TOP 25 BEST LED GROW LIGHTS 2022

Best LED Grow Lights 2022 List High Times

List of the best LED grow lights 2022. Ordered by the top reviewed best LED grow lights for weed, best LED grow lights under $500, $200, $100, and best COB LED grow lights.

Best LED Grow Lights for Cannabis 2022

Spider Farmer SF-4000 LED Grow Light

Spider Farmer SF-4000 LED Grow Light Samsung Chips Meanwell Driver: The #1 Best LED Light for Cannabis in 2022

Overview: Harness the power of intense LED light using highly-efficient Samsung LM301B LEDs, some of the best LEDs on the market. The huge Spider Farmer SF-4000 LED grow light contains 1212 evenly-spaced LEDs powered by a dimmable Meanwell driver. Sunlight spectrum (Blue, White, Red, and IR). The aluminum board fixture stays cool without the need for fans which helps for power savings. Rubber coating reduces the risk of water damage. Suitable for the entire growing process from veg to flower. A high-quality, plug-and-play LED grow light for weed at an affordable price.

True Power Draw 456 watts
LED Type Samsung LM301B diodes
PAR Test (PPFD) 1320 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x SF-4000 per 25–36 ft² (2.3-3.3 m²)

MARS HYDRO TS 3000W LED Grow Light

Top Best LED Grow Lights for Weed: MARS HYDRO TS 3000W

Overview: This large LED grow light by MARS HYDRO, called the TS 3000W, is a powerful full-spectrum wideband LED grow light made to imitate natural sunlight. Reap the benefits of wideband IR lighting at an economical price. Producing a very high PAR output while only pulling 450 watts from the wall, the TS 3000W is a super bright LED grow light for veg and flowering that runs quiet and cool without any onboard fans. The new SMD LEDs are highly efficient and provide great light spread in the grow room or grow tent. Daisy chain up to 15 units.

True Power Draw 450 watts
LED Type 1016pcs SMD chip LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 1095 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x TS 3000W per 20 ft² (2.3 m²)

Electric Sky 300 V3 Wideband LED Grow Light

Electric Sky 300 V3 Wideband LED Grow Light Top 25 Best LED Grow Lights for Weed

Overview: One of the top best-selling LED grow lights for marijuana growing is the ES300 (Electric Sky 300). Built with the company’s unique wideband LEDs, the full spectrum light emitted gives full canopy penetration combined with specialized linear optics, which allow for wider coverage. Adding new diode tech and more wattage, the version 3 model for 2022 is brighter than ever before. Fully adjustable, control multiple lights at once with the included daisy chain dimming kit. The Electric Sky 300 V3 stays cool and operates without fans. Plug in the grow light to see for yourself how this super-bright wideband spectrum works wonders on cannabis plants. Read our full ES300 review for more information.

True Power Draw 330 watts
LED Type GS3 Wideband Spectrum LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 1036 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x ES300 per 21 ft² (2 m²) max

HLG 650R Quantum Board LED Grow Light

HLG 650R Quantum Board Top 25 Best LED Grow Lights

Overview: Quantum board LED grow lights, a design made popular by Horticulture Lighting Group, are the latest trend in LED grow light technology for cannabis growers. These highly efficient, full-spectrum white light quantum boards include the deep red range for enhanced flowering. Quantum board LED grow lights run cool and spread light uniformly. The HLG 550 V2 contains powerful Top-Bin Samsung LM301H LEDs, which produce a large footprint at only 650 watts of power.

True Power Draw 650 watts
LED Type Samsung LM301H LEDs/Deep Red 660nm
PAR Test (PPFD) 1293 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x HLG 550 per 16 ft² (1.5m²)

MARS HYDRO TS 1000W LED Grow Light

MARS HYDRO TS 1000W LED Grow Light Top-Rated Veg-Flower Good

Overview: A powerful sunlike LED grow light for a bargain price, the MARS HYDRO TS 1000W model features the newest SMD LEDs to maximize PAR/Lumen output, thereby increasing crop yield and quality. Highly efficient design, pulling only 150 watts to power 324 LEDs. The sunlight full spectrum includes 660–665nm Red and IR ranges. Best for plants of all stages. Reflective, noise-free, and waterproof, the TS 1000W is built to commercial-grade standards. You can daisy chain up to 15 units.

