One of the first decisions you need to make about growing cannabis indoors is which grow lights you will use. The lights are the most expensive part of growing cannabis indoors. They are expensive to purchase and to operate. Selecting the best grow lights for your set-up can improve the efficiency of your grow and the quality and quantity that you harvest, while saving money and electricity. Here, we provide our honest grow light recommendations for the best LED grow lights for different budgets and grow sizes.
We have a complete Grow Light Guide to help you learn and navigate the world of horticultural lighting.
Grow Light Tests and Reviews
LED Fixtures
Small: Up to 6sq. ft
- Maxsisun MF-1000
- Mars Hydro TS 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1500
- Viparspectra P-1500
- Spider Farmer SF 1000
Mid-Size: 6-12sq. ft
- Migro Aray 4 240w Full Spectrum
- Mars Hydro FC-3000
- Mars Hydro SP 3000
- Mars Hydro TSL 2000
- Spider Farmer SF 2000
- Bavagreen 240w with UV, R, IR
- Atreum Lighting ARA-20 3-Bar
- Plant Miner S1
- TodoGrowLED Thunder Bar Light
Large: Over 12 sq. ft
- ChilLED Growcraft ULTRA X3-330
- Grower's Choice ROI-E720
- Photontek X 600w PRO
- Lumatek Zeus 600w Pro
- Mars Hydro SP 6500
- Mammoth 10 Bar
HID Fixtures
- Omega CMH 315w
Grow Light Tests and Reviews
LED Fixtures
Small: Up to 6sq. ft
- Maxsisun MF-1000
- Mars Hydro TS 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1500
- Viparspectra P-1500
- Spider Farmer SF 1000
Mid-Size: 6-12sq. ft
- Migro Aray 4 240w Full Spectrum
- Mars Hydro FC-3000
- Mars Hydro SP 3000
- Mars Hydro TSL 2000
- Spider Farmer SF 2000
- Bavagreen 240w with UV, R, IR
- Atreum Lighting ARA-20 3-Bar
- Plant Miner S1
- TodoGrowLED Thunder Bar Light
Large: Over 12 sq. ft
- ChilLED Growcraft ULTRA X3-330
- Grower's Choice ROI-E720
- Photontek X 600w PRO
- Lumatek Zeus 600w Pro
- Mars Hydro SP 6500
- Mammoth 10 Bar
HID Fixtures
- Omega CMH 315w
You may want to start getting into grow lights by reading our "Grow Light Metrics Primer". If you want to know how much light you need, be sure to read our article, “How Much Light (PPF) Do You Need for Indoor Cannabis”. Use our Grow Light Calculator to calculate the efficiency, coverage and harvest potential of different grow lights! And check out our Grow Light Field Test Reports and Reviews!
On this page, we give you our impartial grow light recommendations, which are informed by our experience testing and reviewing grow lights. I have tested fixtures in each product line that we recommend. The lights listed below are the fixtures that we would buy to use for ourselves. We consider numerous factors in making our recommendations including efficiency, cost, light distribution, component and build quality, and track record. We are confident that you will be happy with any of our recommended LED grow lights.
This is a rapidly developing market and we are monitoring it closely to bring you regular updates on the best grow lights on the market. Updated September 14, 2020
LED LIGHTS
LED grow lights have been popular with home growers because they produce less heat, are easier to set-up, and more convenient to operate. However, until recently, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights such as High-Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH) and Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) were the most efficient for both electricity and cost. Technological gains have allowed LEDs to surpass the efficiency of HID lighting. All of the fixtures that we recommend below are more efficient than HPS, MH or CMH grow Lights.
LED lights that are capable of outperforming HID lights have been available for several years now, but they have been very expensive. It is only within the last year or so that models have become available that can out compete HID lights on both efficiency and cost. LED fixtures are now the clear choice for home growers.
There are quality LED fixtures available at an affordable price. However, the LED market is full of incomplete information and false claims. There are many discount LED lights that grossly exaggerate their efficiency and HID light equivalence. Without good information it can be easy to end up with a low-quality light. Steer clear of the no-name brands that make fantastical claims. If you want the best LED grow light for your space and budget, then choose from among the brands and options below.
