Are Edison Bulbs Bright Enough?
Edison bulbs glowing in a dark commercial space.
Updated 10/11/23 by 1000Bulbs Staff
Antique lights, or Edison Bulbs, have recently become incredibly popular. You can find these cool-looking light bulbs everywhere, from your favorite restaurant to DIY steampunk lamps and costumes.
However, in the midst of this lighting trend, some are disappointed in the light output of these decorative bulbs. Before you decide to invest in a few vintage Edison bulbs, you may want to get a better understanding of what you're getting for your wattage.
Incandescent vintage Edison light bulb with a z-shaped filament.
Today's standard incandescent light bulbs have a pear shape, produce an average wattage between 40 and 150 Watts, and typically last around 1000 hours. Though standard incandescent bulbs are being phased out by more energy-efficient lighting such as LED bulbs, antique lighting is gaining popularity due to its creative vintage style.
However, many people don't realize that when they choose to use incandescent Edison bulbs in place of regular incandescent bulbs, they are losing some valuable luminosity—the brightness of Edison bulbs is actually lower than standard A19 incandescent light bulbs.
Various shapes and styles of incandescent Edison light bulbs with a warm, yellow glow.
Antique Light Bulbs
Most people don't realize that watts are not the same as lumens, aka brightness. Antique lighting does not have the same level of brightness, or the same lumens per watt ratio, as standard incandescent lighting. Antique lighting is also typically lower in color temperature than today's incandescent bulbs, meaning they are less than 2700 Kelvin, the standard for incandescent lamps.
Vintage style bulbs range between 1800-2400 Kelvin, producing a more orange light as opposed to the soft, warm yellow glow emitted by incandescent bulbs.
This is further exacerbated by the amber tint characteristically given to the glass of an antique bulb. You can think of the light from an antique light bulb as being similar to the color of a flame, or sunrise/sunset.
LED chandelier bent-tip bulbs with candelabra (E12) base.
So, when purchasing antique bulbs for your home, be aware that a 60-Watt antique bulb will emit closer to 400 Lumens, whereas a 60-Watt standard A19 incandescent bulb will emit closer to 800 Lumens.
But remember, these vintage light bulbs are intended for accent lighting, not task lighting or to replace overhead lights. Before installing an antique light with a higher wattage, check your fixture's wattage rating to make sure it can handle the additional watts.
Vintage Aesthetic with Energy Efficiency: The LED Filament Light Bulb
What if you really enjoy the look of these bulbs but want longer-lasting lights? Consider trying LED filament bulbs. LED filament bulbs use traditional-aesthetic components of vintage and standard incandescent lighting, such as shape and traditional glass-shielded circuits.
LED filament light bulb with a soft, warm glow.
However, the LED emitters within the light bulbs last for a longer period of time than the fragile incandescent filaments. With these lights, you still get the old-school vintage look of Edison light bulbs, but instead of only having about 1000 Lumen-hours, LED filament bulbs have approximately 15,000 life hours.
However, this is much shorter than the average Lumen life of regular LED bulbs which typically last around 50,000 hours on average. This has to do with the type of light emitting diodes being used in the filament bulbs along with fragileness and the possibility of overheating.
While LED filament bulbs contain a lower wattage, you should still check the Lumens. LED filament bulbs create the same color temperature, so the effect is identical to traditional lamps–however, you won't have to worry about a fragile filament or high energy cost. This warmer light in vintage-inspired glass creates a softer glow, similar to that emitted by standard incandescent bulbs.
Whether you decide to invest in an LED bulb or incandescent antique-style lighting, it is important to weigh your options. With LED filament bulbs you will get more Lumen life and a warmer color temperature, whereas with incandescent antique lights, you may have a few more light bulb style options, but a shorter lifespan.
Warm incandescent LED string light provide antique, fanciful ceiling decoration.
Shop Traditional Incandescent Edison Bulbs or LED Light Bulbs at 1000bulbs.com
What have your experiences been with antique light bulbs? You can also see what other people are saying about these light bulbs by checking out the fantastic reviews. If you have any questions about these light bulbs or just questions in general, drop us a comment in the box below or reach out to us Facebook or Pinterest.
At 1000bulbs.com, we can help you find the right LED vintage bulb for your space. For help finding the right bulb for your fixture, call 1-800-624-4488 or try our convenient “pop-up chat feature” at the bottom right corner of our 1000bulbs.com web pages.
