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LED equivalence: actual watts vs incandescent bulb

An LED bulb that's "equivalent to 60 W" actually draws about 8 or 9 W. This calculator works that equivalence both ways: from an LED's actual watts to the incandescent bulb it replaces, or from an incandescent bulb to the LED you need.

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Lumens ÷ watts from the box. Typical: 90–120; leave 100 if unsure.

Equivalent incandescent

65.7 W

Light output

900 lm

Energy saving

86 %

The equivalence is based on the light the bulb gives out (lumens), not on what it draws:

  • LED lumens = watts × efficacy (lm/W)
  • Those lumens are matched against the official incandescent table: 25 W = 249 lm, 40 W = 470 lm, 60 W = 806 lm, 75 W = 1055 lm, 100 W = 1521 lm
  • Values between two table rows are linearly interpolated

Use cases

  • Choosing the LED to replace a 60 W or 100 W bulb.
  • Understanding what an LED marked "equivalent to 75 W" really draws.
  • Estimating the saving from switching a home to LED lighting.

How it works

  1. 1

    Pick which bulb you start from

    An LED (you know its actual consumption) or a traditional incandescent (you want to replace it).

  2. 2

    Type the power in watts

    As printed on the bulb or its box.

  3. 3

    Adjust the LED efficacy if you know it

    Lumens divided by watts, both on the box. If you don't know it, leave 100 lm/W, typical for a modern LED.

Technical details

  • The equivalence table is the one in EU Regulation 1194/2012, the same manufacturers use for the "equivalent to X W" claim on the box. It also covers 15, 150 and 200 W; above 200 W it extrapolates.
  • Energy saving is 1 − (LED watts ÷ incandescent watts): for the same light, a 100 lm/W LED uses around 85-90% less.
  • Efficacy varies by LED: cheaper or warm-white bulbs sit around 80-90 lm/W; high-efficiency ones (energy label class A or B) exceed 180 lm/W. Using the figure from the box makes the result more accurate.
  • It doesn't account for light colour (kelvin) or beam angle: two bulbs with the same lumens can look different.

Frequently asked questions

How many LED watts equal a 60 W bulb?

A 60 W bulb gives about 806 lumens. With a 100 lm/W LED you need about 8 W; with a less efficient one (80 lm/W), about 10 W.

Why do two LEDs with the same watts give different light?

Because their efficacy (lumens per watt) differs. To compare bulbs, look at the lumens on the box, not the watts.

Does it work for halogen bulbs?

Only roughly: halogens give slightly more light per watt than classic incandescents, so their LED equivalent is a bit higher than the calculator shows.

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