True Power Draw 150 watts
LED Type 342pcs SMD chip LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 743 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x TS 1000W per 5 ft² (0.5 m²)

Best LED Grow Lights Under $500

Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light

Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light Samsung Chips LM301B and Meanwell Driver Great for Marijuana Growing

Overview: A bit smaller than the big SF-4000, the Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED grow light uses the same high-output Samsung LM301B diodes to create a highly-penetrating full-spectrum “sunlight” light to maximize yields per watt. Super efficient on energy, 2.7 umol/J while only consuming 202 watts of power. Zero noise with no fans, the aluminum heat sink provides passive heat dissipation. Waterproof LED board and protective covers for cables. Plug and play design. One of the best LED grow lights for the money in 2022.

True Power Draw 202 watts
LED Type Samsung LM301B diodes
PAR Test (PPFD) 1054 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x SF-2000 per 8–12 ft² (0.7-1.1 m²)

MARS HYDRO TSL 2000W LED Grow Light

MARS HYDRO TSL 2000W LED Grow Light Best Full-Spectrum

Overview: An updated commercial-grade LED grow light by MARS HYDRO, the TSL 2000W offers increased yield and crop quality. It features the newest SMD LED technology to provide the highest PAR/Lumen output for your plants. Suitable for all stages of growth, this full spectrum LED grow light with IR imitates natural sunlight. Highly reflective and waterproof, noise-free fan-less design. The MARS HYDRO company is represented around growing forums and produces some of the best cheap LED grow lights for growing weed on a budget.

True Power Draw 300 watts
LED Type 684pcs SMD chip LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 877 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x TSL 2000W per 16 ft² (1.5 m²)

BESTVA 2000W Full Spectrum Dual-Chip LED Grow Light

BESTVA 2000W Full Spectrum Dual-Chip LED Grow Light

Overview: Part of the company’s Dual-Chip series of LED grow lights, the BESTVA 2000W Dual-Chip is made using two-hundred 10-watt LEDs, producing a full spectrum that ranges from IR to UV. Four fans are built into the fixture as well as holes punched into the board for cooling. For the price, the BESTVA 2000W is one of the best grow lights for weed plants.

True Power Draw 390 watts
LED Type 200pcs Dual-Chip 10W Bridgelux/Epileds LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 1058 µmol/m²/s at 12 inches
Light Coverage 1x BESTVA 2000W per 16 ft² (1.5 m²)

MARS HYDRO TSW 2000 LED Grow Light

MARS HYDRO TSW 2000 Top 25 Best LED Grow Lights

Overview: Among the best-selling LED grow lights from the MARS HYDRO store, the TSW 2000 is a relatively low cost LED grow light featuring all the latest technological advances for high-efficiency growing. This model only requires 300 watts of power for its 704 SMD LEDs. High PAR/Lumen output. Reflective hood design. Easy dimming function. Daisy chain support.

True Power Draw 300 watts
LED Type 704pcs SMD chip LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 1122 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x P300 per 16 ft² (1.5 m²)

MARS HYDRO SP3000 LED Grow Light

Mars Hydro SP3000 LED Grow Light: Long, Brightest LED Best for Weed Growing in 2022

Overview: A major update to last year’s best-selling SP250 model, the new SP3000 LED grow light by Mars Hydro, uses cutting-edge SMD LED technology to deliver the highest possible PAR/Lumen output per watt. Ultraviolet and infrared light bulbs are incorporated alongside the SMD chips to create the full spectrum sunlight-like light output. The no-fan design keeps the SP3000 cool while conserving energy. The quantum light board is covered by glue for water resistance. Adjustable Meanwell driver. No veg or bloom switch, the sunlight spectrum is suitable for growing cannabis from seed until harvest.

True Power Draw 230 watts
LED Type 960pcs SMD chip LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 925 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x SP3000 per 8 ft² (0.7 m²)

Best LED Grow Lights Under $200

Phlizon Newest 1200W LED Plant Grow Light

Phlizon Newest 1200W LED Grow Light Best-Reviewed

Overview: Full of positive reviews from happy pot growers, Phlizon’s Newest 1200W LED Plant Grow Light contains 120 10-watt LEDs, which together emit optimized veg and flowering spectrum at the flip of a switch. Includes blue, red, IR, UV, and white LEDs. Quiet fans and aluminum cooling heat sinks help with cooling and heat dissipation. You can buy this model for a very low price, offering considerable savings compared to a 600-watt HPS/MH grow light.

