We developed the grow light calculator to provide a scientific way to analyze and compare grow lights. Our calculator uses Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) along with wattage and cost to calculate the efficiency, coverage area and harvest potential of different grow light fixtures. You can enter your own data or view data for the fixtures that we have preloaded. Our Grow Light Comparison table below allows you to easily compare the key data for different grow light fixtures.
The Grow Light Calculator is part of the Coco for Cannabis Grow Light Guide. We encourage you to read our Grow Light Metrics Primer to learn what all the data means. We explain how the calculator works and the science behind our formulas in our article, “Calculating Grow Light Efficiency, Coverage & Harvest Potential”.
Enter Your Own Data
CocoforCannabis.com
Grow Light Calculator
Power Draw
Cost
Usable PPE
0.0
Efficiency RatingCost Efficiency
$0.00
Cost RatingFixture Coverage
0.0
0.00
Harvest Potential
Low
Benchmark
0
0
0.0
0.0
0
0
0.0
0.0
Select A Preloaded Fixture
CocoforCannabis.com/grow-light-calculator
Mars Hydro SP 3000
= Field Tested
= Recommended
LED Fixtures
Small: Up to 6sq. ft
Mid-Size: 6-12sq. ft
Large: Over 12 sq. ft
HID Fixtures
Power Draw
297
Measured
Usable PPF
630.3
Manufacturer's
Reported Data :
Usable PPE
0.0
Efficiency RatingCost Efficiency
$0.00
Cost Rating Grow Light Comparison Table
Light Fixture
Usable PPF (µmol)
Photon Efficiency (µmol/w)
Cost
Cost Efficiency ($/µmol)
Power Draw (watts)
Benchmark Harvest (grams)
Coverage (Sq. Feet)
Fixtures Needed
Total Cost
Click "Compare" in the calculators above to add grow light data to this chart.
CocoforCannabis.com/grow-light-calculator
CocoforCannabis.com/grow-light-calculator
Calculated
PPF
Power
Draw
Cost
Usable
PPF
0
EstimatedUsable ePPE
0.0
Efficiency RatingCost
Efficiency
$0.00
Cost badgeFixture
Coverage
0.0
0.00
Harvest
Potential
00 - 00
0.0 - 0.0
CocoforCannabis.com
The Science and Practice of Growing Cannabis
CocoforCannabis.com/grow-light-calculator
Usable PPF
0
Cost
Power Draw
0
Usable ePPE
0.0
Efficiency RatingCost Efficiency
$0.00
Cost badgeManufacturer's
Reported Data :
Fixture
Coverage
0.0
0.00
Harvest
Potential
00 - 00
0.0 - 0.0
CocoforCannabis.com
The Science and Practice of Growing Cannabis
Using the Grow Light Calculator
You can enter data about any grow light fixture. However, in order to get an accurate calculation, it is important to understand the data and conversion factors. Watch the video and read below to learn about the PPF data that you need, where to find it and how to use it in the calculator.
Grow Light Calculator Video Tutorial
Enter the PPF or Photon Efficiency
In order to calculate efficiency, coverage and harvest potential we need to use Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF) data. If you have a light fixture in mind, look for PPF or Photon Efficiency (PPE) data in the manufacturer’s literature or on their website. Manufacturers of high efficiency lights will usually report this data because it is a selling point. For most grow lights, PPF values are between 100 and 1500 µmol. Photon efficiency values are usually between 1.00 and 3.00 µmol/w.
PPF (Not PPFD)
PPF values are often called “PAR Value” or “Total PAR”. They measure the total amount of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) that a fixture will produce. This data will be reported as “µmol” or “µmol/s”. You can enter this data in the Grow Light Calculator in the field labeled “µmol”.
Unfortunately, many manufacturers of low-quality lights do not report PPF data. They instead try to manipulate Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD) data to convince growers that the lights are more powerful than they are. PPFD is a measure of the density rather than the quantity of photons. The data reported in PAR maps is PPFD data. PPFD values are properly reported as µmol/m2/s. If you see the “m2” in the label, then it is PPFD data which cannot be used in the Grow Light Calculator.
