top of page

Top 9 Best LED Grow Lights For An Indoor Garden

This post is all about the best grow lights for indoor plants

Growing plants indoors can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but it's important to have the right tools to help your plants thrive. One of the most important tools for indoor gardening is an LED grow light. LED grow lights come in two main types: quantum boards and strips.


Quantum boards are perfect for growing larger plants such as cannabis, while LED grow light strips are ideal for growing herbs, vegetables, and fruit plants. Strips are also great for growing plants in smaller spaces like shelves and vertical tower gardens.


What type of grow lights are best for indoor plants?

LED grow lights are generally considered the best type of grow lights for indoor plants. They are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and can provide specific spectrums of light that plants need for photosynthesis and growth.


Within LED grow lights, there are different types such as quantum boards and strips, each with its own advantages depending on the type of plants being grown and the size of the indoor garden. It's also important to choose grow lights with the appropriate wattage and coverage area for the plants being grown.


To help you find the right LED grow light for your indoor garden, we've compiled a list of lights in all shapes and sizes. Whether you're just starting out or you're an experienced indoor gardener, there's a LED grow light on this list that's perfect for you. So, get ready to take your indoor gardening to the next level with these awesome LED grow lights!



9 Best Grow Lights For Indoor Plants



The Atreum Lighting Hydra-1000 is the ideal LED grow light for a 2ft by 2ft grow tent. This light offers easy setup, is ultra-lightweight, and uses Samsung trusted LEDs with a quality Meanwell driver. Its digital wattage output of 1-100w readout with a dimmer adds to its appeal.


One unique feature of this LED grow light is its LED pattern, designed to increase the overall light coverage while reducing the chance of light burn. However, it is only available in one size.


Built with superior components like the Meanwell driver and Samsung LM301b diodes, this light outshines all other LED grow lights in its class. Overall, the Atreum Lighting Hydra-1000 is one of the best LED grow lights on the market, delivering professional-quality results to amateur growers.




The Best LED Grow Light for a 2ft by 4ft Grow Tent


Pros:

  • Extremely Bright.

  • Built with Reliable Components.

  • Easy to Set Up.

  • Great Light Coverage.


Cons:

  • Can get hot to the touch.


This LED grow light is a top-of-the-line option for indoor growers. It boasts Samsung LM301b diodes and a reliable Meanwell driver. With daisy chaining capabilities, it's easy to expand coverage if needed. Despite its extremely bright light output, the unit produces only a minimal amount of heat.


Overall, this is one of the best LED grow lights on the market for a 2ft by 4ft grow tent. The superior components and exceptional light output make it a highly capable grow light for achieving impressive yields."




If you're looking for a reliable LED grow light for a 3ft by 3ft grow tent, the FC-3000 is a top-notch choice.


Pros:

  • Impressive light coverage

  • Removable driver

  • Sturdy construction

  • Uses Samsung LEDs with a MeanWell driver


Cons:

  • None


This grow light has a unique bar-style design, which provides excellent light coverage. In my tests, it performed better than a quantum board. One notable feature is the removable driver, which is a rare find in grow lights. Additionally, the FC-3000 has a dimmable knob and an on/off switch.


The FC-3000 consumes only 300 Watts and features 896 diodes with Samsung lm301b diodes and a MeanWell driver. It's built with high-quality components and is a fantastic choice for any 3ft by 3ft grow tent.




If you're looking for the best LED grow light for a 4ft by 4ft grow tent, the SonoFarm SF4000 is a great choice. It's built with high-quality components and is priced lower than other competitors with similar specs. Plus, it comes with a 5-year warranty and has a lifespan of 100,000 hours.


One of the standout features of this LED grow light is its spectrum. It emits a notably warmer light with more red diodes, which is great for plants in the flowering stage. The SF4000 also comes with a dimmable knob and an on/off switch, making it easy to control.


The SF4000 is powered by a Meanwell driver and features Samsung LM301b diodes, which are reliable and long-lasting. Overall, this LED grow light offers a great balance of quality and affordability, making it one of the best options on the market.




The Best LED Grow Light for a 5ft by 5ft Grow Tent


Pros:

  • Exceptional Light Coverage

  • Removable Driver

  • Durable Build

  • Samsung LEDs with MeanWell Driver

Cons:

  • Expensive

The light spectrum produced by this LED grow light is designed to provide optimal growth for plants during their entire life cycle. With its coverage area, it's perfect for growing high-quality flowers, especially cannabis. The product is built with high-quality components and is well-constructed, providing reliable performance over an extended period.


The LED grow light comes with a removable driver, which is a rare feature, and allows for easy maintenance or replacement. The Samsung LEDs and MeanWell driver ensure the light output is consistent, and the dimming knob allows for customization of the light intensity. While it is an expensive product, the return on investment can be huge if used correctly. Overall, this LED grow light is a top-tier choice for growers who want to produce the best possible yield.




The Best LED Grow Light For A 2ft by 2ft Vertical Shelf.


Pros:

  • Easy to install and handle.

  • Remains cool to the touch.

