Types of Light Bulbs (Illustrated Chart)
We kick off our light bulb buying guide with our extensive chart that illustrates all the different types of bulbs organized by shape, base, and size. Below this chart, we set out each chart individually and describe each type.
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1. Light Bulb Shapes
Globe LED Bulb(GLB)
Shaped like incandescent bulbs using LED technology instead of filaments, these bulbs are a great replacement for older ones in your home. They use a lot less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and will greatly lower the cost of lighting for your home or business.
Twisted Fluorescent Lamp(TFL)
These bulbs use a lot less energy than incandescent bulbs and will last for a very long time, resulting in large savings during the lifespan of these bulbs. They work well in both homes and businesses and have brighter or dimmer variations.
Incandescent Lamp(IL)
A filament is heated until it glows and produces the light in these bulbs. These are being phased out so that more energy efficient bulbs will be produced instead, but they last about a year and don’t contain mercury. They also include the added benefit of having the capacity to be used with a dimmer switch, so you can easily control the brightness in a room.
Compact Fluorescent Lamp(CFL)
These bulbs will last for thousands of hours and put off very little heat. Because of the way they are constructed and how they work, they do tend to cost more than incandescent lamp bulbs. However, they will use less energy over the period of their life.
Mercury Lamp(ML)
These bulbs are very energy efficient, last for an incredibly long period of time, and produce high quality and bright light. They’re great for overhead lighting, outdoor lighting, and for use as spotlights in sports complexes or other places.
Tube Fluorescent Lamp
These bulbs are generally more expensive to buy. However, since they have such a long lifespan, they tend to pay for themselves over time. They do provide a strong source of light, but you can’t dim them. Unfortunately, as they age, they may begin to flicker and will need to be replaced.
Flame Shaped Bulb
These bulbs are great for use in chandeliers or lamps that have the appearance of candlesticks. This bulb type creates a cozy look and feel of actual flames due to their shape. Some can be dimmed, but others can’t, so it’s important to consider if you’ll need to dim the lights. The interesting shape and design adds a lot of complexity to your lighting.
LED Bulb
These bulbs are expensive to buy, but inexpensive to use. They put out very little heat, are rugged and difficult to break, and have a lower risk of starting a fire. You can’t always dim them, and sometimes they do not produce the same amount or quality of bright white light that incandescent bulbs do.
Dimmer Switch
Dimmer switches are a great way to have more control over the brightness in your home or office. They usually replace the light switch that you already have and can be quickly wired into the wall to give you instant control over the output of light in your home.
Fluorescent Lamp
These bent light bulbs offer the same benefits as fluorescent bulbs in your favorite lamp. They’re a very strong and reliable source of light and will keep your workspace nice and bright so that you can see clearly. Due to their unique shape, they can’t be used in every application but will work perfectly in the right lamps.
Spotlight Bulbs
These strong bulbs are generally used in a spotlight by both homeowners and business owners. You can use them to brighten up the space where you work.
LED Panel
These lights are ideal if you want constant light without the concern of flickering or accidental dimming. While they can be used in kitchens, they are most often used in offices, retail stores, and schools.
Halogen Lamps
These bulbs use less energy than incandescent bulbs, but they are similar because they have a filament in them that is heated until it glows. They don’t contain any mercury and generally last about a year.
Corn Lamp
These bulbs are best for when you need very bright light but want to save money over traditional high wattage bulbs. They are ideal for outdoor lighting as well as for a shop or barn.
Diode
These bulbs work really for desk lamps, lighting under cabinets, and task lighting. They vary in lumens and how long they will last.
Adapter
Adapters are the best way to help maximize how much lighting you can have in your home without having to install more lights. They are very safe to use and easy to wire and install. Both polarized and non-polarized versions are available for purchase.
Circular Fluorescent Lamp
These bulbs give off the brightness of fluorescent light in an even circular shape.
Sodium Lamp
These bulbs come in high and low-pressure options. The high-pressure sodium bulbs produce light that is reddish-yellow in color, while low-pressure ones produce a more balanced white light. Sodium in an excited state creates the light in this bulb.
Reflector
The silver surface on these bulbs works to direct light to a specific area. These are the best bulbs to use if you want to have spotlights installed in your home because they are designed to project light in one direction.
LED Strip Light
Not only will you save money by using LED technology, but you will also be able to enjoy plenty of direct light for the tasks that you are working on. They provide even light distribution thanks to the acrylic lens and can be used in a number of applications, such as parking garages, garden centers, and even loading docks.
2. Light Bulb Sizes
A Series
These bulbs are considered the classic bulb shape and are generally used for most lighting purposes in both commercial and residential applications. They are pear-shaped and have a base that is called an Edison screw. You can tell the width of the bulb by looking at the number that follows the “A”. This will be measured in 1/8 inches in North America. The most common “A” series bulbs are A19, which are used in all lamps, and A15, which can be used in ceiling fans and in appliances.
B Series
It’s easy to remember the shape of B series light bulbs when you remember that the “B” stands for “blunt,” as these bulbs are slightly rounded and have just a small tip on the end. They are decorative bulbs and are generally used for chandeliers and other lights.
C-7/F Series
Flame bulbs are very decorative, and while C-7 bulbs take the shape of a candle, they do not have all of the detail that is so common in F series bulbs. Some people prefer bulbs to have the outline of a flame, but if you want more detail in your bulb, then you will need to buy F series bulbs to use in your home. C series bulbs have blunt and bent tip variations.
S Series
S series bulbs are commonly used in outdoor signs. You will see them at theatres, casinos, restaurants, and even hotels.