Mars Hydro
Mars Hydro has come a long was in a short time. They are still known for their history of making lower efficiency Blurple lights, but they have seriously stepped up their game in the last two years. In 2019, the TS series changed the game and sent ripples through the grow light industry. It quickly became our top pick for entry level LEDs. In 2020, they added the SP3000 and the FC series lights which both compete with the best fixtures available on the market. Mars Hydro has become a serious grow light brand. They offer elite efficiency and great build quality at unbeatable prices.
Shop Direct from Mars-Hydro.com Use Discount Code: CCFC.
The Mars Hydro TS series fixtures deliver performance that until recently was only available on models that cost 4-5 times as much. The photon and cost efficiency of these lights forced us to reconsider everything about how we recommend grow lights. We stopped recommending HID lights to new growers because of these Mars Hydro TS series LEDs. The TS series deliver high efficiency, excellent distribution, and a proven track record.
The TS series have efficiencies up to 1.83 µmol/w. This is great for a low-cost fixture. What makes the TS series even more impressive is the even distribution of light to the edges and corners. The TS series spreads the light out better than fixtures that cost considerably more. The TS series fixtures come in several convenient sizes and are an excellent value for money. They continue to be among our top recommendations for entry-level high efficiency LEDs.
Mars Hydro TS 1000
Mars Hydro TSL 2000
Mars Hydro TSW 2000
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I had the opportunity to test and review two of the new Mars Hydro SP-3000s and I was really impressed. Read the complete SP 3000 Test Report and Review. The SP-3000 is a new model, which is a significant upgrade over the previous generation of SP fixtures. It features top of the line Samsung LM301b diodes and a 300-watt Mean Well driver.
Mars Hydro SP 3000
The SP-3000 is really tough to beat on cost, it comes in at only $0.63/µmol. These numbers are almost too good to be true – but they are true, I tested it myself.
I ran several PAR tests with the SP 3000. I had two of them, so I also ran them in several different array configurations. These tests are featured in my Grow Light Physics video. The PAR maps and data are all included with the SP-3000 PAR Test and Review. The SP-3000s did tremendously in all of the tests.
One SP-3000 is my top choice for 4’ x 2’ to 4’ x 2.5’ coverage. I am now running one SP-3000 in my 4’ x 2’ tent. Two of these lights produced an insane PAR map in a 4’ x 4’ grow space. It is close to the theoretical limit for the amount of light that you can safely fit in a 4’ x 4’ space! Two SP-3000s were almost enough to cover a 5’ x 5’ space, but their sweet spot is about 20 sq. feet. I think three SP-3000s would be ideal for a 4’ x 8’ grow space. In any of these spaces, I give the SP-3000 my highest recommendation. It is an awesome fixture and I am sure that any grower will love it.
Shop Direct from Mars-Hydro.com Use Discount Code: CCFC.
Photontek Lighting
Photontek is a new brand in the United States and Canada, but it arrives with a stellar reputation. Photontek is the new sister company of Lumatek, which has a long and excellent track record in the grow light industry. Our friend Shane from Migro recently tested the Lumatek Zeus 600w PRO. It was one of the best fixtures he had ever tested. I was disappointed that we could not get the light in the US, but now we can! Photontek is bringing the technology and designs to the US and Canadian market.
Photontek is a brand you can trust. They have excellent customer service and one of the best warranties in the business. If you want a top-quality light for your grow, I strongly recommend the Photontek X series
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The Photontek X series use LED bars in an array. Each LED bar clicks into the frame with a magnet. It is a quick and clever design. You can run the fixtures with anywhere from 1 to all the bars. This is great for grows that start small and then expand into the grow space. As the plants grow out you can add more bars to cover them.
The removable LED bars are just one of several cool things about the X series. All the cables and connectors feature quick release fittings. Assembly of the fixtures is a breeze. Everything snaps together easily and feels solid. The quality of the adapters, fittings, and overall build are notable. These are well designed and engineered fixtures.
