Best Grow Lights for Indoor Cannabis

Spider Farmer SF-1000
Spider Farmer SF-1000
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SolarXtreme 500
SolarXtreme 500
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Phlizon CREE COB 2000W Series
Phlizon CREE COB 2000W Series
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Spider Farmer SE7000
Spider Farmer SE7000
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Mars Hydro FC6500
Mars Hydro: FC6500
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Mars Hydro TS 3000
Mars Hydro TS 3000
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Horticulture Lighting Group 65 V2
Horticulture Lighting Group 65 V2
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Electric Sky 180 V3
Electric Sky 180 V3
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LEDTonic Z5
LEDTonic Z5
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Different types of LED grow lights

To simplify your search, there are three types of LED grow lights for cannabis to know about:

  • Spread: Spread-style grow lights are panels dotted with small diodes over a large surface area. You can target many plants, have a higher output, and embrace a built-in cooling system. Subcategories include quantum board or spider-style.
  • Traditional Panel: For small spaces, traditional growing cannabis lighting panels come compact and generally include a full-spectrum spread. They’re a “hybrid” style between the spread and COB style.
  • COB style: Short for “chip on board,” COB style offers powerful lighting from a single source. It targets the plants directly underneath the grow light, emitting a full-spectrum frequency.

How to Choose the Right LED Grow Light

As you shop online, you’ll need basic knowledge of what to look for in the different types of grow lights:

Spectrum: LED grow lights mimic natural light. Unless they’re full-spectrum white LED lights, they don’t always feature every color on the electromagnetic spectrum. If you grow cannabis plants from seed to flower, you should look for a combination of blue, purple, red, and infrared (IV) diodes (rather than just blue spectrum).

Heat output: To avoid leaf burn, the best LED grow lights feature cooling systems such as heat sinks or fans that also help the system from overheating. The optimal LED grow light temperature is between 80-84° F.

Footprint Map: The footprint map refers to how much grow space the light covers at various heights. This is measured in feet and generally falls from 2’✕2’ to 4’✕4’.

Power: Contrary to popular belief, higher wattage isn’t the best way to assess how much power is in an LED light. LEDs are designed to be cost-efficient (lower electricity bill), therefore higher wattage may put more of a strain on your wallet. The true power measurement comes down to how much light a plant absorbs, listed as a 400-700nm PAR rating. PAR stands for photosynthetically active radiation. In other words, it’s the amount of visible light the plant uses for photosynthesis.

Light intensity: The standard for measuring light intensity is micromole per joule. On product listings, you’ll see this written as umol/j or PPF (photosynthetic photon flux). The best LED grow lights have high PPFs because they produce more photons of light every second. Look for lights with 1.5 umol/j and up.

In addition to PPF, you may see a measurement of μmol/m2/s, or PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density). It sounds technical, but all you need to know is that PPFD measures the number of photons hitting a plant surface per second. You’ll need to gauge PPF and PPFD on the footprint map to understand how intense the light will be at various heights.

Voltage: Often overlooked by home growers, make sure your power outlets can handle the voltage range of an LED grow light, especially if it includes the daisy-chain function. This allows you to connect multiple lights across wide spaces but draws more wall power.

Warranty/Lifespan: Since cannabis grow lights are a financial investment, having a warranty gives you peace of mind and ensures you can return and replace faulty parts. Additionally, it’s better to go for products with a higher lifespan (more hours).

Spider Farmer SF-1000

Spider Farmer SF-1000

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  • Receives consistent highly rated reviews on Amazon
  • Includes dimmable daisy chain function
  • Lightweight, affordable light for budget shoppers
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Small, yet intensely efficient, the Spider Farmer SF-1000 has everything a home grower needs and won’t strain your wallet. This system has a lifespan of 100,000 hours. You can control the light intensity using a dimming knob and achieve full-spectrum white lighting.

Backed by a 1-3-year warranty (with specifications), you can request local maintenance in case your Spider Farmer SF-1000 suddenly stops working within 90 days. Reviews as a whole gush over this system’s affordability and power capability. All these features and more make it one of the best LED grow lights for marijuana.

