Best LED grow light list

There are dozens of LED grow light brands and models available. The info and list below will help you sort through the dense jungle of available LED grow lights for growing cannabis.

Make sure to read the criteria in the paragraphs below to help you understand all you need to know to make the best buying decision. The grow lights in the list below are all the best LED grow light for the money for their respective coverage area (2×2 feet, 4×4 feet, etc).

The list includes grow lights in every price range and coverage size, starting at high-end (top of the list), mid-range (mid-list) and low-cost (bottom of the list).

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Three Criteria to Consider When Looking For The Best LED Grow Lights:

best LED grow light infographic
(Click to enlarge infographic)

Criteria 1 For Choosing The Best Cannabis Grow Light: Size and Shape of Grow Space

best led grow lights  cannabis criteria

Free Grow Guide to Download

First determine what size space you’re growing in. Grow lights are designed to cover specific areas, from 2×2 feet to 5×5 feet.

They’re also designed in different shapes – square and rectangle. Knowing the size and shape of your grow space will allow you to pick the right size and number of LED grow lights.

Criteria 2 For Choosing The Best Cannabis Grow Light: Power and Purpose of Grow Light

The next two criteria you should consider are the power and purpose of your grow light.

Power of the grow light means ensuring your grow light is strong enough to provide your cannabis plants the right amount of light. Some items to consider are wattage and the intensity of the light that hits the plant canopy. You can read my article about the importance of light intensity here.

The Purpose of a grow light means determining the main purpose the grow light will be used for. Many people want a grow light solely for growing seedlings or mother plants. Others want the best LED grow light for full lifecycle plant growth.

Criteria 3 For Choosing The Best Cannabis Grow Light: Bang for the Buck versus Performance

Choose a grow light that’s priced for value or performance. That’s the third criteria that will help you sort through the dense jungle of available LED grow lights for cannabis growing.

Bang for the buck doesn’t mean the cheapest available, but it will still be far from the most expensive grow light available. Some examples of solid bang for the buck grow light brands are Viparspectra, Mars Hydro, and AC Infinity, compared the high end, high performance HLG or Gavita brands.

Free Grow Guide to Download

What’s the difference between the best LED grow light for the money and high-end LED grow lights? The difference is features, quality of components, and performance.

Some of the more expensive models also include nice-to-have (but not necessary for success) features the less expensive models won’t have, like ultraviolet diodes.

You’ll also be paying a little bit extra if you choose a boutique brand that doesn’t have the huge manufacturing capability that the more value focused brands have.

If you’re curious, I’ve spoken to owners of both category of grow light who are very happy with their grows. The key to choosing the best LED grow light for growing cannabis is choosing the criteria above that meet your needs!


the list best led grow lights

Best High End LED Grow Lights For Cannabis (For Large Grow Space/Commerical):

  • Kind LED X750 (5×5 foot coverage)
  • Scynce LED Raging Kush 2.0 (5×5 foot coverage)
  • Mars Hydro FC 8000 (5×5 foot coverage)

Best Mid-Price LED Grow Lights For Cannabis (For Medium Size Grow Spaces):

  • HLG Blackbird (4×4 foot coverage)
  • Vivosun Smart Grow System (4×4 foot coverage)
  • Mars Hydro FC 4800 (4×4 foot coverage)
  • Viparspectra KS5000 (4×4 foot coverage)

Best Cheap LED Grow Lights For Cannabis (For Small Grow Spaces):

  • AC Infinity Ionboard S33 (3×3 foot coverage)
  • Mars Hydro TSL-2000 (2×4 foot coverage)
  • AC Infinity IonGrid S22 (2×2 foot coverage)

Best High-End Cannabis Grow Lights:

#1. Kind LED X750

kind LED X750

(Click Here to View or Buy the X750 at LED Grow Lights Depot)

Best LED Grow Light For The Money (For 5×5 Foot Grow Space)

This is the Kind LED X750. I chose it as the best LED grow light for growing cannabis because of the combination of features, performance, and cost.

This model grow light is ideal for growing from seedling to harvest in a 5×5 foot grow space. At around $1,000, this grow light offers the same performance of grow lights that cost 50% more. It’s the best LED grow light for the money because it has modern technology, unique features, and strong power – all at a fair price.

