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60 Watt vs 100 Watt Light Bulbs: Brightness and Wattage


With the widespread use of LED light bulbs, the replacement and upgrade of different light bulbs have also made the concept of "equivalent wattage" more and more discussed. When we compare 60 watt vs 100 watt bulb, the wattage and brightness are what we need to figure out first.


What is Wattage and Brightness?​


Wattage is used to measure the energy consumption while many people mistakenly believe it as a direct measure of the brightness. In fact, higher wattage bulbs don’t always mean brighter light. The brightness of a light bulb is measured in lumens. It should be noticed that different types of light bulbs usually emit light with different lumen ratings even at the same wattage. For example, LED lights can emit the same amount of light while consuming less energy (watt) than Halogen bulbs.​



brightness in different lights


Is a 100 watts bulb brighter than a 60 watts one?


Under the same lighting system, the higher the wattage of the lamp, the higher the lumen level of its output. However, as stated earlier, wattage is not a measure of brightness, different lights will shine differently at the same wattage, for example, a 40W incandescent bulb has the same brightness as an LED using only 9W brightness (lumens). You can use the following form for reference.



Incandescent Wattage

LED Bulb Wattage

Lumens Rating

25 Watts

Up to 5 Watts

250 Lumens

40 Watts

6 to 9 Watts

450 Lumens

60 Watts

8 to 15 Watts

800 Lumens

75 Watts

12 to 17 Watts

1,100 Lumens

100 Watts

15 to 19 Watts

1,600 Lumens

125 Watts

20 to 25 Watts

1,850 Lumens

150 Watts

30 Watts

2,600 Lumens​​​​
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Can a 60 watt bulb be installed in a 100 watt fixture?


Light fixtures can handle a certain amount of wattage. It would be safe if a bulb with a wattage equal to or less than the fixture’s designed wattage. In fact, in some cases, it may even be beneficial to use a lower-wattage bulb in a higher-wattage fixture. For example, using a lower-wattage bulb can help you get a softer or dimmer lighting effect. It is imperative to note that using a higher-wattage bulb in a light fixture with a lower wattage rating can create a fire hazard and damage fixtures or wiring. So be sure to check the wattage rating of the light fixture before installing the bulb.



60watt light bulb

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What other factors can affect the brightness?


The brightness of the bulb is not only affected by the wattage and the type of lamp, but the power supply voltage also affects the brightness of the bulb. If the voltage is too low, the bulb may not get enough power to produce maximum brightness. Not only that, but over time, the filament or LED can wear out or become damaged, reducing its ability to emit light. Ambient temperature is also an important factor, in the case of incandescent bulbs, if the temperature is too high, the filament may burn out faster, reducing the brightness of the bulb.​

led lamp in the living-room​​

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