True Power Draw 240-250 watts
LED Type 120pcs 10W LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 972 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x Phlizon 1200W per 9 ft² max

KingLED 1500W Newest LED Grow Light

King Plus 1500W Double-Chips LED Grow Light Great Full-Spectrum

Overview: For just over 100 dollars, this LED grow light gives you intense full spectrum light for any grow room area sized up to 16 square feet. The KingLED 1500W LED grow light comes equipped with the newest LM301B LEDs and 10x optical condenser to provide great PAR output, light penetration, and energy efficiency. This super bright LED grow light is a perfect choice for beginner growers short on cash.

True Power Draw 195 watts
LED Type 128pcs 10W Epistar LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 958 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x KingLED 1500W per 16 ft² (1.5 m²)

HLG 100 Quantum Board LED Grow Light

Quantum Board LED Grow Light Horticulture Lighting Group 100

Overview: Experience the power of Quantum Boards cheap with the HLG 100 Quantum Board LED grow light. Incredibly efficient, the 192 Samsung LM561C S6 LEDs connected only use a total of 96 watts while producing over 15K Lumens of PAR. Horticulture Lighting Group is on the cutting edge of LED technology with their quantum board technology, prevalent in the cannabis growing community this year for the high efficiency and high yields the lights produce.

True Power Draw 96 watts
LED Type 192pcs Samsung LM561C S6 LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 640 µmol/m²/s at 12 inches
Light Coverage 1x HLG 100 per 9 ft² (0.8 m²)

BESTVA 1500W Full Spectrum Dual-Chip LED Grow Light

BESTVA 1500W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum Good Price

Overview: BESTVA LED grow lights are popular with weed growers for their high lumen PAR optimized output and super affordable price. On top of this, the BESTVA company is highly reviewed for their excellent customer support. The BESTVA 1000W Full Spectrum Dual-Chip LED Grow Light is built with the newest SMD chip LEDs with double the PPF of the old style and gives a wide core coverage area of full-spectrum light, all for just over a hundred dollars.

True Power Draw 195 watts
LED Type 128pcs SMD chip LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 1230 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x BESTVA 1500W per 13.8 ft² (1.3 m²)

Exlenvce 1500W LED Grow Light

Exlenvce 1500W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum Cheap Veg Bloom

Overview: A great deal for the money, the Exlenvce 1500W LED Grow Light gives you considerable PAR output for a large growing area compared to other cheap LED grow lights. The grow light contains 150 triple-chip LEDs—that’s three 5-watt Bridgelux LEDs in every bulb. The daisy-chain design allows you to hook together multiple lights on to the same system. Veg and Bloom switch for changing the spectrum, or just turn both switches on for maximum power. With tons of good reviews from satisfied growers, the Exlenvce 1500W is among the best LED grow lights you can get in the low-price range.

True Power Draw 260 watts
LED Type 150pcs triple-chip 15W LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 910 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x Yehsence 1500w per 29 ft² (2.7 m²)

Cheapest LED Grow Lights (Under $100)

MARS HYDRO TS 600W LED Grow Light

MARS HYDRO TS 600W: Cheapest Best LED Grow Light for Cannabis Growing in 2022

Overview: A best-selling LED grow light in the fifty-dollar to one-hundred-dollar range is the new MARS HYDRO TS 600W LED Grow Light. This compact but powerful LED grow light uses the state-of-the-art SMD LED chips that give supreme PAR/LUMEN output to maximize the yield per wattage. The TS 600W uses the newly popular “sunlight” spectrum that includes warm white, blue, red, and IR light. Tons of good reviews from growers back up this budget LED grow light by MARS HYDRO.

True Power Draw 100 watts
LED Type 225pcs SMD chip LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 591 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x TS 600W per 4 ft² (0.4 m²)

Roleadro 1000W Galaxyhydro LED Grow Light

Roleadro LED Grow Light, Galaxyhydro-Series 1000W Good-Affordable

Overview: Priced right under $100 at the time of writing, the Roleadro 1000W Galaxyhydro LED grow light is a very low-price LED grow light that uses Epileds 10-watt chips. Full-spectrum, including infrared and ultraviolet. The Roleadro 1000W Galaxyhydro LED Grow Light shines differently than its competitors, producing a higher ratio of red light for increasing yields. High PAR value (453umol at 18 in.) and Lumen output make this grow light a full-spectrum solution from seed to harvest.