The Full Package:

kind led x750 best cannabis grow light

This model includes ultraviolet and infrared diodes, which most companies now make you purchase separately. In my opinion when you’re paying for a high-end grow light you should get everything needed without being nickel and dimed for extra features!

You’re also able to dim the ultraviolet and infrared diodes separately so they can be utilized at the proper point during the cannabis growth cycle – a feature unseen on any other LED grow light! The rest of the LEDs are also dimmable through a separate knob.

Fine-Tuned Quality Product:

In terms of power consumption, the Kind LED X750 consumes 750 watts at the outlet. This grow light has been through hundreds of thousands of hours of testing in California’s medicinal plant industry, and has been fine-tuned to perfection. Excessive heat is not a worry for this grow light.

Power Consumption & Spectrum:

best cannabis led grow light spectrum kind x750

The Kind LED X750 utilizes a “targeted” white spectrum that’s perfect for all phases of growth. This spectrum is produced with Osram and Philips diodes. These are known in the growing community as high quality LEDs.

The Kind LED’s targeted spectrum is fine-tuned to maximize bud weight and quality.

In terms of light intensity, those 750 watts can deliver up to a peak 1900 micromoles of light to your plant canopy. That’s much more than you’ll likely need but good to have if you want it.

Other Kind LED X750 Questions Answered:

  • Does it have a warranty? Yes, a 5 year warranty
  • Weight: 31lbs
  • Power Cord Length: 6 feet
  • Operating Voltage: 100v-240v
  • Dimensions: 42.5″ x 44.75” x 1.25”
  • Discreet Shipping

How Does The Kind LED X750 Compare To Other Grow Lights?

best led grow light comparison scale

If you’re considering this LED grow light then you want to know how it compares to others in its class. The price of $1,000 is on the lower side compared to others in its class that are priced in the $800 to $1,600 range, making this one of the best LED grow lights for the money.

The light spectrum that includes UV and Infrared is definitely among the best. The light strength at 1900 micromoles is more than most people will need. Power use at 750 watts is very good compared to others in the 800 to 1000 watt range.

In terms of features this is a great light but would be amazing if it could fold in half.


Click Here For Price and Additional Details About the Kind LED X750 Grow Light


#2. Scynce LED Raging Kush 2.0

scynce raging kush

best led grow lights

The Scynce LED Raging Kush 2.0 (also known as Raging Kush Alpha), is a white spectrum LED grow light. The benefit of having a white spectrum can be read here, but in short, it’s better than having only blue and red.

Features:

This 650 watt LED grow light is, simply put, the best on the market.

The 120 degree lenses spread the intense LED light widely so it doesn’t burn your plants from being too focused on one area.

This grow light is equipped with top bin Osram LED chips.

The Scynce Raging Kush LED Grow Light delivers a full 12 spectrum light band. The spectrum is also fully customizable with a mobile phone app, in case you want extra blue for veg, or extra red during flowering.

It’ll also help you save on your electric bill. The Scynce Raging Kush 2.0 LED grow light utilizes a low 650w from your outlet due to efficient 2.51 uMol/J energy use rate. Anything over 2.0 uMol/J is considered efficient, but 2.51 is on the high end.

With this low power draw, it can still replace a 1000W MH or HPS light system with ease.

With this, you’ll notice more large buds obtained under the effect of this grow light compared to other cheap grow lights.

Spectrum, PPFD and Coverage:

As mentioned earlier, this grow light emits a full white light spectrum, which has shown to be more beneficial compared to only red and blue wavelengths.

It contains a balance of red and blue as well as green yellow and orange. Together these all make up a white spectrum. This spectrum will get you through all phases of plant growth.

raging kush 2.0 ppfd map

Scynce LED says PPFD for this model is ~1100 uMol at 9″ hang height. That’s more than enough to maximize your plants’ yield according to a 20-40 mole of light per day requirement.

One factor that makes the Scynce LED Raging Kush 2.0 the best LED grow light is the even light intensity even at the edges of the coverage area. Most other grow lights fade intensity a lot more once you move out of the center of coverage. But not the Raging Kush.

