LED Grow Lights for Indoor & Outdoor Growing
Modern LED grow lights deliver full-spectrum photon output at significantly lower energy consumption and heat production than traditional HID fixtures. The reduced radiant heat lowers HVAC load and operating costs across the growing cycle, while advanced diode arrays provide the broad spectrum coverage that supports strong vegetative growth through dense flowering. LED technology now dominates new commercial CEA builds and is the most common choice for home and hobby growers upgrading from HID systems.
LED Grow Light Brands: Growers Choice, Gavita, Faven, Matrix & More
Hydrobuilder carries LED grow lights from qualified brands including Growers Choice, Gavita, Faven Lighting, Matrix, Photontek, ThinkGrow, AC Infinity, and Mars Hydro. Fixtures range from compact 100W bar-style LEDs for propagation spaces and small tents up to 2,000W+ commercial bar arrays for large-canopy production rooms. Full-spectrum models cover vegetative and flowering requirements in a single fixture. Dimmable and spectrally adjustable models offer flexibility for multi-crop facilities and research applications. Our updated best LED grow lights guide covers top-performing fixtures across every budget and canopy size.
Fixture Types: Panels, Bar Arrays & Bulbs
LED panels are the most common format - integrated heat sink, driver, and diode array in a single unit. Bar-style LED arrays distribute light more evenly across wide canopies and can be hung closer to plants due to their lower intensity per bar - the preferred format for top commercial brands including Gavita, Growers Choice, and Faven. Bar arrays reduce intensity hot spots that single-source panels can create, improving canopy uniformity across the full footprint. Under-canopy LED bars can supplement overhead fixtures for bottom canopy penetration - see our updated guide to under-canopy lighting for setup guidance.
Sizing LED Fixtures: PPFD, DLI & Canopy Area
The correct way to size LED fixtures is by PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) and canopy area - not watts per square foot, which is an unreliable metric across different fixture efficiencies. Vegetative crops typically target 400-600 umol/m2/s; flowering crops target 800-1,500+ umol/m2/s depending on variety and CO2 levels. A 5x5 ft canopy in flower typically requires a 600-800W LED fixture delivering 1,500-2,000 umol/s total output. Daily Light Integral (DLI) is the metric that correlates most strongly with yield in commercial production. Use our PPFD & Light Coverage Calculator to match fixtures to your canopy size and DLI target, and our Electricity Cost Calculator to model running costs.
LED vs. HPS: Comparing Technologies
Modern LED fixtures produce equivalent or greater yield per watt compared to double-ended HPS at the same wattage, with 30-50% lower heat output. For growers with established HPS infrastructure, the transition to LED reduces electricity costs and HVAC load simultaneously. LEDs produce less infrared heat than HPS, which can require supplemental heating in cold climates. For commercial facilities, many utility providers offer significant LED retrofit rebates - see our LED rebates and incentive programs page for details.
LED Grow Lights for Every Scale
Whether you are lighting a 2x4 home tent or outfitting a commercial indoor farm with multiple production bays, our expert support team can help size fixture counts and layout for your specific canopy and crop. For commercial facilities, we offer design assistance and volume pricing through our commercial accounts program. Expert support available.
LED Grow Lights FAQ
How many watts of LED do I need per square foot?
Watts per square foot is an outdated sizing metric for LED - different fixtures produce very different amounts of usable plant light per watt depending on diode efficiency and driver quality. The correct metric is PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) at the canopy surface. Most vegetative crops target 400-600 umol/m2/s; flowering crops target 800-1,500+ umol/m2/s depending on variety and CO2 levels. Use our PPFD & Light Coverage Calculator to match a specific fixture's output to your canopy size and target light level, rather than relying on watt-per-square-foot estimates.
What is the difference between full spectrum LED and blurple LED grow lights?
Blurple LEDs use narrow-band red (660nm) and blue (440nm) diodes only - producing the distinctive purple-pink color. They were the first-generation commercial LED design and have been largely superseded. Full spectrum LEDs use broad-spectrum white diodes (typically Samsung LM301 series or equivalent) that cover the entire 400-700nm PAR range plus supplemental red and sometimes far-red and UV. Full spectrum fixtures produce significantly more usable photons per watt, better canopy penetration, and more accurate plant color assessment during inspection. Modern full spectrum LEDs outperform blurple on every measurable horticulture metric.
How far should LED grow lights be from plants?
This depends entirely on the fixture's output and your target PPFD - there is no universal distance that applies to all LEDs. High-output commercial bar arrays (600W+) typically hang 18-24 inches above canopy to avoid light saturation and heat stress. Lower-output panel LEDs may need to be closer to deliver adequate PPFD. Always verify PPFD at canopy level with a PAR meter, or use the manufacturer's published PPFD map for your specific fixture and hanging height.
Is LED better than HPS for growing?
Modern LED fixtures produce equivalent or greater yield per watt compared to double-ended HPS at the same wattage, with 30-50% less heat output. For new builds, LED is the clear choice - lower operating costs and HVAC load pay back the higher upfront fixture cost within 1-3 production cycles depending on electricity rates. For facilities with existing HPS infrastructure, the transition economics depend on your energy rate, hours of operation, and cooling costs. Use our Electricity Cost Calculator to model the comparison for your specific situation.
What are the best LED grow lights for a 4x4 tent?
For a 4x4 canopy in flower, target 600-800W of quality LED output. Fixtures in this range from Growers Choice (ROI-E720), Gavita (Pro 1700e), or Faven deliver the 1,500-2,000+ umol/s total output needed for productive flowering. Bar-style arrays from these brands provide better uniformity across the full 4x4 footprint than single-source panels. Our updated best LED grow lights guide includes specific fixture recommendations for 4x4, 5x5, and larger canopy sizes at multiple price points.
What LED grow light brands does Hydrobuilder carry?
Hydrobuilder carries LED grow lights from Growers Choice, Gavita, Faven Lighting, Matrix, Photontek, ThinkGrow, AC Infinity, and Mars Hydro - all qualified brands with verified sales history and grower demand. Fixtures range from 100W propagation LEDs to 2,000W+ commercial bar arrays. Our expert growing staff can recommend specific fixtures for your canopy size, crop type, and budget - call 888-815-9763 or use our PPFD Calculator to start sizing.