  • Very lightweight.

Cons:

  • Has an invisible film which can be difficult to see, so make sure to remove it before using it.

If you're growing with a vertical shelf or are interested in the idea, this LED grow light is a great choice. It's lightweight and easy to install and handle, and it remains cool to the touch even after hours of use.


This grow light is ideal for growing microgreens, herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Keep in mind that it's more suited for smaller plants, so if you plan on creating an indoor farm, you may want to consider using metal bunk beds.


Metal bunk beds are perfect for growing a variety of plants simultaneously, and their large size means you won't have to worry about whether the LED grow lights will fit or not. This LED grow light is a great choice for your bunk bed setup, as it's reliable and easy to use.




The Best LED Grow Light For A 2ft by 4ft vertical shelf.


Pros:

  • Lightweight.

  • Easy to set up anywhere.

  • Comes with everything needed.

  • Low power consumption.


Cons:

  • Power cables are a bit fragile.


These grow lights are extremely bright, modular, easy to install, and easy to use. They also come with ample mounting and wiring options.


So no need to buy anything to set these up, just plug and play. They are overall a well-designed product and a good choice for growing microgreens.




The Best LED Grow Light Strips For Growing Vertically


Pros:

  • Powerful Full Spectrum

  • Can Grow Huge Plants

  • Easy To Setup

  • Come with everything needed


Cons:

  • None


These are possibly the best LED grow light strips available. They have a powerful full-spectrum more than capable of growing microgreens, herbs, and vegetables.


I recommend you get these if you are growing with a shelf that is 4ft long, as they are 4ft long and come in a pack of 4. The kit includes everything you need to set them up and get them started. Overall, these are the best LED grow light strips for growing vertically.




The Best LED Grow Light Strips For An Indoor Vertical Tower Garden.


Pros:

  • Lightweight.

  • Easy to set up anywhere.

  • Comes with everything needed.

  • Low power consumption.


Cons:

  • Medium Light Output


These LED grow light strips are a great option for growing with a vertical tower garden. There lightweight, easy to set up, and can be attached to just about any surface. Whether you are growing with a vertical shelf or a tower garden. These LED grow lights will get the job done.


How To Choose The Right LED Grow Light

Before you choose an LED grow light, there are 3 important things you must know first.

  • The Size Of Your Growing Area

  • The Specs Of An LED Grow Light

  • The Price Of An LED Grow Light

You must know the size of your growing area before you choose an LED grow light!

Then choose an LED grow light rated for that specific size.


The specs of an LED grow light is important, if the diodes are listed or named, then don't buy, as they are most likely cheaply made.


Then, of course, the price. LED Grow Lights are an investment and should be looked at as an investment. Whether you decide to go commercial, or just have a casual home grow, these LED grow lights will get the job done.


Frequently Asked Questions


How many watts should a grow light be for indoor plants?

The recommended wattage for indoor plant grow lights depends on several factors, such as the type of plant you are growing, the size of your grow space, and the stage of growth of your plants. As a general guideline, most indoor plants require a minimum of 20-30 watts of light per square foot of growing space, with some plants needing more than 50 watts per square foot.


For seedlings and young plants, lower wattage LED grow lights with a range of 20-40 watts per square foot are sufficient. For vegetative growth, a range of 40-60 watts per square foot is recommended, while for flowering and fruiting, a range of 60-80 watts per square foot is ideal.


However, it is important to note that wattage alone should not be the sole factor in choosing a grow light for your indoor plants. Other factors such as the light spectrum, quality, and coverage area should also be taken into consideration. It is best to research the specific light requirements of the plants you are growing and consult with a gardening expert to determine the appropriate wattage for your indoor grow setup.


Are LED grow lights good for indoor plants?

Yes, LED grow lights are a popular and effective choice for indoor plant growth. LED grow lights emit specific wavelengths of light that are optimal for photosynthesis, allowing indoor plants to grow and thrive. Additionally, LED grow lights are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan compared to traditional grow lights, making them a more sustainable option.


Can any LED light be used as a grow light?

While any LED light will emit light that plants can use for photosynthesis, not all LED lights are optimized for plant growth. The specific spectrum of light that plants use most effectively for photosynthesis is in the blue and red range, which is different from the spectrum of light that most standard LED lights emit.


LED grow lights, on the other hand, are specifically designed to emit the wavelengths of light that are most beneficial for plant growth. They typically have a mix of blue and red diodes, and some also include white or UV diodes to provide a more complete spectrum.


So while technically any LED light can be used as a grow light, it is recommended to use LED grow lights that are specifically designed for plant growth to ensure the best results.


Establish Growers is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Establish Growers (14).png

Welcome to Establish Growers, we are an online haven, devoted to all aspects of gardening, microgreens, houseplants, and vegetable cultivation.

Your all-in-one guide to growing and savoring nutrient-dense microgreens at home.

5 eBooks (7).png

Follow Us:

  • Pinterest

Subscribe

Join our Newsletter to receive our latest posts about growing!

Thanks for subscribing!

bottom of page