60-watt bulbs are some of the most common light bulbs we use around the house and office, but how can you be sure how bright they'll be before you buy?
When we think of the different levels of brightness given off by light bulbs, most of us will come up with four numbers: 45, 60, 75 and 100. However, wattage is not a measure of brightness at all! Wattage measures the amount of electrical power used by the bulb--lumens is the correct term for measuring brightness.
Though the two terms may be easily confused, it’s relatively easy to understand lumens and what to look for when shopping for light bulbs. The word “lumen” is the standard term used to describe light output—for example, a candle gives off about 12 lumens, whereas a 60-watt soft white incandescent light bulb produces about 840 lumens.
However, not all 60-watt bulbs are alike! A long life bulb with the same wattage will likely only output around 500 lumens due to its less resistant and thicker filament. On the opposite spectrum, that same light bulb painted black gives off no lumens at all. And while a standard 60-watt incandescent bulb has 870 lumens, a halogen bulb of the same wattage has 960 lumens and lasts three times as long!
It’s easy to locate the wattage and lumens of light bulbs while shopping, since it’s now standard to print this information on the “Lighting Facts” section of the bulb’s packaging—similar to the nutrition facts on a package of food at the grocery store. The Lighting Facts are a great help to light bulb shoppers, since it makes it much easier to predict exactly how the bulb will perform, and whether it’s right for you and your specific needs.