Product specifications:

  • Suitable for 2’✕2’ to 3’✕3’ grow space
  • 660nm-760nm full-spectrum light: white, blue, red, IR
  • 2.5 µmol/j PPF
  • Consumes 100W
  • Includes 90 days free after-service local maintenance

Spider Farmer

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AMMA

SolarXtreme 500

SolarXtreme 500

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  • COB LED style and direct AC drive for temperature regulation
  • Reviewers recommend it for home growers
  • Option to choose between 120V or 240V

As one of the higher-priced systems on this list, the SolarXtreme® 500 consumes half the energy of traditional LED lights. That means more bang for your buck and less energy waste.

Another feature that makes this one of the best grow lights is the option to buy according to voltage. This is a major appeal for home growers with outlets that require a specific voltage. This product comes from an American-made manufacturer, which seems to please many reviewers.

Product specifications:

  • Draws 400W
  • Full-spectrum light
  • 500 PPFD at 24“ or 800 PPFD at 18″
  • Suitable for a 4’✕4’ grow space/tent or smaller
  • 3-year warranty
Phlizon CREE COB 2000W Series

Phlizon CREE COB 2000W Series

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  • COB style with warm/cool temperature settings
  • Over 1,000 highly rated reviews on Amazon
  • Manufacturer includes simple and straightforward PPFD footprint map
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While the Phlizon 2000W may wear a hefty price tag, you have all the benefits of a high-end LED grow light. Hanging at 12″, the PPFD reaches 2573 μmol/m2/s. In our opinion, the four-light COB style design is better than traditional LEDs.

Highly rated reviews brag about the strength and brightness of this system. Your seeds will appreciate the full-spectrum light as they move from stage to stage.

Product specifications:

  • Full-spectrum light design
  • 2573 μmol/m2/s PPFD
  • 400W power consumption
  • 2-year warranty plus 90-day money-back guarantee
  • Great for home growers looking for bright COB style

Mars Hydro

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AMMA

Spider Farmer SE7000

Spider Farmer SE7000

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  • Spider Farmer operates warehouses in several continents, so they are able to offer very fast shipping times
  • Uses powerful Samsung lights that offer the reliability of one of the world’s top tech companies
  • 730-watt lightbulbs come with adjustable bulb strength
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For those of us with limited space, vertical farming is a lifesaver. This SE7000 730W Commercial LED Grow Light from Spider Farmer is designed for those in apartments or smaller homes who don’t want to compromise their yield potential.

This large but highly detailed piece of growing equipment offers even light distribution and an easy-to-use dimmer. This ensures you can get your required light frequency just right — no more accidentally burning plants or depriving them of their much-needed light absorption.

This entire installation is completely water-resistant. So, you don’t have to worry about harming the equipment with your watering schedule. The grow light is evenly distributed so you can anticipate a larger yield (up to 60% more). You can add up to 15 separate lights and can even control all of these lights with one central dimmer.

The SE7000 comes with passively cooled bars and an aluminum heatsink, so you don’t have to worry about finagling to find the correct temperature. This innate temperature control also helps protect the overall health and longevity of the unit. You can hang this unit at varying heights and choose from various light cycles depending on your crop needs.

This set-up comes equipped with coveted Samsung diodes, a type of LED grow light known for optimal performance for light output, lifespan, and yield production. You can rest assured that the Samsung bulbs that come with this light are the real deal—an important consideration when you consider the popularity of counterfeit bulbs.

Spider Farmer specializes in growing supplies for plants, including but not limited to UV grow lights. Although they’re California-based, this coming has a presence all around the world (some may say a growing presence).

Spider Farmer

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Mars Hydro FC6500

Mars Hydro: FC6500

Quality 100%

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  • Wattage - 680w
  • Personal Cultivation Coverage - 5x5 ft
  • Commercial Cultivation Coverage - 4x4 ft
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Mars Hydro TS 3000

Mars Hydro TS 3000

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  • Features a noise-free fanless compact design
  • Ability to daisy chain and dim intensity
  • Description includes helpful graphics and footprint map
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The Mars Hydro TS 3000 covers grow spaces up to 4’✕4’ wide and long during the bloom stage, making it a prime choice for more established home growers or commercial facilities. Whether you set up one or look to daisy chain multiple systems, the internal cooling system makes this LED grow light quiet as a mouse.

From an 18” distance, it puts out a 1274 µmol/m2/s PPFD, clearly depicted on the helpful footprint map. In a full-spectrum white light, the Mars Hydro TS 3000 can support your plants from seed to flower.