True Power Draw 132 watts ±5%
LED Type 100pcs 10W LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 950 µmol/m²/s at 12 inches
Light Coverage 1x Roleandro 1000W per 9 ft² (0.8 m²) max

HLG 65 V2 Quantum Board LED Grow Light

HLG 65 V2 4000K Quantum Board LED Grow Light: Low-Price Best for Marijuana Growing

Overview: The HLG 65 V2 is the second version of the entry-level quantum board LED grow light sold by Horticulture Lighting Group. Featuring a 4000K daylight full spectrum light produced by high-quality LM301B LEDs, this fixture is ideal for veg and flowering in compact areas. Diffused light for better canopy penetration. Passive-cooled design without fans. The HLG 65 V2 puts out 10,000 Lumens while only using 65 watts of power. Comparable to a 150W metal halide grow light.

True Power Draw 65 watts
LED Type 120pcs Samsung LM301B LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 480 µmol/m²/s at 12 inches
Light Coverage 1x HLG 65 V2 per 3–4 ft² (0.3 m²)

Bloom Plus BP1000 LED Grow Light

Bloom Plus LED Grow Light BP1000 Sunlike Full-Spectrum

Overview: A sunlike LED grow light at a rock-bottom selling price, the Bloom Plus BP1000 uses the newest high-yield LED technology: 336pcs Samsung 2835 diodes. Highly energy efficient, this model only consumes 90W of power, which is considerably less than most other LED grow lights on the market. Working silently and reliably, the BP1000 stays cool without fans. Its optimal full spectrum includes Warm White, Blue, Red, and IR light to provide everything plants need during all stages of growth.

True Power Draw 90 watts
LED Type 336pcs Samsung 2835 diodes
PAR Test (PPFD) 441 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x Bloom Plus BP1000 per 4 ft² (0.3 m²)

UFO Led Grow Light, Growstar 150W Full Spectrum

UFO Led Grow Light, Growstar 150W Full Spectrum with Cree COB for Cannabis Plants

Overview: UFO LED grow lights were some of the first LED grow lights we saw in the High Times magazines years ago. Back then, a small UFO grow light would cost around 400 dollars! Nowadays, you can get them much cheaper, and this model even comes built with a CREE COB chip set right in the middle for extra juice. The COB provides a high PAR value 3000K output combined with LEDs’ 380-760nm full spectrum light, UV & IR included. A nice cheap LED grow light great for growing in small spaces.

True Power Draw 62 watts
LED Type 28pcs 5W Bridgelux/Epileds + 1pcs 10W Cree COB
PAR Test (PPFD) 423 µmol/m²/s at 12 inches
Light Coverage 1x Growstar UFO per 5 ft² (0.5 m²)

Best COB LED Grow Lights

Phlizon 2000W CREE COB LED Grow Light

Phlizon 2000W CREE Best COB LED Grow Light for Weed Growing

Overview: COB (Chips-on-Board) LED Grow Lights are made of multiple LED chips put together as one to produce powerful concentrated light. The Phlizon CREE Cob Series 2000W LED Plant Grow Light uses PAR optimized 6000K and 3000K CREE LED chips along with red, blue, IR, and UV bulbs to provide full-spectrum, deep-penetrating light for plants. You can buy this COB grow light design at multiple size configurations from 1000W up to 3000W.

True Power Draw 400 watts
LED Type 2x6000K, 2x3000K COBs + mixed LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 941 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x Phlizon 2000W per 15 ft² (4.6 m²)

COB LED Grow Light, Hipargero 800W

COB LED Grow Light, Hipargero 800W

Overview: Combining the effectiveness of traditional LEDs and COBs, this affordable COB light is set up with four high-power 3000K Epileds COB chips and sixteen 3 watt Osram LEDs. One of the best low-price COB LED grow lights, the Hipargero 800W sells for under 150 dollars and comes standard with daisy chain connections, plus bloom and veg switches for the best spectrum to match plant growing cycles. Full-spectrum from IR to UV. Compared to other COB lights, this one stays exceptionally cool.

True Power Draw 240 watts
LED Type 4x3000K COBs + 16pcs 3W Osram LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 1266 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x Hipargero 800W per 9 ft² (0.8 m²)

VIVOSUN 1200W Cree COB LED Grow Light

VIVOSUN 1200W Cree COB LED Grow Light: Best for Marijuana Cultivation

Overview: The VIVOSUN 1200W Cree COB LED grow light contains 6 high lux Cree COBs (3x 5000K & 3x 3000K) surrounded by 88 3W LEDs ranging from 410 to 730nm to produce a full spectrum mixed light. The fixture is made from aluminum and polycarbonate materials. Heat is dissipated by a powerful cooling system using 2 large heat sinks and cooling fans. Switchable veg, bloom, and full output settings. This hybrid COB LED grow light is sold at a good low price.

