The best light bulbs for ceiling fans

In many bedrooms the ceiling fan's light kit is the only overhead light. That means two or three small bulbs have to do the work of a full ceiling fixture, usually under a glass bowl that holds the heat in. The U.S. Department of Energy's Building America guidance is simple on the first point: if the fan has a light kit, use energy-efficient LED bulbs in it.

Choosing them comes down to four checks: the base (E26 or candelabra E12), the shape (A15 or B11 fits most kits), an enclosed rating for closed glass, and enough lumens per socket that the kit lights the room. The base and shape codes are decoded in bulb shapes and bases explained.

Feit Electric A15, E26 - the pick for medium-base kits. 750 lumens at 2700K and CRI 90, dimmable and rated for enclosed fixtures, in the small A15 shape. It publishes every number that matters for a fan kit, and Feit lists ceiling fans as an intended use.
Cons: damp rated only; a 15,000 hour rated life; clear filament glass can be glary in an open kit.

Feit Electric A15, E12 - for candelabra kits. The same 750 lumens at 2700K with CRI 90+, on a candelabra base, dimmable and enclosed rated - full 60W-class light for a kit with small sockets.
Cons: damp rated only; an A15 is larger than a B11, so check the glass still closes; listing titles vary, so confirm the E12 base.

Cree Lighting B11, 5000K - slim candelabra, cool light. 700 lumens at 5000K and CRI 90+ in the slim B11 shape, dimmable, good for enclosed fixtures and rated for 25,000 hours. Right for a garage or workshop fan; too cool for a bedroom.
Cons: 5000K only in the version verified; wattage not published.

Take the old bulb to the shop - or photograph it. The base and shape are printed on it, and a candelabra bulb will not go in a medium socket.

Check the glass clears the bulb. An A15 is noticeably bigger than a B11. If the bowl barely closed over the old bulb, stay with the same shape.

Use the enclosed rating under glass. A closed bowl traps heat, the standard early-failure cause - explained in best LED bulbs for enclosed fixtures.

Replace them all at once. Mixed bulbs in one kit show different colors side by side. Buy enough to fill every socket from the same pack.