This team of experts and gardening enthusiasts spent years testing dozens of grow lights available on the market. For this list, we picked six of the best grow lights for seedlings available.
The resulting review has intensive details on specific performance areas, as well as advice for your gardening budget and goals. Read on!
Here are the best grow lights for seedlings you can buy in 2024:
- Long Lasting (LED Light): EZORKAS 9 Dimmable Levels Grow Light
- Best For Tomato Seedlings (LED Light): Ankace Full Spectrum Grow Lamp
- Energy-Efficient (LED Light): VIPARSPECTRA Newest P2500
- Best For Pepper Seedlings (Fluorescent Light): Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLT48
- Sturdy (Fluorescent Light): iPower GLT5XX4
- Best For Cilantro Seedlings (Fluorescent Light): Sun Blaze T5
| 6 Best Grow Lights For Seedlings | ||
|---|---|---|
Long Lasting | EZORKAS 9 Dimmable Levels Grow Light
| |
Best For Tomato Seedlings | Ankace Full Spectrum Grow Lamp
| |
Energy-Efficient | VIPARSPECTRA Newest P2500
| |
Best For Pepper Seedlings | Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLT48
| |
Sturdy | iPower GLT5XX4
| |
Best For Cilantro Seedlings | Sun Blaze T5
| |
Long Lasting: EZORKAS 9 Dimmable Levels Grow Light
- Long-lasting – the 50,000-hour life cycle
- Provide optimal plant growth – feature 16 (460nm) blue lights and 32 (660nm) red lights
- Flexible and easy to control - 3 timing modes, 9 dimmable modes, and 3 switching modes plus a power button
- The gooseneck often doesn’t hold its shape when bent at harder angles
- The USB cable gets hot
The EZORKAS Dimmable Levels Grow Light is constructed of 16 (460nm) blue lights and 32 (660nm) red lights with each measured scientifically and accordingly for the best plant growth.
The light has a life cycle of 50,000 hours, which is a lot longer than conventional fluorescent grow lights.
It is overheat-resistant, low-maintenance, and saves you money effectively, hitting the sweet spot of long life, safety, and quality.
The light also offers three timing modes, nine dimmable modes, and three switching modes plus a power button for easy control.
| EZORKAS 9 Dimmable Levels Grow Light Specifications | |
|---|---|
Lumen | 300lm |
Light Spectrum | 460 to 660nm |
Lifespan | 50,000 hours |
Highlight Features | the 50,000-hour life cycle feature 16 (460nm) blue lights and 32 (660nm) red lights 3 timing modes, 9 dimmable modes, and 3 switching modes plus a power button |
Out of dozens of the grow lights that we have tested, the EZORKAS Dimmable Levels Grow Light stands out for the longest-lasting.
Best For Tomato Seedlings: Ankace Full Spectrum Grow Lamp
- Ideal for tomato seedlings - full sunlight-like wavelengths (from 380 nm to 800 nm)
- Safe and reliable - ROHS PSE, CE, and FCC certified
- Prevent overheating to not burn your plants - an aviation-grade heat sink
- The power cord is pretty short
- A little top-heavy for chairs
Tomato seedlings need really high-intensity light, so high so that not all grow lights can meet. After testing plenty of products since 2018, we found the Ankace to be the shiniest contender for this need.
It gives off full sunlight-like wavelengths (from 380 nm to 800 nm) and is proven to accelerate photosynthesis for optimal indoor plant growth.
The grow light, on the other hand, meets all safety standards of ROHS PSE, CE, and FCC. So, the given-off heat isn't too much to damage our tomato plants.
| Ankace Full Spectrum Grow Lamp Specifications | |
|---|---|
Light Spectrum | 3000k-3500k, 380 nm to 800 nm |
Lifespan | 50,000 hours |
Highlight Features | full sunlight-like wavelengths (from 380 nm to 800 nm) an aviation-grade heat sink |
Giving off the wavelengths from 380 nm to 800 nm, the Ankace is a perfect sunlight-mimicking light for tomato seedlings.
