LED vs CFL vs Incandescent: The Complete Comparison

Three lighting technologies have dominated home illumination over the past century: the traditional incandescent bulb invented by Edison, the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) that promised energy savings in the 1990s, and the LED revolution that has transformed lighting in the 2020s. Understanding the differences between these technologies helps explain why LED has become the clear choice for modern Australian homes.

This comprehensive comparison examines each technology across critical factors: energy efficiency, lifespan, upfront cost, light quality, environmental impact, and practical considerations. The data may surprise you if you have not compared bulb technologies recently.

Energy Consumption: The Numbers Tell the Story

Energy efficiency represents the most dramatic difference between bulb technologies. To produce 800 lumens (the brightness of a traditional 60W incandescent), each technology requires vastly different wattages:

Technology	Wattage for 800 Lumens	Energy Use vs Incandescent
Incandescent	60W	Baseline (100%)
CFL	13-15W	~75% less
LED Winner	8-10W	~85% less

LED technology converts electricity to light with remarkable efficiency. While incandescent bulbs waste 90% of energy as heat, LEDs operate cool and direct most energy toward illumination. Over a year of typical use (3 hours daily), a single LED saves approximately $18 compared to an incandescent equivalent at Australian electricity rates.

Lifespan: Years of Difference

Longevity varies dramatically between technologies, affecting both convenience and long-term costs:

• Incandescent: 1,000-2,000 hours (roughly 1 year at 3 hours daily use)
• CFL: 8,000-10,000 hours (approximately 7-9 years)
• LED: 25,000-50,000 hours (approximately 22-45 years)

The lifespan advantage of LED is extraordinary. A quality LED bulb installed today in a moderately used fixture may still be working when your children leave home. This longevity eliminates the recurring hassle and cost of bulb replacement, particularly valuable for hard-to-reach fixtures.

Light Quality and Performance

Early LED and CFL bulbs earned criticism for harsh, unflattering light. Modern LED technology has overcome these limitations:

Colour Rendering (CRI): Quality LEDs now achieve CRI ratings of 90+ (where 100 equals perfect colour accuracy), matching or exceeding incandescent performance. Budget LEDs may still have lower CRI (80-85), so check specifications for applications where colour accuracy matters.

Colour Temperature Options: LEDs offer the widest range of colour temperatures, from warm 2700K matching incandescent to cool 6500K daylight. CFLs also offer multiple temperatures, though warm options sometimes appear less natural than LED equivalents.

Dimming Performance: Incandescent bulbs dim smoothly with any dimmer. LEDs require compatible dimmers but dim effectively when properly matched. CFLs generally dim poorly or not at all, limiting their flexibility.

Instant On: LEDs illuminate instantly at full brightness. CFLs notoriously take 30-60 seconds to reach full output, particularly frustrating in cold conditions like Australian winters in southern states. Incandescent bulbs are instant but briefly underpowered.

Environmental Impact

Environmental considerations increasingly influence purchasing decisions. Here is how each technology compares:

Incandescent: Highest carbon footprint due to massive energy consumption. No hazardous materials, but frequent replacement creates glass waste. Manufacturing continues in some regions despite efficiency regulations.

CFL: Significant energy savings reduce carbon footprint, but each bulb contains mercury (approximately 4mg). Broken CFLs require careful cleanup, and proper recycling is essential to prevent mercury entering landfill. Many Australians improperly dispose of CFLs in general waste.

LED: Lowest lifetime carbon footprint due to minimal energy consumption and extraordinary lifespan. No mercury or other hazardous materials. Electronic components should ideally be recycled, but LEDs pose no special environmental hazards if disposed of normally.

Total Cost of Ownership

While LED bulbs cost more upfront, total ownership cost over 25,000 hours tells the complete story:

Cost Factor	Incandescent	CFL	LED
Purchase Cost (over 25,000 hrs)	$50 (25 bulbs)	$24 (3 bulbs)	$10 (1 bulb)
Electricity Cost (at $0.30/kWh)	$450	$98	$68
Total 25,000hr Cost	$500	$122	$78 Winner

Despite higher initial cost, LED delivers massive savings over its lifespan. The payback period for replacing an incandescent with an LED is typically 6-12 months, after which all additional savings are pure benefit.

Making the Switch

If you still have incandescent or CFL bulbs in your home, replacing them with LEDs represents one of the simplest and most cost-effective upgrades you can make. Prioritise high-use fixtures first for fastest payback, and choose quality brands for reliable performance and accurate colour rendering.

Australia's phase-out of inefficient incandescent bulbs means new installations must use LED or CFL anyway. With LED prices having fallen dramatically since 2015, there is no financial or practical reason to delay upgrading remaining older bulbs in your home.

The transition from incandescent and CFL to LED lighting represents a genuine technological leap forward. Lower energy bills, reduced environmental impact, superior light quality, and decades of hassle-free operation make LED the obvious choice for every Australian home. Browse our complete LED selection to find the perfect bulbs for your upgrade.