The 6 Best Grow Lights for Indoor Plants

Corrie
by Corrie

By Corrie Pelc


There are three main elements a plant needs to grow and thrive: soil, water, and light. While nature provides all three of those when growing plants outside, inside is a different story. Providing well-fertilized soil and water is easy enough to do, but light is where things can get a bit tricky. If you don't have access to enough natural sunlight in your home — either because of the types of windows in your home or where they are placed — plants will not flourish.


Grow lights are a great way to provide fake sunlight so indoor plants can grow successfully, to start seedlings indoors while the weather warms its way up to spring, or to cultivate fruits, vegetables, and herb plants so you can have access to them all year long.


This guide will walk you through the best grow lights out there today so you can have thriving plants growing indoors, no matter the season.

Two microgreens plants under a grow light / Photo via Shutterstock

Top Picks

What Is a Grow Light?

A grow light is meant to provide artificial sunlight to help a plant grow. Sunlight is made up of specific wavelengths of light that trigger photosynthesis — the process where plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make the energy they need to live and grow.


A grow light is designed to mimic the same wavelengths that the sun emits, allowing the plant to grow indoors, and they are more powerful and designed a bit differently than standard lightbulbs. They can normally be found as compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED bulbs and can be found in different arrangements including lighting panels, hanging lights, and grow light bulbs you screw into a standard light fixture.


Test Factors We Considered When Picking the Grow Lights for Indoor Plants

Here’s a look at the test factors we used in determining our list of the best grow lights for houseplants:

  • Price: How much does this grow light cost?
  • Light Type: What type of grow light is this — a lamp? Hanging light? Panel light? Something else?
  • Bulb Type: What type of bulb does this grow light use — CFL? LED? Something else?
  • Wattage: Knowing the wattage a grow light emits will help the user determine how many lights they need for the number of plants they have. Generally speaking, about 50 watts of light is needed per square foot of plants. This handy online calculator can also help a user figure out how much wattage and grow lights your plants need.
  • Special Options: Does the grow light come with any special options such as a timer or dimming capabilities?
  • Weight: How much does this grow light weigh? This might be important to users who plan to move their lights around.
  • Warranty: Does the manufacturer back this product’s performance?


Let’s take a look at our list of the best grow lights for indoor plants you can buy right now.

Best Lamp Grow Light for Indoor Plants: EZORKAS 9 Dimmable Levels Grow Light

Light Type: Lamp Bulb Type: LED Wattage: ~20 watts per arm Special Options: 9 dimming options, timer Weight: ~2 pounds Warranty: 2-year warranty

With almost 20,500 reviews and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, there's no surprise the EZORKAS 9 Dimmable Levels Grow Light is our top pick for best lamp grow light for houseplants. This grow light lamp features four lights on bendable arms, so you can move them wherever you need them. The lamp provides a combination of red and blue light — both of which are important for plant growth — through long-lasting LEDs. Set the lamp to turn on and off when needed through three built-in timer settings. The ZORKAS Grow Light also offers nine levels of dimming, an adjustable clip if you want to clip it to a desk or table, a USB connector, and an easy-to-use push-button power switch.

Pros

  • Lamp features four light panels on bendable arms
  • LED lights provide combination of red and blue light needed for plant growth
  • Features three timer settings and nine dimming levels

Cons

  • None that we can see!

Best Hanging Grow Light for Indoor Plants: Soltech Solutions Small White Aspect LED Grow Light

Light Type: Hanging lamp Bulb Type: LED Wattage: 20 watts Special Options: Timer Weight: 2.75 pounds Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

If you prefer a grow light in your home that doesn't really look like a grow light, then your best bet is the Soltech Solutions Small White Aspect Luxury LED Grow Light. This hanging grow light comes in either black or white and is styled to look like a modern pendant light. Built from durable aluminum, this grow light features a 20-watt LED light that provides full-spectrum light to promote photosynthesis in houseplants, as well as a warm white light if you're just using it as a light fixture. The LED light in the hanging grow light is guaranteed to last for up to 15 years, and the light as a whole is backed by a 15-year limited warranty.

Pros

  • Hanging grow light styled to look like a modern pendant light
  • LED light lasts for up to to 15 years
  • Backed by a 5-year limited warranty

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Will require some time to install

Best Grow Light Bulb for Indoor Plants: GE Lighting BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb

Light Type: Bulb Bulb Type: LED Wattage: 9 watts Special Options: None Weight: 6.2 ounces Warranty: 3-year warranty

Quickly turn any standard lamp or light fixture into a grow light with the GE Lighting BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb. The LED bulb is available in either a balanced light spectrum perfect for growing seeds and greens, or an advanced red light spectrum meant for growing flowers and fruits. (Both are designed for use at all plant growth stages, and are rated for use in both dry and humid conditions.) Because the bulbs only use nine watts, they don’t emanate a lot of heat, making them safe to use around pets and children. Lastly, the GE Lighting BR30 LED Grow Light Bulb will last for up to 25,000 hours or three years!