Use Photon Efficiency Data
It is more common to find a Photon Efficiency rating. Photon Efficiency is often abbreviated as “PPE”. It is a number usually between 1.00 µmol/w and 3.00 µmol/w. The label may say µmol/w or µmol/j, there is no difference. We can use photon efficiency ratings instead of PPF values in the calculator.
Photon Efficiency is simply the PPF divided by the power draw. Enter this value into the field labeled “µmol/w”. The calculator will multiply the photon efficiency by the number of watts to estimate the PPF in µmol.
Read more about Grow Light Metrics in our Grow Light Metrics Primer.
Select Calculated, Total or Usable PPF
There are three ways that PPF values are measured or calculated. PPF values may be a “Calculated PPF”, or they may be measurements of “Total PPF” or “Usable PPF”. In our grow light calculator, you can select which type of PPF data that you want to input. The default is set to “Calculated PPF” because this is the data that most manufacturers provide. If you click on the drop-down menu, you can select Total PPF or Usable PPF.
If you are using manufacturer’s data, you should assume that it is a calculated value. This is most obvious when the PPF data that they report is directly related to the efficiency of the LED diodes that they use. Several manufacturers of high-end LEDs publish data from lab testing. You should select “Total PPF” if you are using data from lab testing. The data from our field test reports are Usable PPF values, however manufacturers generally do not publish Usable PPF data.
When you select “Calculated PPF” or “Total PPF”, we use our formulas to estimate the Usable PPF. When you select “Usable PPF” we do not make any adjustments. The calculator will report the new PPF value as the “Estimated Usable PPF”. All other calculations for efficiency, coverage and harvest potential are then based on the Estimated Usable PPF.
Read about the science behind our formulas in our article, “Calculating Grow Light Efficiency, Coverage & Harvest Potential”.
Questions about the Grow Light Calculator?
If you have questions about the metrics and what they mean, please see our Grow Light Metrics Primer. If you have questions about how to use the calculator or our calculations, efficiency ratings, or formulas, please see our article, “Calculating Grow Light Efficiency, Coverage & Harvest Potential”. If you want to learn about our grow light testing procedures, check out our Grow Light Testing Protocol.
Still have questions, or want to discuss? Start a thread in our Grower’s Forum or come chat with us in our Live Cannabis Chatroom!
The Coco for Cannabis Grow Light Guide
Grow Light Tests and Reviews
LED Fixtures
Small: Up to 6sq. ft
- Atreum Lighting Hydra 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1000
- Maxsisun MF-1000
- Mars Hydro TS 1000
- ViparSpectra XS 1500
- Viparspectra P-1500
- Spider Farmer SF 1000
Mid-Size: 6-12sq. ft
- Atreum Hydra 3200
- ViparSpectra KS3000
- Mogobe Octopus 300
- Photontek SQ 300w PRO
- ViparSpectra XS 2000
- Maxsisun MF 2000
- Mars Hydro FC-3000
- Mars Hydro SP 3000
- Mars Hydro TSL 2000
- Spider Farmer SF 2000
- Migro Aray 4 240w Full Spectrum
Large: Over 12 sq. ft
- ViparSpectra KS5000
- Mars Hydro FC-E8000
- Mars Hydro FC-8000
- ViparSpectra XS 4000
- Medic Grow EZ-8
- Mars Hydro FC-E4800
- Photontek X 600w PRO
- Photontek XT 1000W CO2 PRO
- Mars Hydro FC-E6500
- Mars Hydro FC-6500
- Spider Farmer SF 7000
- Grower's Choice ROI-E720
- Geek Light GeekBeast Plus
- Medic Grow Fold 8
- ChilLED Growcraft ULTRA X3-330
- Lumatek Zeus 600w Pro
- Mars Hydro SP 6500
- Mammoth 10 Bar
HID Fixtures
- Omega CMH 315w
Unbiased Testing and Reviews
This guide is an independent resource for growers. We do not accept advertising and do not receive compensation from manufacturers for testing or for including their fixtures in our guide. We will always report accurate information and give our honest evaluation of each fixture.
You can support our work by following our links when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. However, we have no financial interest in promoting any particular brand of light. Our recommendations are based on the science, testing and our honest evaluation. We want to equip you with the knowledge and information so that you can make the best grow light decision for your cannabis grow.
