluorescent and incandescent bulbs can work. The most important thing is that regardless of type, the bulbs should offer full-spectrum illumination and produce waves of red and blue light, which is often necessary for plants to thrive indoors.