Scynce LED says this grow light will cover 5’x5′ during the vegetative phase, and 4’x4′ during the flowering phase. Due to the intensity remaining strong at the edges of a 4×4 foot grow space, I’d say you can flower in 5×5 feet with this grow light!

Based on my estimations, you’ll only need one of these grow lights to get a maximum yield from your cannabis plants in a 5×5 grow tent.

Cooling:

The Synce Raging Kush Alpha grow light is passively cooled with heat sinks. That means no loud cooling fans in your grow space.

Grow light manufacturers seem to have mastered passive cooling designs because we’re seeing them on more and more of the high-end grow light models these days. Ultimately it means more energy efficient and quiet grow lights.

Scynce Raging Kush 2.0 Specifications:

Scynce LED Raging Kush 2.0
Dimensions:44 x 34.5 x 3.75 in
Weight:54lb
Warranty:5 years
Safety Certifications:UL, FCC, RoHS, CSA
Power Draw650w
LED BrandOsram
Cheapest Place to Buy:

LED Grow Lights Depot


Click here to see reviews and prices for the Scynce Raging Kush Alpha at LED Grow Lights Depot


Pros And Cons Of Scynce LED Raging Kush LED Grow Light:

Pros:

  • Fully customizable spectrum
  • Intense 4′ x 4′ to 5’x5′ Coverage
  • Best performing LED grow light on the market
  • Control Spectrum, Grow Timer, Intensity from cell phone app
  • Daisy Chain feature allows for large or industrial grow area use.
  • Cost Savvy Power Efficiency
  • Lifespan of around 50,000 Hours
  • 5 year warranty

Cons:

  • Priced at high end of grow light market, but offers unique features.

Do Growers Recommend the Scynce Raging Kush Alpha?

I’ve noticed people really love this grow light – which should be expected for the best LED grow light on the market. I found one owner’s review that sums it up pretty well:

“These lights are incredible. Spectrum and time control with the theia app. 5 stars, I’ll be buying more!”

Look what people are growing with this light:

scynce grow tent

scynce grow 2

scynce plant 1

How Does The Raging Kush 2.0 Compare To Other Grow Lights?

best led grow light cannabis comparison chart scynce raging kush

The Scynce Raging Kush 2.0 is definitely one of the top LED grow lights for growing cannabis. In terms of how it holds up against other grow lights in its class – the price is the weak point. But you’re paying for the fully customizable spectrum which is very rare on LED grow lights.

In terms of power use, at 650 watts it could be a little bit more powerful to ensure you get a large 5×5 foot coverage for the price you pay. The features on this grow light are among the best – control from your smart phone and customizable spectrum!


Click here to see reviews and prices for the Scynce Raging Kush 2.0 at LED Grow Lights Depot


#3. Mars Hydro FC 8000

mars hydro fc 8000 best grow light cannabis

Best LED Grow Light For The Money For Large Grow Spaces:

This is another impressive bar style LED grow light, but from Mars Hydro. Mars Hydro has been making horticultural lighting for a long time.

I’ve personally used Mars Hydro grow lights in the past, and I think they’re one of the best LED grow lights for the money.

For approximately $800 you get 800 watts of power, a quality light spectrum, plus dimming and daisy-chain capability.

If you’re growing cannabis in a commercial sized space and you need a reputable, reliable, waterproof light that doesn’t have a designer brand price tag then this is the choice for you. If you’re growing in a single 5×5 foot grow space it’s also a powerful option.

Spectrum:

best led grow light spectrum fc 8000 mars hydro

The Mars Hydro FC 8000 utilizes a complete white spectrum perfect for all phases of growth. It uses Samsung LEDs which are the preferred brand among many growers when compared to the less expensive Bridgelux used on the Mars Hydro FC-E models.

As you can see in the image above, the spectrum has a high relative intensity of blue, white and red wavelengths.

One drawback and contributor to the lower price is that this grow light does not include infrared or ultraviolet diodes. With that said, people still grow great cannabis plants without those spectrums.

