Top 10 Best Hydroponic Lights 2023

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Model	Features
Amzdeal 10W LED Read Our Review	225 x high quality LED lights 165 red LEDs & 60 blue LEDs 90% of light absorbed by flowers and plants Adjustable lighting height and area
iNextStation 5M Strip Light Read Our Review	50,000 hours lifespan 300 LED lights in total 120 degrees angle beam 5 metre long strip
Omega 600W HPS Dual Spectrum Read Our Review	E40 fitting 95,000 Lumens 24,000 hours lifespan Blue spectrum light for growth and red spectrum light for flowering 10% more light than standard lamps
Kingbo UFO LED Grow Light Read Our Review	177 individual LED lights 50,000 hours lifespan Includes easy to use hanging kit 1.5 metres cabling 60 degrees reflector
Toplanet 45w LED Read Our Review	169 individual LEDs - 117 red and 52 blue 50,000 hours lifespan 60 degrees condenser cup Hanging hook

There are many ways in which you can help plants grow. A greenhouse is a great idea if you have the space, but what do you do when you don’t have such a space available? There are certain things you can do to grow plants indoors, and some are surprisingly affordable. You might have a spare room, for example, that is not being used – why not grow flowers or even vegetables in there? It’s not doing anything so you may as well spend your time doing something worthwhile!

You may well have heard about hydroponic lights, and it really is nothing to be afraid of. The process is simple, it’s clean and tidy, and it is not expensive. We’ll go into a little more detail about what hydroponics is a little later on, but for now, why would you want to grow plants in this fashion?

It’s easy, it’s successful, there’s little or no maintenance to think about, and it’s very effective. You can grow everything you want, in a limited space, and you will find it to be the most cost-effective method of growing indoors. It can also be used in a greenhouse setting, and in smaller outdoor spaces if you wish.

What do you need? Well, this review is about hydroponic grow lights, which are becoming ever more popular. We have covered a wide variety of models and types, with everything taken into account, so before we take you through the top 10, let’s talk a little more about what hydroponics is all about, and why grow lights are the in thing.

Best LED Hydroponic Lights

1: Amzdeal 10W LED

Our first grow light example is one that highlights the importance of the light source. This one is lit by a series of LED’s – 225 in total – that provide light in the right ratio for growing. This is done by mixing the colour of the LED’s. In this example, there are 165 red and 60 blue LED’s; this gives a ration of red: blue of 2.75:1. The makers state this is the ideal ratio for professional growing, the best spectrum for both plants and for flowers.

This is a 10W model so is not the most powerful. It is 90% efficient – that is 90% of the light is effectively absorbed by the plants as required – and uses quality ABS material, which is designed to act as a heat sink for added efficiency, and which is perfect for the job. The model reviewed measures 310mmx310mmx35mm, so will be big enough to cover a sensible growing area, and it uses standard UK electrical input, with an international adapter available. It’s a decent, quality item at a sensible price.

2: iNextStation 5M Strip Light

Whereas the above is typical of the grow lights we are reviewing as it is presented in a box-type design for hanging above the plants, this one is different. It takes the form of a 5m (just over 16ft) strip light, and comes with sticky adhesive pads so it can be placed around curves and other awkward spaces. It can be coiled into one unit to provide direct light to a specific space, or mounted as a strip – perhaps with more than one of these – for a broader light emission.

This one has a red:blue ratio of 4:1, which the maker claims is good for necessary photosynthesis. It’s an energy efficient LED device so will not cost much to run – in fact it could be used as a backlight for aquariums – and would be ideal for a greenhouse that needs extra light at night. This is a 60watt model, and as such is quite powerful, and at the price we think it is certainly worth investigating, especially if you have more unusual areas to light.

3: Omega 600W HPS Dual Spectrum

The above two entries are both LED lighting systems. This one is something different, and is another method of hydroponic lighting. It’s a High Pressure Sodium (HPS) light. This is a very efficient and powerful form of intense lighting that provides light in the spectrum that is ideal for growing plants – including both vegetables and flowers – and does so in an energy efficient manner and at little cost.

This version is a typical strip light, as most of this type of bulb will be, with a standard E40 fitment (that’s the popular UK screw-in type). It offers both blue and red spectrum light, and is said to be as much as 10% more effective than a standard HPS light due to its dual-spectrum format. It has a useful lifetime of 24,000hrs; that’s 1000 days, so you get your money’s worth from this one! Whether you prefer LED or HPS – or any of the other light sources available – is up to you, but we like this one at a sensible price, and customer reviews are favourable.

