The Best Bulbs for Bathroom Lighting

If you’re upgrading your space and looking for the right incandescent or LED bulbs for your home, your bathroom will likely need a different set of lighting options than other rooms. Focus on long-lasting efficiency and crystal-clear light that mimics natural daylight.

What to Consider

“The coolest and best smart light bulbs you’ve got in your living room won’t necessarily translate well in your bathroom,” says Jane Harper, an interior design expert specializing in spa settings.

“That’s because other rooms of your home focus on warm, inviting light that adds ambiance and coziness. The best light bulbs for bathrooms are almost the opposite, though. You want a bulb that offers a crisp, neutral light that looks and feels like standing in the sun.”

Harper suggests considering other modern features in bathroom bulbs, too.

“Picking LED bulbs will take some of the hassles out of lightning maintenance because they last so long, and you’ll want to find sizes and shapes that fit neatly inside your fixtures,” she says. “Bathrooms are prone to high humidity and excess water, so having an exposed bulb can cause issues — even if you think it’s a trendy look.”

Here’s how to choose LED bulbs like a pro.

These are the best light bulbs for bathroom use according to utility, price and customer reviews.

This clever six-pack of soft white LED bulbs offers everything you’d want in bathroom lighting, because their tone mimics the same light that streams through a window. They’re ideal for anyone who stands in front of the vanity fixing their hair, doing makeup or anything else that requires clear lighting.

These dimmable bulbs use 93 percent less energy than a standard incandescent light bulb.