Intensity (PPFD):

mars hydro best led grow light strength

The Mars Hydro FC 8000 emits a very strong 1600 micromoles of light in the center, with slightly less on the sides. The recommended hanging height is 8 to 12 inches.

The dimming controller allows you to dim the grow light as needed.

As you can see, compared to other grow lights for a 5×5 grow space, the FC 8000 leaves an impressive light uniformity and intensity footprint.

Other Mars Hydro FC 8000 Questions Answered:

  • 5 year warranty
  • Operating voltage 100v-277v
  • Weight: 25lbs
  • IP66 waterproof / UL8800 compliant
  • Samsung LEDs
  • Dimensions: 45.3″ x 45.3″ x 3″

What quality of plants are people growing with the FC 8000?

gavita buds

How Does The FC 8000 Compare To Other Grow Lights In Its Class?

fc 8000 comparison scale

The main benefits of the FC 8000 compared to others in its class is the price point of about $800 and the light strength. Don’t expect a bang-for-the-buck LED grow light to be best in its class.

With that said, it will serve well for many people who don’t want to pay top price for an LED grow light in this class. This is why it made it to my list of best LED grow lights for growing cannabis.


Click Here For Price and Further Details About the Mars Hydro FC 8000 LED Grow Light


Best Mid-Range Grow Lights:

#4. HLG Blackbird

best led grow light cannabis hlg blackbird

best led grow lights

The HLG Blackbird is a modern design from HLG that combines several QB quantum boards onto a single unit. I’ve grown with HLG’s previous 650R model and can vouch that these are very powerful grow lights that grow some incredible plants.

Because of the small design and efficiency of 2.79 umol/joule of the Samsung LM301H LEDs, this grow light produces very little heat. That’s a huge benefit when you start putting grow lights in smaller spaces like 4×4 feet and below.

Spectrum & Light Strength:

best LED grow light hlg blackbird

The LM301H LEDs are horticulture focused diodes that produce a great light spectrum that’ll grow your cannabis plants from seedling to harvest.

HLG sells an ultraviolet LED bar attachment separately if you want to have the benefits of UV as well.

In terms of the power of this grow light, it will flower your cannabis plants from a hanging height as high as three feet above! That’s how powerful it is. You can lower it even more than that if you want to bring the PPFD into a higher range for higher yields.

The impressive part is that the light intensity doesn’t fade much at all toward the outer edges of the grow tent, which is what lower quality grow lights tend to do.

How Does The HLG BlackBird Compare To Other Grow Lights?

best led grow light comparison scale hlg blackbird

The HLG Blackbird isn’t the cheapest LED grow light for a 4×4 foot grow space. But it’s one of the best in terms of performance. The spectrum is great with the modern Samsung LM301H LEDs.

The power is more than you’ll need in a 4×4 foot space. Other grow lights designed for 4×4 grow spaces are in the 400 to 500 watt power range. In terms of features it does have an optional UV bar add-on, which will benefit your grow even more.

Other HLG Blackbird Questions Answered:

  • Power Draw: 600 watts (dimmable)
  • Weight – 17lb
  • Operating Voltage: 120v – 277v
  • Warranty: 3 years
  • Suitable for damp environments

Click Here to See Reviews and Prices for the HLG Blackbird at LED Grow Lights Depot


#5. Vivosun AeroLight Grow Light

best led grow light vivosun aerolight

best led grow lights

Best LED Grow Light For The Money (For 4×4 Foot Space)

Vivosun has been in the indoor gardening business for a long time and they recently released what I think is one of the best LED grow lights for growing cannabis.

The image above shows a kit of four 100 watt AeroLight units connected together to make one 400 watt unit that covers a 4×4 foot grow space. 

The unique design and features on this grow light make it the best LED grow light for the money if you’re growing in a 4×4 foot grow area.

It has a fan in the middle of the grow light, and the full spectrum including infrared and ultraviolet diodes.

It’s rare to see a grow light that has both infrared and ultraviolet diodes on it, especially a smaller unit like this one. That speaks to Vivosun’s understanding of the cannabis growing industry. 

vivosun aerolight controller best led grow light

Another feature this grow light kit comes with is a controller with the capability of connecting your fan and grow light to your smart phone. This is a rare feature for a grow light of this size. Vivosun really brought everything together with the AeroLight kit. 