Energy-Efficient: VIPARSPECTRA Newest P2500
- Energy-efficient - SAMSUNG LM281B+Diodes & aluminum material
- Flexible & easy to adjust - a dimmer knob
- No power button
The newest version P2500 LED grow light is distinguished by its adoption of SAMSUNG LM281B+Diodes - which is considered to be the current market's leading for lifespan and energy efficiency.
It also boasts fast heat-dispersing aluminum material for decreasing light loss to the surroundings and increasing light intensity (by 20% more than other brands).
VIPARSPECTRA adds to this line a dimmer knob to flexibly adjust the light intensity for each specific plant growth stage.
In other words, the unit has a perfect balance between coverage and PAR/Lumen to boost plants at all growth stages.
| VIPARSPECTRA Newest P2500 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Light Spectrum | 660nm, 3000K, 5000K, and IR 730nm |
Working Frequency | 50-60Hz |
Lifespan | 100,000 hours |
Highlight Features | SAMSUNG LM281B+Diodes aluminum material a dimmer knob |
If you are growing an indoor garden and looking for energy-efficient grow-plant products, then consider the VIPARSPECTRA Newest P2500.
Best For Pepper Seedlings: Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLT48
- Perfect pepper seedlings - up to 40,000 lumens & 6400K color temperature
- Convenient to use - three different mounting methods & a long 10' grounded power cord
- The power cord’s position is weird
The Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLT48 has some distinctive features that our other picks don't, which pepper seedlings really love.
It gives off up to 40,000 lumens, produces 6400K - which is more on the blue color spectrum and close to natural daylight, and the faceted specular aluminum construction allows it to distribute light evenly.
It's also extremely flexible by giving you three different mounting methods (horizontal, vertical, and overhead) and features a 10' grounded power cord.
| Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLT48 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Lumen | 40,000 Lumens |
Light Spectrum | 6400K |
Working Frequency | 60hz |
Lifespan | 20,000 hours |
Highlight Features | up to 40,000 lumens & 6400K color temperature three different mounting methods & a long 10' grounded power cord |
The Hydrofarm Agrobrite FLT48 produces the closest to natural daylight and is the best choice if you want a reliable grow light for pepper seedlings.
Sturdy: iPower GLT5XX4
- Sturdy - a metal frame construction
- Easy to lower/raise the fixture - feather-touch mechanism with height adjustments
- Offer optimal coverage - wide reflectors
- A bit pricey
- The screws at the bottom of each foot need improvement
If you're after a sturdy freestanding grow light for seedlings, then the iPower GLT5XX4 is our favorite pick.
It highlights a metal frame construction, a moderately heavy base, and the feather-touch mechanism that's also height-adjustable for flexibly lower/raise the fixture to your liking.
To optimize the coverage, it is added with wide reflectors.
The full light spectrum and the 6400K color temperature range, on the other hand, make it a great choice for propagating cuttings and starting seeds.
| iPower GLT5XX4 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Lumen | 4,850 lumens |
Light Spectrum | Full, 6400K |
Working Frequency | 60Hz |
Highlight Features | a metal frame construction feather-touch mechanism with height adjustments wide reflectors |
The iPower GLT5XX4 is the sturdiest freestanding grow light for seedlings that we've found, as it features a full metal frame construction.
Best For Cilantro Seedlings: Sun Blaze T5
- Good for cilantro seedlings - 5,000 lumens & Spectralux 6500°K (blue) T5 HO Lamps
- Easy operation – two on/off switches
- Expensive
The last product is our pick for cilantro seedlings.
As you might know it or not, cilantro is a sun-loving plant that requires full sun (6-8 hours of sun exposure daily during all growing stages), therefore, the best growing lights for them should be bright and mimic the natural daylight perfectly.
Out of a bunch, we found the Sun Blaze T5 was the best candidate because not only does it meet all those requirements but it is also durable (thanks to the powder-coated steel housing).
We appreciate the added on/off switches so that you can turn the light on or off conveniently without having to unplug it.
| Sun Blaze T5 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Lumen | 5,000 lumens |
Light Spectrum | Full, 3000-6500K |
Highlight Features | 5,000 lumens & Spectralux 6500°K (blue) T5 HO Lamps two on/off switches |
Offering a sunlight-like full light spectrum with great diffusion and reflectivity, the Sun Blaze T5 is the best grow light for cilantro seedlings.