True Power Draw 300 watts
LED Type 6 CREE COBs + 3W LED chips
PAR Test (PPFD) 1409 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x VIVOSUN 1200W per 16 ft² (1.5 m²)

CREE COB LED Grow Light, AGLEX 1200W

CREE COB LED Grow Light Full-Spectrum 1200W AGLEX 2022

Overview: This COB LED grow light by AGLEX combines high PAR value CREE COBs with double chip LEDs for an optimum full spectrum light, specifically designed for plants. The high light intensity of COB LED grow lights help penetrate through the canopy of bushy herbs, while the 90-degree glass lenses aid in light distribution. Energy-saving and simple to use, its powerful fan system and heatsink keep the grow light cool. Large coverage area. Daisy chain capability. For sale at under one hundred dollars.

True Power Draw 210 watts
LED Type 105pcs total (COBs + mixed LEDs)
PAR Test (PPFD) 1281 µmol/m²/s 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x AGLEX 1200W per 15.8 ft² (1.5 m²)

COB LED Grow Light, FSGTEK 1500W

COB LED Grow Light, FSGTEK 1500W Full-Spectrum Top 25

Overview: The FSGTEK 1500W COB LED Grow Light features five powerful 300W COB LEDs that produce a bright 3000K high PAR full spectrum wavelength, suitable for all stages of plant growth. Equipped with 90-degree reflectors for maximum coverage. Built-in aluminum heat sink and 2 fans for cooling. Priced under $100, this COB LED Grow Light by FSGTEK is one of the best COB LED grow lights you can buy for the money.

True Power Draw 250 watts
LED Type 5pcs 300W COB LEDs
PAR Test (PPFD) 1016 µmol/m²/s at 18 inches
Light Coverage 1x FSGTEK 1500W COB per per 15 ft² (4.6 m²)

FAQ LED Spectrum Light Wavelength

Full Spectrum & Light Wavelength Explained

light spectrum gif

Absorption of Light

Just like how we can see only a certain range of light spectrum with our eyes, plants use a certain range of light spectrum to grow.

When cannabis grows outdoors, the sun provides the full spectrum of light that the plant needs to grow naturally. Sunlight gets absorbed by the plant’s pigment molecules for photosynthesis (plant growth).

LED grow lights are designed to provide the optimum light wavelengths most beneficial to plant growth. We call this optimal range PAR, short for photosynthetically active radiation. The PAR spectrum includes the light wavelengths of approximately 400nm to 720nm, illustrated below:

PAR Spectrum Graph: Red and Blue Light Wavelength Plant Absorption

By looking at the PAR spectrum graph, we can see that plants use some colors more than others. A plant uses blue light (400nm–500nm) and red light (620nm–700nm) wavelengths in the greatest concentrations. This is why we measure the performance of LED grow lights in relation to PAR output rather than Lumens.

You can check the PAR output of a grow light using a PAR meter (also called a PPF meter). This handy device measures per second how many photons of light hit the sensor.

  • PPF, short for Photosynthetic Photon Flux, is the number of light photons that make contact with your plants every second. Only light in the ranges of 400nm to 700nm is measured. The unit of measurement is µmol/s.
  • PPFD stands for Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density. PPFD, measured per second and square meter (µmol/(m-2 m-1 simply written as µmol/m²/s) which we call micromoles or “uMoles” as slang. PPFD shows the density of PAR light in a given area, such as the density of PAR light at 12″ away from the LED grow light. We use PPFD to measure the PAR output of LED grow lights.

Testing the PAR output of a LED grow light may give you an idea of how far away to hang your lights from the plant canopy for optimum growth.

  • 600–1000 µmol/m²/s: High strength light, the best range for developing growth and flowering.
  • 400–600 µmol/m²/s: Medium strength light, for early veg and stretching.
  • 200–400 µmol/m²/s: Low strength light, good for delicate seedlings and clones.

red blue ratio led grow light

Red Light vs. Blue Light

When designing full spectrum LED panels, manufacturers dial in on the color wavelengths that plants absorb the most of while also providing other colors for balanced light exposure. Most importantly, red light and blue light.

