This is the second post in a series dedicated to helping you create a home with beautiful lighting by choosing the best light bulbs. Yesterday, we tackled light bulbs for table and floor lamps. Recessed lights are a little more complicated, but once you’ve got the basics down, it’s smooth sailing!
The first thing you’ll need to do is determine which light bulb size your recessed light fixture takes. Here’s what you’ll see among recessed lighting options: BR30, MR11, MR16, PAR16, PAR20, PAR30, PAR38, R20, R30, R40.
Wow. Let’s break that down a little:
The number following the letters in a recessed light bulb indicates size: it’s the diameter of the light bulb in eights of an inch. So, a BR30 is 30/8 inches, or three and 3/4 inches. An MR11 is 11/8 inches. So, you can swap out a PAR30 for an R30 or a BR30 – they are all the same size.
The PAR denotes the light bulb has a parabolic aluminized reflector on its inside, directing light out. That PAR coating maximizes the light output that you’ll get from the light bulb. If brightness is your #1 priority in a recessed light, choose a PAR lamp in the appropriate size. The majority of PAR lamps are available in a flood beam spread, but spot beam PAR lamps are also out there. Many PAR lamps are approved for use in wet locations.
The MR indicates the light bulb has a multifaceted reflector on its inside. The facets help gather light from the filament to create a very concentrated light beam. MR lamps are primarily available in smaller sizes – they are all about beam control, which is typically desirable for a narrower light beam. You can choose your beam spread (i.e., narrow flood, flood, spotlight) for many MR lamps.
Moving on to BR: Want to take a guess on what it stands for? This is another reflector lamp to maximize brightness, but this time, the light bulb itself has a bulged shape to direct light out. One disadvantage of the BR lamp is that it’s a little longer than the PAR and MR, which means it tends to sit lower in the recessed fixture – and perhaps, protrude from the bottom of the recessed light fixture.
Finally, the simple R. As you might assume, it stands for reflector in this case. There is a mirrored coating on the back of the light bulb to improve light output.
Now that we have those light bulb names deciphered, you should know that they are available in an array of light sources, including incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent, cold cathode fluorescent, and LED. Halogen is probably the most popular of the bunch for recessed light fixtures. It renders colors very well, it’s affordable, and it gives you a lot of light output.
If you’re looking for efficiency, though, halogen is not your target. LED has a higher price point, but it also gives you a longer lifetime and lower energy use! Check out our selection of PAR, MR, and BR LED light bulbs.
CFLs and CCFLs are also viable energy efficient options, but remember you should avoid the CFL if the gradual start-up drives you crazy – or if you plan to turn the lights on and off frequently. (You’ll lower the lifetime of a CFL if you use it in less than 15 minute intervals). CCFLs, like this R20 and these BR30‘s, give you the efficiency of a CFL without the delayed start-up (or the diminished lifetime from frequent power cycles).
More questions? The comment section awaits!
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by Emily Widle
Emily was the E-Commerce Marketing Specialist at Pegasus Lighting until June 2012.
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I have bought BR30 in the Home Deport and the bulb doesn’t fit in out fixtures. It’s getting stuck, because the diameter was too big. I have always used R30, but had to return this one. Now I am not sure if that was a manufacturer’s defect or BR30 and/or PAR30 are different from R30.
Mikki,
Thanks for your question! BR30, R30, and PAR30 light bulbs all have the same diameter (30/8 inches). However, they use different kinds of reflectors which cause them to have slightly different shapes PLUS the neck lengths for each light bulb can vary. That’s probably why that BR30 didn’t fit. In general, R30 lamps tend to be a little shorter.
What is GU? I ordered recessed lighting that says they use GU10. 50w bulbs? What kind of lighting is that?
Hi Lori,
GU10 is a bipin base where the pins are spaced 10mm apart.
Generally, these are halogen MR16 line voltage light bulbs.
Here’s an example of what a MR16 GU10 light bulb looks like: http://www.pegasuslighting.com/led-mr16-light-bulb-4w-120v-flood.html
We were remodeling our home and wanted brighter light than that produced by our 65W R30 light bulbs in recessed 6 inch cans. Our contractor recommended we buy LED, R30L (long neck), 13W (65W equivalent) bulbs with a light color of 6000K degees (daylight). Very expensive bulbs. Then, the contractor changed out our 6 inch recessed cans for 4 inch cans to “modernize” the look of our lighting. Now, I am being told the 4 inch cans require R20 or PAR20 size bulbs. Are you aware of any kind of 4 inch recessed can that can accept R30 bulbs? Or, is there any kind of conversion kit for 4 inch cans to receive the R30 bulb?
Thank you for your help,
David
David:
The 30 in the R30 represent 30/8 inches in diameter. So, an R30 is 3 3/8 inches in diameter. Too big for a 4-inch recessed can. A PAR20 (20/8 inches in diameter or 2 1/2 inches) is a common lamp for a 4-inch can.