We tested several models for you to find the best grow lights for indoor plants available. We preferred grow lights that used full-spectrum LED lights, were adjustable, relatively easy to install, offered plenty of power while being safe for long periods of use, and featured options for different timing and brightness modes. Grow lights for indoor plants is one of the top-rated lawn and garden essentials that you can always rely on.
Of the grow lights we tested, the Ankace 40W Dual Head Grow Light is the best grow light for indoor plants. We loved its adjustability, multiple lighting and timing modes, energy efficiency, and ease of use. Keep reading to see more great grow lights available.
Top 7 Best Grow Light For Indoor Plants
#1 Ankace 40W Dual Head Grow Light for Indoor Plants
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Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: The all-around best- energy efficient, easy to set up, two flexible and highly adjustable gooseneck mounts, three auto-off settings, and dimming and lighting options for safe, easy use.
- Targeted wavelength design for optimal growth
- Auto-off settings for 3, 6, and 12 hour periods
- USB-powered so it’s great for home or office
- Much lower wattage (40 watts) than many models
- Fairly small and not suited to cover large areas
The Ankace 40W Dual Head Grow Light is a USB-powered dual grow light that features targeted wavelength technology. 12 Blue LEDs receive more energy through the synthesis of chlorophyll to help in germination, while 24 Red LEDs assist effective germination, flowering, and enhanced photosynthesis. We loved its lightweight (1.01lbs) construction, size, and USB-powered design and found it easy to set up even in tight spaces.
It features 3 timing modes for 3, 6, and 12 hour grow periods, 5 dimming modes for adjusting brightness, and sturdy, 360-degree adjustable gooseneck for each light, allowing precise lighting depending on the type of grow. We felt that at 40 watts, it lacked the power of some other models, but for smaller plants and lighting areas, even in the office, it’s an excellent all-around option for an effective, energy efficient, safe, and easy to use grow light. For your outdoor yard work, you should also read our guide to the best robot lawnmower.
#2 Phlizon 600W LED Plant Grow Light for Indoor Plants
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Multiple lighting modes for specific growth cycles, heavy duty stainless steel construction, reflector-free for maximum safe use, and high-powered but energy-efficient.
- Dual-function design for seedling and blooming stages
- Equal in power to 100-watt incandescent bulb
- Overheat-proof and highly durable
- Installation not as easy as many models
The Phlizon 600W LED Plant Grow Light is a high-powered ceiling mountable full-spectrum LED grow light. It features two primary lighting modes: “Veg” and “Bloom.” “Veg” mode uses blue and white light designed to encourage seedling and young vegetative growth and “Bloom” uses red and white light for flowering and blooming stages, allowing you to customize performance based on need. Double cooling fans and a reflectorless design ensure overheating does not occur. The included clock also measures heat and humidity for professional-grade monitoring.
The wire-mount design makes installation a little more complicated, but the heavy duty all-metal construction, generous power, innovative dual-mode feature, and safety and monitoring features make it good for general use on both large and small plants. If you’re worried about your yard too, you should read our guide to lawn/garden.
See Also: You may also want to check out the best garden root slayer.
#3 Viparspectra UL Grow Light for Indoor Plants
Award: MOST POWERFUL
WHY WE LIKE IT: 1200 Watts of power with two specialized modes and full-spectrum light for the largest and most demanding applications, with a large form factor that can cover a surface area of up to 3.5 x 3.5’
- Covers large 3.5’ x 3.5’ surface area
- Equal to 800W of incandescent light
- Rated for 100,000 hours of regular use
- Not suitable for tight spaces
The Viparspectra UL Grow Light is a professional-grade full-spectrum indoor grow light with 1200 watts of LED power, equal to 800 watts of conventional incandescent light. In addition to its full spectrum mode, it offers two additional switchable grow modes- Veg and Bloom, using blue and white light for seedling and early growth stages and red and white light for blooming and flowering stages, respectively. It’s designed to be energy efficient and is safe to use for extended periods like the 18 hour periods recommended for early growth stages.