Light Strength and Wattage:

vivosun aerolight best led grow light

Above is a light intensity map for just one of the four lights on the unit. So multiply by 4 and you’ll have 4×4 feet of intense light coverage for your grow tent.

Not only that, but the fan in the center of the grow light will push any hot air off the LEDs and up towards the inline fan at the top of your grow area. The AeroLight is truly impressive innovation in the LED grow light space.

Daisy Chain In Any Shape:

vivosun aerolight daisy chain best led grow lights

Another very innovative feature of the Vivosun AeroLight is the ability to daisy chain the lights into different shapes. You can connect them into a square, a straight line, or even an H pattern. You can daisy chain up to 12 units. 

Vivosun AeroLight Questions Answered:

  • What Type of LEDs are used on the Vivosun Aerolight: Samsung LEDs
  • Can you daisy chain the Vivosun Aerolight? Yes
  • Is there a warranty? No warranty included
  • Is the light dimmable? Yes

Click here to see reviews and prices for the Vivosun AeroLight on Amazon


How Does The AeroLight Compare To Other Grow Lights In Its Class?

The Vivosun Aerolight is definitely not the cheapest LED grow light in its class. But when it comes to LED grow lights you always get what you pay for.

You get the best spectrum possible, strong light intensity, low power consumption of 400 watts, and smart connectivity features not seen on other grow lights at this price level. Thats why this is one of the best LED grow lights for growing cannabis. 


Click here to see reviews and prices for the Vivosun AeroLight on Amazon


#6. Mars Hydro FC-E4800

Mars Hydro FC 4800

best led grow lights

If you read the info about the larger Mars Hydro above, you’ll understand why this smaller version FC-E4800 is one of the best LED grow lights for a 4×4 foot grow space. 

It’s the most recent design from Mars Hydro, meant to replace the older TS-xxxx designs. I’ve spoken to growers who own this light in their 4×4 tent and they’re very satisfied with its performance.

Why is this one of the best LED grow lights today? It’s because of the price to performance ratio. This is the cheapest LED grow light you get get for a 4×4 grow tent that will yield great results. Other good grow lights for 4×4 space can cost about double the price.

Spectrum, PPFD and Coverage:

The spectrum on the Mars Hydro FC-E4800 grow light is pretty nice. The white spectrum contains a balanced amount of blue and red, including infrared and UV. It’s exactly what you need for full lifecycle plant growth.

The light intensity (also known as PPFD or uMols) is nice and strong considering the price of this grow light. At 12 inches hang height your plants will receive 1000 micromoles of light per second, more than enough to get a high yield from your cannabis plants. You can read more about light intensity here.

You can use this Mars Hydro FC 4800 grow light to cover a 5x5ft veg or 4x4ft flowering area.  That’s from the recommended height of 18”.

Power consumption & Heat dissipation:

The FC 4800 only consumes 480 watts from the wall. If you decide to dim the light, it will use less power than that.

Like all grow lights, it will generate some heat, but the FC 4800 has a nice feature where the drivers are detachable from the light so you can place them outside your grow tent to reduce heat.

Other than that this design is fan-less. It was designed so the heat escapes the grow light structure naturally.

All said, the Mars Hydro FC 4800 LED Grow Light comes at a fair price and gives you the best results regarding yield.

Mars Hydro FC-E-4800 Questions Answered:

  • What’s the difference between the FC-4800 and FC-E-4800? The difference is the brand of LEDs used. Some people prefer the more expensive Samsung brand LEDs that are used on the FC-4800. 

Click here to see reviews and prices for the Mars Hydro FC-E4800 on LED Grow Lights Depot


How Does The FC-E4800 Compare To Other Grow Lights In Its Class?

mars hydro fc-e4800 comparison chart

The FC-E4800 is offered at an incredible price of around $400. That is a fantastic price for a grow light that covers 4×4 feet, and also includes UV and IR diodes. It’s hard to beat this grow light if you’re on a budget.

