Can’t decide whether to use halogen or LED for your home landscape lighting project?
Our recommendation: If you can afford the higher upfront cost of LED lighting bulbs, go for them. They are a better option than halogen for landscape lighting by a country mile.
LED light bulbs offer the following benefits:
Let’s now go into detail why LED bulbs make for a better choice for landscape lighting than Halogen bulbs.
LEDs vs Halogen: The Difference Between the Two
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. This type of lighting uses a microchip for emitting light in one direction. Halogen bulbs, on the other hand, use metal filaments for emitting light in all directions.
Compared to Halogen, LED is a much more advanced technology. Because of this, it has several benefits over the former. However, these perks don’t come free. LED light bulbs cost more than Halogen lights.
Installation Cost
The installation cost largely depends on the number of light fixtures you want. Other factors that influence installation cost are:
The cost of a typical halogen bulb is $4 - $10. In comparison, LED bulbs cost $20 - $40 on average.
However, the higher upfront cost in case of LED light is more than compensated by its better energy efficiency and long life (as we will see shortly). So while LED lights cost more upfront, they prove to be a far cheaper option in the long run.
Maintenance Cost
You’ll spend far less money — and time — replacing LED light bulbs.
LED Light Bulbs:
Halogen Bulbs:
Note: How often you have to replace lighting bulbs depends largely on the frequency of their use.
Energy Efficiency
LED bulbs are 70 to 75% more energy efficient compared to halogen bulbs. For example, a 12W LED light bulb can give the same lumen output as a 43W halogen light bulb.
Last but not the least, LED light bulbs reduces the need to use diffusers and reflectors for trapping the light. This, in turn, makes LED lighting more suitable and efficient for lighting up your landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do LED landscape lights need a special transformer?
No, not really. LED lamps can create larger lighting systems, often, without requiring larger transformers.
Are LED landscape lighting worth it?
Absolutely. LED lights may cost more upfront, but they not only last much longer than other types of lights but are also more energy efficient.
Can you plug LED lights into regular lights?
No, you shouldn’t. If you mix incandescent lights and LED, performance may suffer badly. When you use both on one circuit, LED lights may flicker on account of more light drawn by incandescent bulbs. So, it would be best if you change one, you should change them all.
Do LED lights get brighter with more voltage?
The answer is no, they don’t. In fact, LED light bulbs get brighter with current.