Extensively tested for maximum performance and long life, it’s rated for 100,000 hours of regular use guaranteed. Although its wire mounting system has limited adjustability and isn’t as easy to install as some models, it’s designed to provide a generous 4.5’x4.5’ of vegetative-stage coverage and 3.5’x3.5’ for flowering stage coverage, making it one of the most powerful on the market. For your gardening needs, you should also read our guide to the best garden root slayer.
#4 Elaine LED Grow Light for Indoor Plants
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-friendly grow light that mounts anywhere, making for easy installation, and featuring a highly adjustable gooseneck, multiple brightness modes and an auto on/off feature.
- Safety-tested at high temperatures
- 360 degree-adjusting goosenecks
- Long lasting LED chips rated for 50,000 hours
- 60 watts of power on the lower end
The Elaine LED Grow Light is a 60-watt USB-powered full-spectrum grow light. Its high-quality LED chips are rated for 50,000 hours of regular use and it features three 360 degree-adjustable goosenecks for a great degree of adjustability. We found its 5 dimming modes for varying levels of brightness and three switch modes (blue light/white light, red light/white light, and full spectrum) great for more specific growth cycles.
We appreciated its compact and light build, clip-on mounting system, and USB-power, which make it easy to install and get working right away even in tight spaces like offices. It’s considerably less powerful than some LED grow lights on the market, and we found it unsuitable for larger areas, but it’s an economical choice for a high-performance, long lasting grow light with plenty of customization options. For your outdoor gardening, you might also find our guide to the best wheelbarrow useful.
#5 Jueyingbaili Full Spectrum Grow Light for Indoor Plants
Award: BEST FOR MULTIPLE SMALL FOLIAGE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Compact design and clip-on installation with four adjustable heads that are designed to effectively light multiple small plants, such as succulents.
- Modeled to imitate natural illumination
- Multiple brightness and timing modes
- Four 360 degree adjustable goosenecks
- Controls could be confusing to some users
The Jueyingbaili Full Spectrum Grow Light is a USB-powered, four-head grow light offering 80 watts of LED lighting. Its four full-spectrum light heads proved highly adjustable in our tests due to their 306 degree-adjustable goosenecks. We liked its three lighting modes- blue for early stage growth, red for flowering and blooming stages, and mixed for general use- as well as its 9 dimming modes, auto-off function, and 3 timing modes for 3,9, and 12-hour lighting sessions.
We thought its controls could be more concise and intuitive, but its easy clip-on installation, generous power, and compact build combined with its four fully adjustable lights make it a great choice for lighting multiple smaller plants, especially in small spaces. If you’re worried about pests inside your house, you should also read our guide to the best mouse trap.
#6 Elaine Grow Light for Indoor Plants
Award: MOST LIKE SUNLIGHT
WHY WE LIKE IT: Triple-headed, fully adjustable lights designed to function and look like natural sunlight that offer plenty of power in a compact, lightweight design.
- Extra-large 120° beam angle and 18-inch gooseneck provide 360-degree illumination
- FCC certified safety design
- Three auto-off cycle and multiple brightness options
- Less durable than some similar models
The Elaine Grow Light for Indoor Plants is a three-head full-spectrum LED grow light. Its three LEDs are mounted on fully 360 degree-adjustable steel goosenecks and are designed to emulate natural sunlight. We found that their soft, yellow light approximated sunlight well and created a warmer, less intrusive atmosphere than more common red/blue/white LED grow lights and that their steel mounting clips made them easy to set up anywhere. The Mars Hydro also features an auto-off timer with 3 modes- 3, 6, and 12 hours, and a dimmer with 5 brightness modes, which we found easy and intuitive to control
Although we found the build to be slightly flimsier than many models, we loved the extra-large illumination area its 120° beam angle and three 18” goosenecks provide. It’s also FCC-certified for safe use up to 10,000 hours, and that combined with its ease of use and unusually warm, natural-feeling light make it a great choice for a home or office where maintaining a homey, inviting atmosphere is desired.