How To Choose The Best Grow Light For Seedlings?
Types Of Grow Lights
When starting to research grow lights, you'll notice that you have two options: LED and Fluorescent lights. So, what’s the difference between them?
LED Lights
Individual LEDs only give off a single narrow range of colors, which explains why all LED grow lights are composed of various individual LEDs, popularly in a casing with built-in fans or an aluminum heat sink.
A distinctive feature of this type of grow light is it can be directly plugged into a standard electrical socket without requiring a separate ballast.
Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent lights feature long, tube-like shape bulbs in a range of three main sizes – T12, T8, and T5 (the T stands for Tube and the number is the light diameter). A basic rule of thumb is the bigger the light diameter (or the number), the less energy efficient the light is.
To summarize the difference between them and which one is best suited for you, look at this comparison table:
LED grow lights | Fluorescent grow lights | |
Pros | -Mercury-free -Superior heat dispersing -Long lifespan -More energy-efficient -Produce more light | -Low upfront cost -Ideal for plants with low to medium light needs -Widely available |
Cons | High upfront cost | -Contain mercury -> require a proper disposing method -Release more heat -> Pay attention to the distance between the plant and the light -Shorter lifespan -Less energy-efficient |
Best for | Permanent use Professional or enthusiast indoor gardeners | Temporary use Gardeners who are looking for a little cost investment |
Light Spectrum
Light quantity is divided into colors according to wavelengths.
While sunlight (white light – 5000K, composed of all of these wavelengths) is considered the best light source for plant growth, red light (600-700 nm, 2700K) and blue light (400-500 nm, 6500 K) are the most critical for seedlings.
The cool blue spectrum stimulates vegetative growth while the warm red spectrum is for flowering.
If you don’t mind the strange look that these two colors bring up to the room where you start your seeds, go ahead.
On the contrary, white spectrum light (full spectrum light) is still fine and looks natural to the eye.
Which Brands Make The Best Grow Light For Seedlings?
Ankace
Ankace is one of our most favorite brands for high-quality, budget-friendly grow lights that do help optimize indoor plant growths, especially seedlings. Their lights are high-intensity but do not overheat to damage the plant leaves.
Hydrofarm
This has been the leading brand for over 40 years of controlled environment agriculture equipment, consisting of high-intensity grow lights. They have currently accounted for a huge market share in both US and Canadian markets.
iPower
iPower has been manufacturing and providing grow light systems for over 10 years. Their product lines are vast, spreading from LED lighting systems, CFL lighting, HPS, and MH lamps to digital electronic ballast.
FAQs
How many watts should grow lights for seedlings be?
For seedlings, CFL grow lights should provide nearly 100 watts per square foot of growing area while LED grow lights should provide 32.
How do you use LED grow lights for seedlings?
The proper way to use LED grow lights for seedlings is once the first seed begins sprouting, turn on the grow lights and place your seedlings under them at a moderate pace. Give them high-intensity light right from the start for optimal growth.
Should seedlings get 24 hours of light?
No, they shouldn’t. Most seedlings need around 14 to 16 hours of light per day and they won’t grow faster if you provide them with more lighting hours than that. So, don’t waste your energy.
Can seedlings get too much light?
No, they can’t. Giving seedlings too much light might hinder their success and even kill them in the worst case.
How to prevent leggy seedlings?
Here are some common tricks to prevent leggy seedlings:
Gently brush your seedlings with a ruler or your hand a few times per day to strengthen their stems
Adjust the lighting time and intensity of your grow lights
Consider providing indoor grow light if you haven’t had one or removing your seedlings to a new spot that provides enough lighting to them.
Conclusion
If you want to start out an indoor garden, grow lights are one of the recommended gear for optimal plant growth and crops. Seedlings are an important growth stage of any plant. While you have to provide them with moderate water and nutrients, lighting is a must-have element.
Hopefully, this list helped you find out the best grow light for seedlings. Thanks for reading!