Other grow lights in its class easily cost more and don’t even include ultraviolet or infrared diodes! With that said I’d definitely consider this one of the best LED grow light deals available. 


Click here to see reviews and prices for the Mars Hydro FC-E4800 on LED Grow Lights Depot


 

#7. Viparspectra KS5000

viparspectra best led grow light

best led grow lights

The next best LED grow light in the mid-price range is the Viparspectra KS5000. Viparspectra makes a whole product line of grow lights, but the model KS5000 makes a great mid-range grow light due to the modern horticulture focused LEDs, folding capability, and larger dimensions. 

Modern, Efficient LEDs:

best led grow lights viparspectra ks5000

The KS5000 uses the modern horticulture focused Samsung LM301H diodes. These are the industry leading diodes with the best electric efficiency around 3.1 micromoles per joule.

That means you use considerably less electricity than other 500 watt grow lights, while actually displacing 500 watts of light onto your plants!

The larger dimensions (40 x 40 inch) of the KS5000 compared to other grow lights in its class means the LEDs are hanging closer to the extremities of your grow space – spreading the light more evenly throughout. 

Low Temperatures, Connect up to 100 KS5000 Grow Lights

Limit the temperature of your grow space by detaching the heat producing drivers and hanging them several feet away with the 13ft power cord! This is one of the most beneficial features for keeping heat under control, and not every grow light has it.

If you choose this grow light for a commercial grow space, you’ll be able to connect up to 100 of them together via daisy chain. That’s the highest daisy chain capability I’ve seen for a grow light. 

Other KS5000 Questions Answered:

  • Operating Voltage: AC 100v-240v
  • Weight: 30lb
  • Warranty: 3 years

How Does The KS5000 Compare to Other Grow Lights In Its Class?

Best LED grow light Viparspectra KS5000

This grow light is a solid competitor in the 4×4 foot arena. If you’re growing commercially, this grow light offers you the best power efficacy paired with the ability to connect up to 100 units. 

At home you’ll benefit from a solid spectrum provided by the LM301H diodes – the best in their class. The spectrum can still be improved if it included infrared and ultraviolet diodes, although that would probably push the price point of this grow light beyond other similar units. 

 


Click here to see reviews and prices for the Viparspectra KS5000 at LED Grow Lights Depot


Best Cheap LED Grow Lights For Cannabis:

#8. AC Infinity Ionboard S33

best led grow lights

The AC Infinity S33 grow light is an affordable mid range LED grow light for 2×2 to 3×3 feet of growing space. The appeal of this LED grow light is the unique design and the smart controller connectivity.

The 240 watt power consumption is the happy middle ground, comparatively speaking, for grow spaces 3×3 feet in size. 

best led grow light ac infinity

The unique design of the S33 is in the placement of the LEDs on the board. As you can see above, more LEDs are placed towards the edge of the unit to help keep the light intensity strong towards the edges of your grow area. 

This is a unique feature for a grow light in this price range, and I think its one reason why the AC infinity S33 is one of the best LED grow lights. 

The LEDs are Samsung brand LM301B. Not the most modern from Samsung, but definitely better than some of the lower quality brands that some growers try to avoid. 

AC Infinity Ionboard S33 details

Another huge benefit for any LED grow light in this price range is to have smart device connectivity. The AC Infinity Ionboard S33 has connectivity to AC Infinity’s controller.

Through that controller you can adjust the grow light, or your AC infinity grow tent fan. If you didn’t know already, AC Infinity makes arguably the best grow tent fans available. 


Click here to view the AC Infinity Ionboard S33 Grow Light on Amazon.com


Ionboard S33 Questions Answered:

Product Dimensions: 21″ x 21″ x 4″

Operating Voltage: 100v-240v

Dimmable? Yes

LED Count: 640

Does it get hot? At 240 watts a grow light typically won’t generate much heat. 

How Does The Ionboard S33 Compare to other LED Grow Lights?

ac infinity ionboard s33 comparison chart

The Ionboard S33 has one of the best prices for a grow light with 3×3 feet of coverage. The unique features mentioned above also really separate this grow light from others in its class. The spectrum is great but has room for improvement by potentially adding infrared and ultraviolet diodes. The power use is great at 240 watts, but could be improved if the LEDs were the more efficient LM301H. 