A balanced full spectrum LED grow light will have not just one red and one blue color frequency but a whole range of light available to plants. This provides plants will get a similar spectrum of light that they would expect from the sun.
Red (620–720nm):
Red light in nature helps to promote all-around growth and the flowering process. In nature, red light comes out from the sun during late summer and fall, which can explain part of the reason buds form up fat then (the other part is light hours). Red-heavy grow lights do promote heavy budding and flowering, but this doesn’t mean that you should only use red light for your plants.

Balanced with blue light, red light can be used during the whole course of a plant’s life—from seed to harvest. Plants need red color light need to grow healthy. Interestingly enough, plants make the most amount of energy during photosynthesis from red light.

Don’t be fooled by the color you see—even MH (metal halide) grow lights that don’t look very red provide a fair amount of red light to plants. Many LED grow lights also are red-heavy.

Although plants can be grown with pure red light, too much of only red light will not help early vegetative growth. Blue light is also required in good quantity for happy plants!
Blue (400–500nm):
Blue light is so important that plants literally don’t know where to aim their leaves for light absorption without it.

Plants thrive in their early stages with sufficient levels of blue spectrum light. In the outdoors, blue light is most present during the spring and long-day summer, as plants are in a similar “vegetative” process of growth, naturally.

Without blue light, vegetating plants seem to stay small and stunted, resulting in short stems and squat stature. Many LED grow light users even add blue light-heavy fluorescent lights into the grow room during the plants’ early stages to get an extra boost of blue light.

If you want tall and leafy plants, crank up the volume of blue light, and you’ll get just that. Certain LED grow lights are designed with adjustable blue light and red light dials.

However, you probably just want to run them full blast red and blue for the whole growth cycle, unless you have specific plant size and grow space goals. Too much blue light during flowering will result in stretchier buds, so if you see that be sure to cut some blue and pump up more red light.

UV Ultraviolet LED Bulb

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Ultraviolet (UV) light under 400nm consist of three main rays:

  • UVA (315–400nm)
  • UVB (280–315nm)
  • UVC (180–280nm)

The newest LED grow lights usually have a few bulbs in the UV range for a few reasons.

In nature, plants are exposed to the sun and are naturally exposed to the ultraviolet radiation that sunlight contains. When humans absorb UV radiation, we produce melanin to defend against the sun’s rays.

Cannabis, on the other hand, produces trichomes filled with cannabinoids, including the favored Δ 9THC and CBD to protect the plant from UV radiation. In essence, UV can be used to stimulate THC production.

Outdoors, the sunlight at higher elevations gives plants more UV exposure. The growers who live up in the mountains swear their stuff is more potent due to the increased UV exposure, which makes the plant produce more cannabinoids.

In Hawaii, we’ve noticed the weed in high-elevations gets super frosty and stony, although it doesn’t yield as much as the low-elevation buds. More anecdotal evidence can be found in this hashish book written in 1965 about the finest quality hash being obtained from plants at high altitudes.

This is why many growers swear that it’s beneficial to use a little UV light—for increasing the plant’s production of THC. You tend to see the best LED grow lights have UV bulbs added standard.

However, be aware that UV radiation overexposure has been known to degrade different plant processes, including damage to DNA and damage to physiological processes. Too much UV radiation has been shown to induce plant mutations. And is harmful to humans.

Outdoor growers don’t need to worry about UV overexposure. The only real danger of UV radiation to plants is from using artificial germicidal lamps to provide short wavelength (UVC) radiation to plants. In other words, you can burn up the plants with too much artificial UV light.

Most of the best LED grow lights on this list feature a small number of LEDs in the UV spectrum, at a safe level for plants and humans.

Infrared (IR) Light Growing Cannabis

Infrared (IR) Light

Infrared (IR) and near-infrared light consist of wavelengths over 700nm. Invisible to the human eye, infrared light is felt as heat.

PAR would tell us that deep red (short-wavelength, 680nm), far red (>680nm) infrared would be at large unused by plants for photosynthesis. Only one photoreceptor, phytochrome, is known to respond to far red wavelengths. Phytochrome helps plants regulate photo-sensitive changes, such as when to start the blooming process.

As we learned from the Emerson Effect, Robert Emerson’s research showed that plants simultaneously given these wavelengths grew at a much higher rate than the sum of the red light and far red light alone.

This gave reason to believe that plants may have two photosystems—one for utilizing short-wavelength light and another for using long-wavelength light.

