Lighting fixtures can be a powerful tool in the hands of a master interior decorator. Different types of fixtures can be utilized to create unique vibes and follow different themes. However, some folks just want a clean approach to lighting. Something that provides maximum luminance while staying out of the way when not in use. For those people, the recessed lighting of 2023 is the ideal option.
As the name suggests, these lights are recessed inside a ceiling cavity, and there is not much sticking out. Older versions of these lights used bulbs that were sticking out quite a bit, but the newer led versions are pretty much flush with the ceiling. These exact lights are also used in places with little clearance, like under or inside kitchen cabinets and to light-up stairways.
That being said, remember that not all recessed lighting fixtures are created equal. Some will have better luminance, while others will last longer. But, if you’re looking for lights that are great at everything, then look no further than our curated list of the best five.
The first recommendation on our list is a 12-pack from Ensenior. This bundle of thin LED lights is the number one bestseller on Amazon, and for a good reason. Everything about these recessed lighting fixtures is just right. The 5000K daylight temperature is vibrant and lively. The 750LM brightness is more than enough for most indoor locations while also being 88% more efficient than an incandescent bulb. On top of all that, the 2’ clearance requirement allows these lights to be mounted on almost every ceiling.
This pack isn’t lacking in construction quality either. The durable aluminum frame provides excellent support and even better heat dissipation. The sponge gasket combined with a robust snap spring provides a seamless seal. Even the LED lens is frosted to achieve anti-glare properties and add scratch resistance. All that, and we haven’t even mentioned the industry-leading junction box with an upgraded connector.
The next recommendation on our list is another 12-pack, this time from Bbounder. This looks like a very average LED recessed lighting pack. An average of the high-quality options, but average nonetheless. Its 950LM brightness is more than enough for most locations, while its 5000K daylight temperature will make under them glisten and shine. The mounting and power mechanisms are sub-par, but they work as intended. It even has dimming capabilities.
However, the factor that turns this average pack of recessed lighting into one of the best is its value proposition. At just under $60, this is the cheapest pack on our list with a per light cost of just $5. Sure, you can find cheaper options on Amazon within a minute of searching, but none of them will come even close to the quality and performance of this one from Bbounder. Not to mention the fact that these are also the larger 6” lights, not the smaller 4” ones.
Saving your hard-earned money is great, but what if you wanted the most high-quality recessed lighting you could buy? Well, in that case, the Torchstar basic series pack of 12 is just the option you’re looking for. The quality of these lights is apparent from their numbers. Torchstar rates these at a lifespan of over 54000 hours. That equates to over 6 years of non-stop use. So with a reasonable use pattern, you can expect these to easily last for over a decade. Torchstar is so confident in their recessed lighting, in fact, that they are offering a 5-year warranty.
The lifespan is not the only great thing about these lights either, as their design is remarkable as well. The aluminum construction keeps the LEDs cool while also providing an excellent seal with the ceiling. They aren’t super bulky either, requiring only 2” clearance above the mounting surface and have a negligible bump on the underside.
So far, we’ve only talked about recessed lights that come in packs of 12 as those are more than enough for most projects. But, what if you need more? Should you just buy 2 packs of 12? That is a viable option, but a more economical option would be to go with a 24-pack from Sunco Lighting. The thing is, this economic benefit is not in terms of price, as the per light price is nearly identical to other quality 12-pack options. Instead, the value here is in the quality of these recessed lights.
With a rated lifespan of over 35000 hours and a local US warranty of 7 seven years, these lights are meant to last a long time. Besides, even when one of them does eventually fail, replacing it will be extremely easy thanks to the clever mounting and junction box design. The only attributes that are a bit behind the rest of the market are the 850LM brightness and 14 watts power draw.
Electric lighting plays a huge part in the everyday lives of billions of people around the globe. Despite its importance, however, most people don’t give a second thought to the lighting fixtures around them. That is until they have to buy lighting fixtures on their own and they realize that they know nothing about them. Luckily, the modern LED recessed lighting is a one-stop solution to all of the lighting challenges.
Here are a few of the many reasons why recessed lighting is, hands down, the best lighting solution out there.
Admittedly, looks are the biggest reason behind the popularity of recessed lighting. They just fit right in with any modern establishment. They even work well with both minimalistic and stylistic approaches, and colored frames can be used to further blend in the lighting with its environment. Not to mention the fact that their soft diffused light is much better looking than many other lighting options as well.
Older lighting methods are usually stuck on one particular color temperature. But, with the LED recessed lights, you can choose the color temperature you want before making a purchase. These lights are available all the way from 2700K, which is ideal for bedrooms etc., to 5000k, which is perfect for places like living rooms.
Most mid to high-end LED recessed lights are fully dimmable. Some are even capable of going all the way down to 5% brightness with a very smooth brightness increase curve. The best part is that this tech is not proprietary, and you can choose any LED dimmer you want, and it will work with the recessed lights.
Having to replace your lighting fixtures regularly is not fun. It is especially terrible with recessed lights that are flush with the ceiling without any obvious tab or scary to remove them. Luckily, high-quality LED recessed lighting lasts a long time. Some manufacturers even rate their lights for over 54000 hours of use. You might not have to change a single light for over a decade with some brands.
These are the factors you have to consider before buying recessed lighting.
The first factor to consider is your use case. Where are you going to use these lights? In a living room? In the bathroom? In your bedroom? As stairway lights? For under-counter lighting in the kitchen?
Having clear answers to these questions will lead you to lights that are the right match for you because all of these scenarios work best with different options. For example, the living room lighting needs to be bright with more than 1000LM and a vibrant temperature of 4000K or more. On the other hand, stairway lighting needs to be dim and warmer temperatures like 2000k look better on wood.
The next step is to figure out the installation.
The difficulty of the installation method does not matter much if you’re going to hire a professional. But, you have to understand the time it will take a professional to complete the installation since you’d have to pay accordingly.
On the other hand, if you’re planning on installing these lights on your own, then look for the ones with easy-to-mount mechanisms. You might be able to handle the more professional options, but they will suck a lot more time.
The other part of the installation is making sure that there is enough room in your ceiling for these lights. Most modern recessed lighting only needs up to 2” of space above your ceiling to successfully install the lights. However, you might want to have at least 4” of space so you can easily install the junction boxes without much issue.
The last major factor you have to take into consideration is the cost of recessed lighting. Recessed lighting isn’t very expensive, but it isn’t extremely cheap either. The cost is especially noticeable when you need a lot of them for a large project, as a pack of 24 quality recessed lights can cost over $200.
But, whatever you do, do not buy the no-name ultra-cheap ones. Most of them will fail within the first few months and will cost more money and time to replace. So, buy the quality option the first time as the few dollars you’ll save with the cheap options isn’t worth it in the long run.
A: Can recessed lights be the older versions of recessed lights that had incandescent or fluorescent bulbs in them? They are called that because of the giant metal can that surrounded the bulb on the upper side of the fixture. Modern LED recessed lights are very thin in comparison and do not need a can around them.
A: There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a lot of factors, including the type of the room, dimensions of the room, ceiling height of the room, and the brightness of the lights. But, a good rule of thumb is to divide the ceiling height by 2. The resulting number should be the average distance between two lights.
A: All recessed lights should be wired in parallel as serial will cause many issues.