4: Kingbo UFO LED Grow Light

We are back to the LED lights for this one, which is presented as a circular design for hanging above the growing area. It features three sets of LED’s: red, blue and white. This is designed to give it the perfect light spectrum for growing effectively, and it claims to do the job very efficiently too. Indeed, one of the reasons that LED grow lights are taking preference over HPS is because of the energy costs. This one consumes 26W of energy, with the claim that the equivalent HPS lamp would use 100W.

This is a neatly designed model with a back reflector, it measures little under 12inches in diameter and is not much more than half an inch thick, and it is UK mains powered. It can provide up to 50W of light and is perfect for growth and bloom stages. It comes with a hanging kit for overhead or can be fixed in a vertical position. It’s not the cheapest on our list but is hardly expensive, and there are many satisfied users testifying to its effectiveness.

5: Toplanet 45w LED

This is a standard square panel type LED grow light and, as such, is probably the sort you were thinking of when you first began looking for hydroponic lights. It’s made with high-quality LED’s for longer life – this one promises 50,000hours of use before you need to replace – and is highly energy efficient with only 23w consumption for an output of 45w. This shows the efficiency of the LED source, and is a good reason to choose this type over HPS.

The red:blue ratio of this model is 9:4; this is said to be ideal for plants in the germination stage, so if you are growing from seed it will be very effective. The case is aluminium for better heat reflection, and it measures 276x276mm, and is just 14mm deep. Such a size will easily offer light dissipation over 2m² so you can cover quite a large area with one of these. It’s a neat, simple and usable grow light that comes at a decent price and is well made.

6: Gosun 25W LED

This LED light is one that stands vertically, so you get a good array of light from a highly efficient model that is designed to enhance plant growth. These sort of lights tend to accelerate plant growth – and provide healthier plants as a result – and the spectrum of light is an important factor. This one features a red:blue ratio of 4:1 – 40 red LED’s and 10 blue LED’s make up the light source – and is therefore ideal for young seedlings to thrive under.

It’s a 25watt model that is highly energy efficient – as are all LED lights hence their popularity – and it can give a usage life of as much as 50,000 hours, which is a long time! The frame is die cast aluminium for better reflection and heat dissipation, and it is a very neat model that works from the standard mains power source. Is it the one for you? This one comes recommended for use indoors, in greenhouses and elsewhere, and is well-made and efficient, and while it is far from the cheapest one here, it is a quality item with excellent credentials.

7: Toplanet LED 300W

This high-end model is from Toplanet, one of the market leaders in LED hydroponic lighting systems, and it is a full, 300W LED system with what the maker claims is ‘close to sunlight’ light emission. It uses top quality branded LED’s that are as efficient as it gets, and is recommended for vegetables and fruits, as a claimed 95% of the light can be absorbed by the plant for better productivity. The spectrum is perfect for all stages, so this is an all-round grow light that will serve its purpose.

The design is of the tray-type of lamp, measuring 31x21cm, and only 6cm deep, and it is easy to use with fixing included in the package. It has a 50,000hour minimum lifespan so you get plenty from it before you need to replace, and it is a full-spectrum 300W LED lamp – that’s far more powerful than any others on the list so far. All in all, this is a professional-level lamp that will be much-appreciated by serious growers, and although it is significantly more costly than some, is worth looking at.

8: OxyLED E27

This well-priced LED grow lamp is a neat little model designed for varies use. It’s simple yet able, and offers 24watts of power that should be enough for a small growing project. It features just 12 LED’s – 9 are red, 3 are blue so you have a 3:1 ratio, which is close to ideal for perfect growing situations. It’s energy efficient, and offers similar levels of absorption to other such models, and it is a circular design.

Where this one differs is that it is not a model that plugs into the mains; instead, it is a screw-in bulb with an E26 fitment, so can be used just about anywhere you wish. This is the fitting you will find in most greenhouse light systems, so it is versatile in that respect. A lifespan of 35,000 hours is perfectly adequate, it is compact and fully safe, and you can have it for a price that is among the lowest of all on the list. For a basic grow light, perhaps for a small growing area indoors, this one may fit the bill.

9: 225LED Grow Light

This is a model of the standard type, and very similar – if not in fact identical – to the first one on the list. This one is lit by a series of LED’s – 225 in total – that provide light in the right ratio for growing. This is done by mixing the colour of the LED’s. In this example, there are 165 red and 60 blue LED’s; this gives a ration of red: blue of 2.75:1. The makers state this is the ideal ratio for professional growing, the best spectrum for both plants and for flowers.