Infrared LEDs can be found in a lot of the LED grow lights above. The Electric Sky 300 has gained a massive following among cannabis growers for integrating these red “wideband” wavelengths into their lights.


Advantages of LED Grow Lights

There are many benefits to using LED Grow lights in your indoor grow room or even in a protected outdoor environment like a greenhouse.cool-temperature LED grow lights

Simplicity is Cool

LED grow lights run cooler than MH/HPS HID grow lights, and the bulbs last much longer.

Compared to an HID indoor grow setup that requires a lot of electricity, cooling, and ventilation efforts, LED grow lights can be set up effortlessly in a closet, grow tent, or similar space without renovating it completely.

The beauty of LED grow light technology is that they are as easy as plug & play for most situations. The fans and/or built-in heat sink will keep the grow light at a comfortable operating temperature.

This means that you do not need to spend the money or effort into building a super deluxe indoor grow room in order to grow a healthy cannabis crop. Just buy a grow light, crack some seeds and get growing.

save money with cheap LEDs

Low Wattage + High Efficiency

As opposed to HPS and MH lights, LED grow lights run at a much lower wattage while producing more PAR light-per-watt for plants to absorb and grow with.

This high efficiency and low power draw opens up the door for alternative energy sources, such as solar-powered grows. For a few hundred bucks, you can buy a solar panel, deep cycle marine batteries, and an inverter to make your own solar-powered indoor grow room. To do it the cheapest way, you can just run the light during the nighttime and move plants outside to grow with the sun during the day.

A big step up from fluorescent lights, LED lights have enough penetration to stack even the inside of cannabis plants dense with fat nuggets. Whether they’re in vegetative or flowering cycle, LED lights can do the whole job well done. The “blurple”, pink, or white glow emanated from these grow lights is strong and bright enough to give you a dizzy feeling. Remember to wear eye protection when operating LED grow lights.

Why is my 1000W LED grow light only pulling 380W of power?
When a LED grow light is rated at a wattage, such as 400W, 800W, 1000W, etc. that is the max voltage the LEDs can handle. LED grow light manufacturers get the advertised wattage from taking the max voltage each LED can handle, times the number of LEDs in order to give that high number. So a 100 LED grow light labeled 1000 watts has 100 LEDs that can handle 10 watts, but they only supply it with 3 watts, so it has some life to it—it really is just a 300 watt light.—Christopher Matthiesen

high-yield cannabis under LED grow lights

High Yields

Modern LED grow lights of today surpass the earlier models of years ago in the available spectrum, durability, and light strength.

Yields for indoor growers finishing cannabis under full-spectrum LED lighting average ½ gram per watt among growers in the United States. This is considering the true power draw watt, not the rated equivalent advertised.

The ballpark ½ gram per watt figure takes into account that your grow room will follow the proper space guidelines of the grow light and that the plants will be optimized for growth, e.g., soil, water, nutrients, and care.

Of course, yields vary from strain to strain. That’s part of what makes growing new strains so fun. Check out these top-ranked best sativa and top-ranked best indica strains for some good cannabis strains to grow under LEDs.