Pros

  • Quickly turns standard lamps and lighting fixtures into grow lights
  • Comes in two light spectrum options
  • Lasts for up to 25,000 hours or three years

Cons

  • Dimmer or timing functions would be based on capabilities of the lamp or fixture

Best Clip-On Grow Light for Indoor Plants: GooingTop Clip LED Grow Light

Light Type: Clip-on light Bulb Type: LED Wattage: 50 watts Special Options: Timer; 5 brightness levels Weight: 1.19 pounds Warranty: Returnable through Amazon's standard return policy

The GooingTop Clip LED Grow Light allows you to easily provide growing light for houseplants on tables, desks, countertops, and anywhere else you can clip the light to. The fixture features two light bars on bendable arms with a mix of red and white LED lights, providing the equivalent of full-spectrum sunlight to indoor plants. The light features five brightness levels, easily adjusted through the included push-button control. It also has three built-in timer functions so you can set the time you want light on and off of your plants. And because the GooingTop Clip LED Grow Light's illumination is flicker-free, it can double as a reading light or desk lamp when not being used for plants.

Pros

  • Easily clips to desks and tables to provide sturdy light for indoor plants
  • Two LED bars provide light comparable to full-spectrum sunlight
  • Features five brightness levels and three timer settings

Cons

  • Clip may not be wide enough for all surfaces

Best Grow Light for Seedlings: Roleadro LED Grow Light

Light Type: Light panel Bulb Type: LED Wattage: 75 watts Special Options: None Weight: 1.7 pounds Warranty: 30-month warranty

If you need a grow light excellent for starting seedlings inside, definitely give the Roleadro LED Grow Light a look. This light panel features 75 watts of full-spectrum LED lights that provide faux sunlight for plant germination and growth. The fixture can be used on all types of green plants, from flowers to herbs to vegetables, and because LEDs emit very little heat, they are safe for use with delicate seedlings. Each LED light in the panel is housed in a 60-degree concentrated cup, which helps spread the light even further. The Roleadro LED Grow Light comes with a hanging kit for easy installation and its LED lights are rated to last for up to 50,000 hours.

Pros

  • Light panel featuring 75 watts of LED lights
  • Emits full-spectrum light that is similar to natural sunlight
  • LEDs last for up to 50,000 hours

Cons

  • No timer or dimming options

Best Grow Light for Vegetables: Hytekgro LED Grow Light

Light Type: Light panel Bulb Type: LED Wattage: 45 watts Special Option: None Weight: ~4 pounds Warranty: 1-year warranty

Growing vegetables indoors is not a problem thanks to the Hytekgro LED Grow Light. This set of two grow light panels provides the perfect mix of red, blue and white LEDs for supporting plant growth — especially vegetables and, more specifically, leafy greens. Each panel has 225 LEDs for more light coverage, and the plastic material holding the LEDs in place provides excellent heat control so plants don’t get damaged. These lightweight panels are easily installed through the included steel hanging kits and are backed by a one-year warranty from the manufacturer.

Pros

  • Comes with two grow light panels
  • Features perfect mix of red, blue, and white light for indoor plant growth
  • Easily installed through the included steel hanging kits

Cons

  • No dimming or timer

Tips for Using Grow Lights

Now that you’ve hopefully determined the best grow light for your houseplants, here are some tips on how to get the best use of your light(s):

  • Know Your Spacing — Most grow light manufacturers will provide instructions on how much space should be between the plant or seedlings you're growing and the grow light you're using. Make sure to follow these instructions to ensure the plants receive the proper amount of light they need and the grow light is not so close to the plant that its radiating heat may damage it.
  • Keep On Watering — While light is vital for plant growth, so is watering. No matter how great a grow light may be, your plants won't thrive if they don't get enough water.
  • Use Light Cycles — The sun is not radiating 24/7, and neither should your grow light. If your grow light comes equipped with a timer, read the instruction manual to see what timer setting they suggest for your type of plant. If your grow light does not have a timer, set a timer on your phone to help you remember when to turn the grow light on and off to better mimic natural growing conditions.


Do you have a grow light that your indoor plants just love? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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