Which Color Temperature Do I Need for My LED Lights?

Our LED lights are available in many different correlated color temperatures (CCT), which is measured in Kelvins (K). Each of these color temperatures have a different look. If you are not sure which one you need, take a look at the most common uses for each color temperature below. You will also see charts showing where various color temperatures fall on the spectrum. While the information below can point you in the right direction, in the end which color temperature you select ultimately comes down to personal preference. Just find a color temperature that you enjoy!

These color temperatures are the same color temperatures that traditional light bulbs have produced for the last 100 years or so. Almost every contractor or home builder uses these color temperatures and almost every new home will come with these color temperatures. 2700K and 3000K tend continue to be popular for residential use since most people want to match the color temperature they are already using. However, 4000K and 5000K are becoming increasingly popular for residential use since people want something new besides the traditional color temperature.

These color temperatures emit a light that is closer to true daylight (which is somewhere around 6000K). The reason most commercial enterprises use these color temperatures is because the higher color temperatures show truer colors (the reds are redder, the blues are bluer). Retailers will almost always go with the 5000K because it tends to show off their products the best. Office buildings will typically go with 4000K. They stay away from the lower color temperatures that emit a warmer temperature because the psychology of having the same color temperature that exists in our homes could trick our minds to believe we are at home; the result of this is a more lax state. They want a brighter, but not too bright, office and the 4000K tends to keep us focused and awake.

Color Spectrum Scale

Take a look at the images below to see where various color temperatures fall on the scale.