Click Here to see the AC Infinity Ionboard S33 on Amazon.com


 

#9. Mars Hydro TSL-2000 

tsl-2000

best led grow lights

Best LED Grow Light For The Money (For 2×4 Foot Grow Space)

The Mars Hydro TSL-2000 is not a new grow light, yet it’s still one of the best LED grow lights for a 2×4 foot grow space. Not surprising because Mars Hydro has always been a high quality brand. 

You’ll get the strong light intensity mixed with great features and a low cost LED grow light.

Another great benefit of going with the TSL-2000 over a different grow light for 2×4 feet is the dimensions of this grow light.

Unlike other grow lights, it’s 40 inches long, which covers almost the entirety of your 2×4 grow space. Other grow lights for this size space are about 24 to 26 inches, which make it harder to get strong direct light on those far edges.

Features:

removable drivers

The TSL-2000 I bought comes with detachable drivers which gives you the capability to store those hot drivers outside your grow tent and keep temperatures down! The 300 watts of power consumption is on the high end for a 2×4 foot grow light, but this is why you’ll get very strong light and higher yields from using this grow light.

Spectrum:

best led grow lights cannabis mars hydro tsl 2000 spectrum

As you can see from the image above the Mars Hydro TSL-2000 provides a full spectrum capable of growing from seedling to harvest. That full spectrum includes the infrared band, which will help your plants grow more dense buds.  

More specifically, the LEDs are a combination of white 3000K, 5000K, 660nm red and 730nm infrared. 

Hang Height & Coverage:

Vegetative phase hang height: 26 inches

Flowering phase hang height: 20 inches

This grow light will flower up to 2×4 feet and veg up to 3x5feet. The TSL-2000 intensity- goes to about 1000 ppfd in the center when hanging 18-20 inches above the plants. That’s a good intensity level for flowering.


Click here to see reviews and prices for the Mars Hydro TSL-2000 Grow Light at LED Grow Lights Depot


 

#10. AC Infinity IonGrid S22

best led grow light ac infinity iongrid s22

 

Here’s another one in my best LED grow light buyer’s guide. It’s the AC Infinity IonGrid S22. Similar to the larger AC Infinity S33 model mentioned above, this S22 model is a smaller design suited to a 2×2 foot grow space. 

In other words, if you’re looking for an inexpensive but strong performing LED grow light to grow a single cannabis plant, the AC Infinity IonGrid S22 is your choice. It offers a host of features and an incredible value for about $150. 

Features:

ac infinity iongrid s22 features

What makes this one of the best LED grow lights for a single cannabis plant? The fact that it comes with the AC Infinity onboard controller that allows you to program your light cycles into the light. 

Further, this grow light also comes with Samsung LM301H horticulture LEDs that use 130 watts of power. Part of that light spectrum is infrared diodes that’ll ensure you grow dense buds and help your plants defend against illness. 

This grow light is also dimmable from 0% to 100% with an easy dim knob on the side of the light.

Light Strength:

ac infinity s22 best led grow light single cannabis plant

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a small inexpensive grow light with this level of light intensity. You can see the 1200 ppfd number in the image above, which is very strong. 

You can get the light as strong as you need based on the hanging height. You should hang this light at 14 inches above plants during the flowering phase, and about 18 inches during the vegetative phase for the ideal light strength.

Difference Between AC Infinity S Series and T Series?

You may have noticed AC Infinity offers two different versions of some of their grow lights, and if you’re considering the IonGrid S22 you may want to know the difference between these two versions of grow light. 

The main difference is that the T series has a more advanced controller. For a small premium over the S series, the T series controller has a nicer screen, and a programmable light mode that mimics sunrise and sunset, if you’d find that useful. 

On both series, the controller is detachable and you can attach it to another AC Infinity grow light and use it to program that grow light. 