This is a 10W model so is not the most powerful. It is 90% efficient – that is 90% of the light is effectively absorbed by the plants as required – and uses quality ABS material, which is designed to act as a heat sink for added efficiency, and which is perfect for the job. The model reviewed measures 310mmx310mmx35mm, so will be big enough to cover a sensible growing area, and it uses standard UK electrical input, with an international adapter available. It’s a decent, quality item at a sensible price.

10: SINJIAlight 100w LED

Our final selection is this one; it’s another LED light, and another one that is a screw-in bulb rather than a plug-in variety. It is a highly efficient model, too. This grow light features 150 LED cells; these are very small and combine to give a perfect spectrum for photosynthesis and growth. The combination is 100 red, 25 blue, 10 white and 5 Infra-Red, so you get all the spectrum frequencies in one compact and easy to use package, which you can use just about anywhere.

This is a standard E27 screw-in feature and is a 100w output – but under 25w consumption thanks to the efficiency of LED – and is very neat indeed. It has a lifetime of at least 50,000 hours, and it is backed by an aluminium shell for maximum efficiency. There’s plenty to like about this one, and at the price it is certainly worth looking at if one of this type is your choice.

That’s our top 10 of best hydroponic lights for you, so which is the best? Let’s check out some of the features you need to look for before we give you our verdict.

How It Works

Hydroponics is a word that scares many gardeners, but it really shouldn’t. Put simply, hydroponics is the art of growing plants without soil. There are many different ways of achieving this. The best is to use a growing medium – this can be anything from vermiculite to gravel or sand – into which the roots of the plants are settled. The grower then has complete control over the nutrients that the plants are given, rather than the plant taking this nutrient from the soil.

You can get hydroponic fertilisers that are designed to give the plants the food they need to grow, and they are easy to use. Many gardeners use hydroponics alongside traditional growing, and as such find it a great way to supplement their crop. So, what are we talking about when where hydroponic lights are concerned?

Hydroponic grow lights are about giving the plants a replacement or supplement for sunlight; this is particularly important when you are growing indoors, where natural light may not be at a premium. Grow lights come in a wide variety of different types, with many varied elements providing the light source, and in a vast array of power levels so you can choose the one that suits you, and we have chosen ten of the very best to make sure you have a good idea of what you need.

So, let’s have a look at the top 10 best hydroponic lights on the market right now, and see if we can find one that is right for you.

Important Features

There are a number of factors you need to consider when you are looking at buying the best hydroponic light, not least of which is the type of lamp you need. Let’s consider the factors here:

• Type – the main types of hydroponic grow light are HPS – High Pressure Sodium – and Led, in which the light is provided by light emitting diodes. The latter is by far the most popular among domestic growers, as LED lamps are surprisingly energy-efficient and they are cheap to buy, but many people still prefer the effect of the HPS light. The choice is yours.
• Ratio – where LED lights are concerned, you need to have enough of the light spectrum emitted as possible, in order to achieve successful growth. This means a combination of red and blue – and sometimes white and Infrared – LED’s, and there are various combinations that give the best effect. It is said that around 3:1 red: blue is about the average efficiency, so check the lamp specifications.
• Power – what sort of wattage do you need? It depends upon the purpose of your grow light, and make sure you understand that a 25w LED light will be equivalent, on average, to an HPS light of about 100W.
• Lifespan – LED lamps have a longer life than HPS; this can range from around 35000 hours to as much as 100,000hours, so check carefully before you buy.
• Fitting – some of the above come with a cable that plugs directly into the mains; others are crew-in bulbs that you need a light fitting for. Check which is which – and for the latter, what type of screw fitting is involved – before you buy.

That’s pretty much all covered for the best hydroponic grow lights, so which is for you? Let’s see if we can come to a verdict.

Let’s Wrap It Up!

Is there a hydroponic grow light in the above list that is the right one for you? Given we’ve covered the main types, both in light source and in fitting, we think there should be, so what is our verdict?
Let’s start by looking at the HPS lights: these are becoming less popular, which is why there is only one on our list. However, it should not be dismissed as it is a very powerful, highly effective and very efficient lamp at a sensible price, that will provide you with the light spectrum needed for efficient growing from seed to bloom, and for vegetables.

Where LED’s are concerned, the market is yours! If you want one that screws into a standard light fitting we recommend you check out further the SINJAlight model, the last one on the list. It has an excellent ratio, comes with a full selection of LED’s, and is cheap and easy to use as well as powerful.

For a mains plug-in variety, the Toplanet 300W model, number 7 on the list, is very much the cream of the crop, as it is a professional standard model that ticks all the boxes – albeit at a professional standard price. If you can, go for it, but if you want a cheap hydroponic grow light that will help you with your plants for little outlay, we suggest you look again at the other model from Toplanet, which is number 5, as it is a high quality lamp at a sensible price.