The Photontek X Series fixtures feature top bin Osram and Lumileds Philips Diodes, with excellent efficiency ratings. The diodes are IP65 Waterproof and deliver a full spectrum of light. With the Osram 660nm diodes, there is a strong peak in that range, which can be beneficial to cannabis cultivation. The light produced is ideal for both vegetative and flowering growth.
The Photontek X Series fixtures come standard with a remote dimmer switch. There is an optional “Photontek Digital Lighting Controller” that is sold separately. It has some innovative features like functions for “sunrise” and “sunset” and it will even dim the lights if the temperatures in the grow space get too hot. If you have a large grow, several fixtures can be daisy chained and controlled by a single dimmer or controller.
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Photontek X 465w PRO
Photontek X 600w PRO
HID LIGHTS
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights: Metal Halide (MH), High-Pressure Sodium (HPS), & Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH)
HID lighting technology, has been around for years. However, in most markets, it is no longer the most energy or cost efficient choice. If you already have a HID set-up then it is worth replacing the bulbs and continuing to run your lights. However, if you are a new grower or if it is time to upgrade, we recommend choosing an LED grow light instead of HID. See our LED grow light recommendations above.
Metal Halide (MH) Bulbs
Metal Halide bulbs produce a light spectrum that is ideal for vegetative growth. However, it is not perfect for flowering. Most growers use an MH bulb for the first part of their grow and switch to an HPS bulb when the plants enter flowering.
Bulb manufacturers are not all the same. There are vast differences between bulb products which can cause noticeable differences. If you can only invest in one aspect of your HID lighting, then it should be the bulbs. I (Dr. Photon) would rather have an inexpensive reflector than an inexpensive bulb.
Eye Hortilux Metal Halide Blue
Sunmaster Metal Halide 600
Sunmaster Metal Halide 1000
High Pressure Sodium (HPS) Bulbs
High pressure sodium is the industry standard for flowering cannabis plants. These bulbs simply replace the MH bulb when the plants reach the flowering stage. The Quality of the HPS bulb that you select will go a long way towards determining the quality and yield of your harvest. This is one item where you want to invest in quality.
Eye Hortilux Super HPS
Sunmaster HPS
Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH) Bulbs
Philips CMH Bulbs
LIGHT ACCESSORIES
Light Hangers
It most grow tents, you need to hang a number of things from the top bars: lights, exhaust fan, carbon filter, bracing frame, etc.
6-Pack 1/8 Inch Ratchet Pulleys
Digital Timers
You need a timer to control the lights and also potentially to control the exhaust and drip irrigation systems.
Digital Programmable Timer
Digital Timer with one second intervals
Power Switches
These are very handy to control the lights without messing with the timer or for turning other equipment on and off.
Grounded Power Switches
Light Meters
Light meters are used to evaluate the light distribution in the grow space and to determine the best height to hang your light above the canopy. This is not a required tool. Many growers can do fine following general guidelines, but if you want to dial in your grow you need to be able to measure the light.
Lux Meter
PAR Meter
Bubble Levels
Magnetic Bubble Levels
Clamp Light
If you are growing in a tent or a closet you need a light so you can work.
Clamp Light with Reflector
About Our Product Recommendations
At Coco for Cannabis, our mission is to help growers maximize the success of their cannabis crops by providing scientifically accurate information and sharing proven growing practices.
The products that we recommend are the actual products that we chose to purchase and use ourselves. In a few cases, we recommend products that we would buy if we needed them. We do not accept advertising and will not recommend any product that we would not buy for ourselves. We offer this guide as a resource to growers.
We may receive a referral when you purchase products through this page. This is the main revenue stream that keeps Coco for Cannabis up and running! When you click through our links and make purchases you are supporting our work! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Whether we receive a referral does not influence our recommendations. For example, when products are cheaper to buy locally, we’ll tell you that rather than just recommend a more expensive online option.
Disclaimer:
The information on cocoforcannabis.com should not be considered as financial, legal, or medical advice. You are responsible for knowing and following the local laws that pertain to cannabis cultivation, possession, and use. Decisions to grow cannabis should be made in consultation with a lawyer or qualified legal advisor. Decisions to use cannabis should be made in consultation with your doctor or medical professional.