Best LED Grow Lights on Amazon Shortlist

Grow Light LED Type PAR Rating True Wattage
1. Spider Farmer SF-4000 LED Grow Light SAMSUNG LM301B diodes 1320 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 456 watts
2. MARS HYDRO TS 3000W LED Grow Light 1016pcs SMD chip LEDs 1095 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 450 watts
3. Electric Sky 300 V3 Wideband LED Grow Light GS3 Wideband Spectrum LEDs 1036 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 330 watts
4. HLG 650R Quantum Board LED Grow Light Samsung LM301B diodes 1400 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 480 watts
5. MARS HYDRO TS 1000W LED Grow Light 684pcs SMD chip LEDs 925 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 230 watts
6. Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light Samsung LM301B diodes 1054 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 202 watts
7. MARS HYDRO TSL 2000W LED Grow Light 192pcs SMD chip LEDs 1200 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 374/410 watts
8. BESTVA 2000W Full Spectrum Dual-Chip LED Grow Light 200pcs Dual-Chip 10W Bridgelux/Epileds LEDs 1058 µmol/m²/s at 12″ 390 watts
9. MARS HYDRO TSW 2000 LED Grow Light 704pcs SMD chip LEDs 1122 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 300 watts
10. MARS HYDRO SP3000 LED Grow Light 960pcs SMD chip LEDs 925 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 230 watts
11. Phlizon Newest 1200W LED Plant Grow Light 120pcs 10W LEDs 972 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 240 watts
12. KingLED 1500W Newest LED Grow Light 128pcs 10W Epistar LEDs 958 µmol/m²/s at 12″ 195 watts
13. HLG 100 Quantum Board LED Grow Light 192pcs Samsung LM561C S6 LEDs 640 µmol/m²/s at 12″ 96 watts
14. BESTVA 1500W Full Spectrum LED Grow Light 128pcs SMD chip LEDs 1230 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 195 watts
15. Exlenvce 1500W LED Grow Light 150pcs triple chip 15W LEDs 910 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 260 watts
16. MARS HYDRO TS 600W LED Grow Light 225pcs SMD chip LEDs 591 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 100 watts
17. Roleadro 1000W Galaxyhydro LED Grow Light 100pcs 10W LEDs 950 µmol/m²/s at 12″ 132 watts
18. HLG 65 V2 Quantum Board LED Grow Light 120pcs Samsung LM301B LEDs 480 µmol/m²/s at 12″ 65 watts
19. Bloom Plus BP1000 LED Grow Light 336pcs Samsung 2835 diodes 1359 441 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 90 watts
20. UFO Led Grow Light, Growstar 150W Full Spectrum 28pcs 5W Bridgelux/Epileds + 1pcs 10W Cree COB 423 µmol/m²/s at 12″ 62 watts
21. Phlizon 2000W CREE COB LED Grow Light 2x6000K, 2x3000K COBs + mixed LEDs 941 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 400 watts
22. COB LED Grow Light, Hipargero 800W 4x3000K COBs + 16pcs 3W Osram LEDs 1266 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 240 watts
23. VIVOSUN 1200W Cree COB LED Grow Light 6 CREE COB + 3W LED chips 1409 µmol/m²/s 18″ 300 watts
24. CREE COB LED Grow Light, AGLEX 1200W 105pcs total (COBs + mixed LEDs) 1281 µmol/m²/s 18″ 210 watts
25. COB LED Grow Light, FSGTEK 1500W 5pcs 300W COB LEDs 1016 µmol/m²/s at 18″ 250 watts

Disclaimer: Price ranges are subject to change. We do not promote or undertake in illegal activity.

Jared Cox profile image

Jared Cox is the author behind Mold Resistant Strains. He is a cannabis grower, breeder, and archivist of seeds. His work across several disciplines extensively covers cannabis genetics, cultivation, processing, and sales.

13 thoughts on “TOP 25 BEST LED GROW LIGHTS 2022”

  1. I ordered a 1600 watt marshydro II from walmart.com and it ended up being out of stock so they sent me TWO 900 watt MarsHydro II and I have very expensive blackdog’s & Cali Solar system… My mars hydro 900 watt is ten times cheaper then some of my other lights and have had results just as good!!! Don’t drop obscene amounts of money on a LED light until you do your research and know what your getting! I’ve seen first hand…

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  2. I run Electric Sky 300s and wow the wideband spectrum is amazing, it grows the plants bigger, leaves, stems, size, everything, but I still get tight internodal spacing it works wonders and I’ve grown with those other white LEDs before and they just missing something don’t sleep on the ES300s

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  3. I’m surprised Optics LED growlights didn’t get mentioned in this list despite using the latest in Samsung LEDs and uses Meanwell drivers.

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  4. Wow! My Google search found everything too do with growing pot..!
    I want to start a plant from a cutting and maybe, get some cukes and tomatoes started next spring..
    ..Building a chamber for germination.. The floor will be about 2′ x 2′. RH and temp will be controlled…
    What distance and LUMIN output shoud the LEDs have at what distance…?

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  5. VOLT Grow is a newer brand, but should definitely be considered when buying LED grow lights in 2021. The FL-1 Full-Cycle LED grow light has the highest light output in the market at 2000 µmol/s with a 2.8 efficacy (720W). It is $1,049, which includes a dimming control, mounting harness and power cord, and has a 5-year warranty. They use Samsung and Osram chips and all products are UL and DLC listed. They also offer the VL-1 Full-Cycle LED grow light, which is a smaller, cheaper product.

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  6. Ive been running withe the iL8x from Iluminar and honestly I think it should be on this list. It provides high quality yields and hasn’t given me any problems in almost the year that Ive had it

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