Related: Be sure to take a look at the best landscape lighting.
#7 Juhefa Tri-Head Floor Grow Light for Indoor Plants
Award: MOST VERSATILE
WHY WE LIKE IT: An extremely sturdy tripod that’s easy to adjust, three powerful lights on fully rotatable goosenecks, and multiple brightness and timing modes for plenty of customization.
- 24-cycle option removes need for manual operation
- Three light modes and 10 dimming modes
- Tripod can be set to a height of 47”
- May be too large for tight spaces
The Juhefa Tri-Head Floor Plant Grow Light is a 60-watt indoor plant grow light with a tripod mounting system. The sturdy stainless steel and non-toxic plastic tripod is adjustable from heights of 17” to 47” and features locking mechanisms which we found in tests to hold lights firmly and securely in place. It features 3 lighting modes for different stages of plant growth- Purple for early growth, Clear Warm Light for full-spectrum flowering stage growth, and Clear White Light for full spectrum general use. The three lights are mounted on three 360 degree adjustable goosenecks that we found useful for multiple different lighting configurations.
We loved its 10 dimming modes for varying levels of brightness, as well as its auto on/off timer whose multiple modes include a 24-hour setting which cycles through various light types, including “off” cycle for hands-off use. The tripod legs and overall bulk of the Juhefa presented a challenge for us in tight spaces, but its extreme adjustability, customization, and high performance make it one of the most versatile grow lights on the market.
How We Decided
Whether you’re growing vegetables indoors or a green thumb with limited space, there are plenty of options for growing plants indoors with artificial light. We preferred LED grow lights that run at a minimum of 40 watts (for battery or USB-powered models), are made of durable, non-toxic plastics and stainless steel, and offer full-spectrum grow lights for the healthiest and most efficient growth cycles.
We also liked grow lights that were easy to install, highly adjustable, and can be mounted on desks and walls in addition to floor stands or tripods. We favored grow lights with multiple brightness settings and which featured auto on/off functions for use while away, and which featured different lighting modes for different stages of growth, such as the seedling stage versus the flowering stage.
Finally, we preferred grow lights that are energy-efficient, safe to use and utilize bulbs that are easy to purchase and replace. We avoided plant lights for decorative use, those which are used with household light fixtures, and for the most part, those which use fluorescent bulbs. We also did not test models that used metal halide lights.
Best Grow Light For Indoor Plants Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Full Spectrum Light
While a natural light source is ideal, indoor gardens can’t always get sunlight regularly. One of the primary reasons to buy a dedicated indoor plant grow light instead of using a regular incandescent or fluorescent light is that normal bulbs and household lights don’t often provide full-spectrum light, or dedicated spectrum light, both of which are essential for the healthiest, most efficient growth cycles. Dedicated grow lights should always feature full-spectrum lighting, and preferably have options for partial spectrum lighting as well, allowing you to tailor your lighting to your plants’ needs. - Energy Efficient
Typical grow light cycles can be anywhere from 12 to 18 hours- and occasionally 24 hours. That can lead to an expensive electric bill if your grow lights aren’t designed for maximum energy efficiency. Fortunately, most consumers and nearly all commercial grow lights are designed explicitly to be energy efficient, regardless of the amounts of light they use. This is also why most grow lights employ LED instead of incandescent lights- although an added benefit is that they remain cooler over long periods of use and are thus safer. - Adjustability
No two growing setups are going to be the same, so it’s important that whether you’re looking for a high-powered 1200 watt grow light or a USB-powered 60 watt model for small plants and office use, the model you chose offers some degree of adjustability. This can include features like fully adjustable goosenecks for smaller lights and adjustable tripods for floor plants, but it also includes features like multiple brightness settings, auto on/off, multiple timer modes, and even multiple lighting type modes. Fortunately, these are all common features on a wide variety of popular models.