Click here to View or Buy the IonGrid S22 at LED Grow Lights Depot


Tips for getting the most out of any full spectrum LED grow light:

  • Recommended PH values for soil is 6.0 ~ 6.5 and in hydro is 5.7 ~ 6.0 in most of the LED Grow lights.
  • Keep the humidity rating between 50-70% in your grow space.
  • Maintain a stable voltage to avoid any hazard or failure.
  • Always wear sunglasses when you get into contact with grow lights.
  • If a grow light can be controlled using a timer then always opt in for a timer to save more electricity.
  • If you have an LED with IR and UV feature and it has an LED which looks exceptionally dim, then it doesn’t mean that LED is faulty.
  • Always keep your grow panel away from hazardous chemicals such as sulfur or acid.
  • Best Recommended distance for any grow light 22-24” during and veg and 18-20” during bloom. However, it varies between manufacturers and light quality.
  • No matter how durable a product is, always give it a couple of hours rest. This is to get the best reliability out of your grow light.
  • Be safe and keep your place safe for your plants.

My Final Verdict:

Finding the best LED grow lights on the market doesn’t come easy. It takes countless hours of research and comparison – which I’ve painstakingly, but happily completed at your convenience!

If you’re wondering why you didn’t see other LED grow light brands or models on my list of the best LED grow lights – it’s not necessarily because they’re terrible, but because they were beaten out by the grow lights I did include.

If there’s a light that’s good but wasn’t included, it may not have fit into the total picture framework of the article. For example maybe the spectrum and coverage were great, but the light was beaten out when you compare its price to a different light that I included above.

In short, I have zero doubt the grow lights I listed above are the best of the best. Cycle through, find one that works for you, and feel confident that you’re making a solid purchasing choice.

Let me know how everything works out – feel free to reach out via the contact page.

Good luck and Happy Growing!

FAQ:

What’s the best LED grow light for growing cannabis?

The best LED grow light to grow cannabis will provide a great balanced light spectrum, a solid coverage area, and sufficient light intensity to grow your plants to the maximum potential. You can read more about the best specific brands and models of LED grow lights at 420ExpertGuide.com

What’s the best LED grow light spectrum?

Research shows white spectrum light added to red and blue spectrum grow plants more effectively than red and blue spectrum alone. The best LED grow lights typically have white wavelengths mixed into their spectrum.

How strong does the light need to be for cannabis growing?

The best LED grow light for cannabis growing will emit a white spectrum, 617 umol for 18 hours straight during vegetation, and 926 umol for 12 hours straight during flowering.

You can use a grow light emitting half that amount, but yields will be lower. Those readings are required across the whole canopy, not just the center.

What’s the best LED grow light for seedlings, mother plants, and the vegetative phase?

A grow light with a heavy blue spectrum would be best for these plants since that’s the spectrum absorbed during those phases of growth. You can read more about this topic here.

References:

  1. Chandra, Suman, Hemant Lata, Ikhlas Khan, and Mahmoud Elsohly. “Photosynthetic response of Cannabis sativa L. to variations in photosynthetic photon flux densities, temperature and CO2 conditions.” Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants 14.4 (2009): 299-306.

  2. Sharakshane, Anton. “White LED Lighting for Plants.” bioRxiv (2017).
  3. Eichhorn Bilodeau, Samuel et al. “An Update On Plant Photobiology And Implications For Cannabis Production”. Frontiers In Plant Science, vol 10, 2019. Frontiers Media SA, doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.00296. Accessed 14 Oct 2019.
  4. MARUO, Toru, et al. “Effects of Supplemental Lighting with Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on Tomato Yield and Quality of Single-Truss Tomato Plants Grown at High Planting Density.” Environmental Control in Biology, Japanese Society of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Engineers and Scientists, 11 June 2012, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ecb/50/1/50_63/_article.
  5. Lin, K., Huang, M., Huang, W., Hsu, M., Yang, Z. and Yang, C. (2013). The effects of red, blue, and white light-emitting diodes on the growth, development, and edible quality of hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata). Scientia Horticulturae, 150, pp.86-91.
  6. He, Dongxian & Kozai, T. & Niu, Genhua & Xin, Zhang. (2019). Light-Emitting Diodes for Horticulture: Materials, Processes, Devices and Applications. 10.1007/978-3-319-99211-2_14.

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