Product specifications:

  • Suitable for 4’✕4’ (bloom stage) to 5’✕5’ (veg stage) grow tents
  • Full-spectrum white light with “sunlike” infrared
  • 450W and 2.7µmol/j PPF
  • 50,000-hour lifespan
  • Bigger size for large room or commercial use

Mars Hydro

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Horticulture Lighting Group 65 V2

Horticulture Lighting Group 65 V2

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  • Great for small clones or first-time growers
  • Quantum board style diffuses light over plant canopy
  • Affordable, easy-to-hang kit with only 3 components for set-up

Value-wise, the HLG 65 V2 is a reliable, affordable, and powerful LED grow light with a PPF of 2.35 μmol/joule. The quantum board style gives first-time or more experienced growers the advantage of wide, yet compact light diffusion.

No need to fret about overheating, because the HLG 65 V2 has passive cooling, without the need for a heat sink. Those who may be hesitant about jumping into home grows will appreciate the simplicity of the hanging kit and can use the video support included within the light description to get started.

Product specifications:

  • White 4,000K full-spectrum light
  • 2.35 μmol/joule PPF
  • Fits a 2’✕1’ or a 1’✕2’ grow space
  • Produces 10,000 lumens with 65W
  • Back by a 3-year warranty
Electric Sky 180 V3

Electric Sky 180 V3

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  • Edge-to-edge plant yields thanks to rectangular spread style
  • Linear lenses focus light in two directions and won’t “blind” your vision
  • Product description includes informative videos from the company founder

A pricier but worthy investment, the Electric Sky 180 V3 includes a dimmer to adjust light intensity during various points in the flowering process. The daisy chain ability is also an added perk, while the system emits “wideband” full-spectrum white light.

This light’s 5/5 star rating comes down to the company’s dedication to customer education. Within the product description, the founder, Dan, personally explains the features of this upgraded third version, using layman’s terms that don’t go over your head.

Product specifications:

  • 200W power consumption costs as little as $0.35 per day
  • Lifespan of 50,000 hours
  • 90-day money-back guarantee and 3-year warranty
  • Great for 1.5’✕3’ to 2’✕4’ grow space
  • “Wideband” full-spectrum replicates afternoon sunlight indoors
LEDTonic Z5

LEDTonic Z5

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  • Inexpensive to run
  • COB style for targeted light emission
  • Manufacturer includes a quick reference guide for first-time buyers

Growers interested in trying their hand at a COB-style LED grow light will appreciate the intensity of the LEDTonic Z5. The PPFD spans from 630-911 umol/m2/s, depending on the mounting height from the plant canopy.

What gives this system a 5/5 star rating is its energy-efficient power consumption, costing as low as $0.23/day running at 16 hours. According to the manufacturer, set-up is a breeze — just plug it in and start playing.

Product specifications:

  • 911 umol/m2/s at 12″ & 630 umol/m2/s at 18″ PPFD
  • 118W power consumption at $0.23/day (16hrs)
  • Covers a 2’✕2’ to 2.5’✕2.5’ grow space
  • Backed by a 3-year warranty
  • White full-spectrum light

Indoor LED Grow Lights Buyer's Guide

Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights

Just like cannabidiol (CBD), the best grow lights for marijuana are full spectrum! Full spectrum lighting means that the LED grow lights replicate the light provided by the sun. In a growing environment, that’s as close to sun-grown as possible. However, full spectrum LED grow lights ease the process without the environmental complications of an outdoor grow.

How Do Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights Work?

Best Lighting for Indoor Grows INFOGRAPHIC

How to Choose the Best Color of LED Grow Light

What’s the best color of LED grow light for indoor marijuana plants? Trick question – the best color is all of them (including blue lights and red lights)! While your plants may still grow under single-color or narrow-spectrum lights, they will always grow best under full-spectrum LED lights, which replicate the full range of colors and waves in natural sunlight. Choose a full spectrum LED grow light for the best indoor garden results.

Best Lighting for Indoor Grows INFOGRAPHIC

Best Strains for Indoor Growing

The best strain for growing indoors is the one that you love most. Just about any strain can be grown indoors – there are no notable differences between “indoor” or “outdoor” strains. However, the difference in results between indoor and outdoor growing can be huge.

When you choose a strain to grow indoors, ensure sure to shop for seeds at a reputable seedbank.

Looking to save on your seed purchase? Check out our seed bank coupons – with huge savings at some of the top seedbanks, like ILoveGrowingMarijuana.

FAQs