F Series
The trick for remembering what F series bulbs look like is that “flame” starts with “F” and these bulbs look like a flame. These are used only for decorative indoor lighting since they are unable to stand up to the elements the way that other bulbs are. They aren’t built for bad weather, high humidity, or extreme temperature fluctuations, but they are great for adding a little additional interest to a lamp or chandelier in your home.
G Series
These globe-shaped bulbs vary widely in size, from the smaller G-25 to the much larger G-40. You can find some floodlights that are in the G series, which makes for a very attractive appearance in your yard. However, you will most likely want to use them as ornamental lighting. They look great in bathrooms around the mirror or around a vanity mirror in the bedroom. No matter where you use them, they will add some drama and flair to the area.
R Series
R series light bulbs are used in track lighting as well as recessed lighting. Due to their shape, they do a great job at helping direct the light forward so that it is not lost through the sides of the bulb. This will allow homeowners and business owners to use these lights to have a little more impact or effect in their home or store. They’re great for drawing attention to something that you want to show others.
MR Series
These lights, while they come in a wide variety of sizes, are used only in track lighting or accent lighting. The size of bulb that you get will depend on what kind of track lighting you have and how much light you want to get out of your bulb. They can be used in both commercial and residential applications.
Linestra
These bulbs are tubular and have a single contact on them. They can be used in many different ways, including for lighting in boats, in medicine cabinets, and in bathroom fixtures. While some are made of glass, it is possible to find others made from more flexible plastic. Depending on your unique needs, this may be something that you are interested in.
Tungsten Halogen Double Ended
These straight tube bulbs are used in desk and wall lamps and sometimes for landscaping lighting. The type of bulb that you buy will determine what kind of light it emits as well as if it is rated for outdoor use, indoor use, or both.
PS-25/PS-35
Pear straight bulbs are longer than regular P series bulbs and have a greater diameter than A series bulbs. They have a number of indoor and outdoor uses and provide great ambient lighting. While they can be used outdoors, they are generally used for ceiling fixtures, portable lamps, wall mounted fixtures, vanities, and even commercial applications. Outside, they are generally used for security, to light power lines, in radio towers, and even to show high tension wires.
AR Series
Low voltage halogen light bulbs are specifically designed to give out low voltage lighting for landscaping. You can opt for different beam angles, including wide, narrow, and very wide, allowing you to focus the light as much or as little as you would like. They work great as spotlights, well lights, and flood lights.
ALR Series
Aluminum reflector bulbs have a very large top with a small base, allowing them to easily project a lot of light forward, making them ideal for spotlights and flood lights. They can generally be used in both residential and commercial applications and do a great job keeping the outside of a home or garden lit up during the night when you want more security. Different bulbs will have varying amounts of lumens and will last for differing amounts of time, making it important to research the bulb before you buy it, so you can be sure that you’re getting the best option for your use.
BR Series
Bulk reflector lights have been coated with a silver lining to ensure that all of the light that the bulb produces is directed toward one direction and doesn’t spread out. This makes them ideal for showcasing something in a garden or for providing a lot of light from a flood lamp. They are used as a substitution for incandescent R lamps and were created following a mandate that said reflector bulbs need to be more efficient. The change in the neck of the bulb helps to redirect light that would otherwise be lost and use it to increase the lumen output.
T series
There are two main kinds of T series bulbs. Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs can easily be bought online or in local big box stores, but how they are used is completely different from one another. Fluorescent T series bulbs are used in hospitals, parking garages, retail outlets, and offices and can be up to 8 feet in length. Incandescent T series bulbs are used for appliance and showcase lighting, as well as stairway and exit signs.
RP, MB, BT
These three series light bulbs are often more decorative than other choices that you can buy on the market, but that does not limit how well that they work. The RP series bulbs are the smallest of these decorative bulbs and can’t be used in larger sockets such as in lamps or other lighting. They have to be used in much smaller sockets such as a nightlight or chandelier, while the MB and BT series bulbs are typically larger and have larger bases to fit into average sockets. These bulbs function exactly the way that other light bulbs do and are a great way to add a little extra interest to your lighting by updating and changing the appearance of the bulb itself.
PAR Series
Sealed beam bulbs are permanently sealed together and have at least one filament and a parabolic reflector. They were originally created to be used for headlamps in cars, trucks, and vans, although they now have more use than originally intended. These bulbs are expressed in 1/8 inches and come in a number of different sizes and voltage ratings. When the bulb breaks, the whole thing must be replaced due to its design. However, their hard shell is made of tough glass that can easily withstand damage. In addition to being used in headlights for vehicles, sealed beam bulbs are becoming more and more common for aircraft, lighthouses, and even stage lighting. The beam spread on these lights will be stamped on the bulb itself and can be VNSP (very narrow spot), NSP (narrow spot), SP (spot), and FL (flood).
BT Series
Bulged tube lightbulbs have a few applications–including canopy lighting, sports arenas, industrial applications, and car dealerships. They not only produce a lot of high quality light, but are also very reliable. They can be used as a replacement for incandescent bulbs.
E Series
Ellipsoidal bulbs come in a variety of sizes, but their shapes all remain relatively the same. There can be shorter, fatter E series bulbs as well as ones that are much longer and skinnier. The shape and size of the bulb that you buy will vary depending on the application.
ED Series
Ellipsoidal dimple bulbs are very similar to E series bulbs and come in a number of the same sizes, although they are generally a bit larger and sometimes longer than E series bulbs. They do have a dimple on the end of them and their base is usually different. Their shape is used to house their special arc tube, and they are often used in car dealerships, industrial lighting, sports arenas, and parking garages.