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| # | Product | Best for | Lumens | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Philips LED Dusk to Dawn A19, 60W Equivalent, 2700K A dusk-to-dawn bulb for a sealed porch lantern | A bulb swap. Fully reversible. | 800 lm | Check price on Amazon #ad No live price right now, so we show none. How we earn |
| 02 | GE LED+ A19 Dusk to Dawn Bulb, Soft White A porch light that turns itself on at dark | A bulb swap. Fully reversible. | 800 lm | Check price on Amazon #ad No live price right now, so we show none. How we earn |
| 03 | Sylvania Dusk to Dawn A19 LED, 60W Equivalent, 2700K (41288) A plain dusk-to-dawn bulb for an open fixture | A bulb swap. Fully reversible. | 800 lm | Check price on Amazon #ad No live price right now, so we show none. How we earn |
| 04 | Feit Electric PAR38 Dusk to Dawn LED, Selectable 2700K - 5000K (PAR38100/5CCTCA/DD) A porch or garage flood that switches itself on at dark | A bulb swap. Fully reversible, with no timer or wiring needed. | 1,050 lm | Check price on Amazon #ad No live price right now, so we show none. How we earn |
Specifications are the manufacturer or retailer published figures, compiled by hand. We have not measured them, and where a figure is not published we write "Not published" rather than guess.
01
A timer in the bulb
A dusk-to-dawn bulb is the simplest automation there is. A light sensor built into the bulb switches it on when it gets dark and off when daylight returns, so a porch light runs itself all year with nothing to set and nothing to wire. Leave the wall switch on and the bulb does the rest.
The one requirement is that the sensor can see daylight. In an open lantern that is easy. Under a deep porch roof or behind heavily frosted glass, the bulb may never think it is day. That is the main reason to choose a timer instead - compared in best outdoor light timers.
| Bulb | Output | Color | CRI | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips dusk to dawn A19 | 800 lm | 2700K | 90 (Target) | Damp; enclosed OK |
| GE LED+ dusk to dawn A19 | 800 lm | 2700K | 80 | Damp (Target) |
| Sylvania dusk to dawn A19 | 800 lm | 2700K | 80 | Not published |
| Feit Electric PAR38 dusk to dawn | 1,050 lm | 2700K - 5000K | 90 | Wet |
02
The picks
Philips dusk to dawn A19 - the pick. 800 lumens at 2700K with CRI 90 listed, suitable for damp locations and for enclosed fixtures, with a 15,000 hour rated life. The enclosed rating is what makes it the right bulb for the sealed lanterns many porches have.
Cons: Philips' own page gives no model number; damp rated, not wet; several versions are sold, so match the 8.8W.
GE LED+ dusk to dawn A19 - the mainstream option. 800 lumens at 2700K and 8.5W, damp rated per its Target listing.
Cons: CRI 80; no enclosed rating published.
Sylvania dusk to dawn A19 - for an open fixture. 800 lumens at 2700K, for indoor or outdoor use, with a published 40 second delay after light is detected.
Cons: no damp or wet rating published; not sold in California; CRI 80.
Feit Electric PAR38 dusk to dawn - for an exposed flood fixture. 1,050 lumens, CRI 90 and selectable color from 2700K to 5000K, wet rated - the dusk-to-dawn choice where rain reaches the bulb. More floods are in best outdoor flood light bulbs.
Cons: not dimmable; a flood shape, not a lantern bulb.
03
Making it work
Leave the wall switch on. The bulb cannot sense anything without power. If people switch it off out of habit, a switch guard or a note beside the switch helps.
Give the sensor a view. Clear or lightly frosted glass and an open position work best. Under a deep roof, expect it to switch on early or stay on.
Do not double up. A dusk-to-dawn bulb in a fixture that already has its own photocell or motion sensor means two controls arguing. Use one or the other.
Keep it warm. A 2700K porch light is kinder to the eyes and the night sky - see 2700K vs 3000K outdoors.
The picks
Every pick in full
01
A dusk-to-dawn bulb for a sealed porch lantern
Philips LED Dusk to Dawn A19, 60W Equivalent, 2700K
#ad No live price right now, so we show none. How we earn
800 lumens at 2700K with CRI 90 listed, suitable for damp locations and enclosed fixtures, with a 15,000 hour rated life - the dusk-to-dawn bulb for a sealed lantern.
| Lumens | 800 lm |
|---|---|
| Color temperature | 2700K |
| CRI | 90 (per Target listing) |
| Power source | Screws into a standard E26 socket (8.8W) |
| Dimmable | No - on/off only |
| Renter-safe method | A bulb swap. Fully reversible. |
What it gets right
- Listed for enclosed fixtures and damp locations
- CRI 90 listed
- 15,000 hour rated life
What it costs you
- Philips' own page publishes no model number
- Damp rated, not wet
- Several Philips dusk-to-dawn versions are sold - match the 8.8W
Spec source: Philips - LED bulb 60W A19 E26 dusk to dawn product page - retrieved September 3, 2026.
02
A porch light that turns itself on at dark
GE LED+ A19 Dusk to Dawn Bulb, Soft White
#ad No live price right now, so we show none. How we earn
800 lumens at 2700K from a dusk-to-dawn bulb that fits any standard socket - automatic porch light at CRI 80.
| Lumens | 800 lm |
|---|---|
| Color temperature | 2700K |
| CRI | 80 |
| Power source | Screws into a standard E26 socket (8.5W) |
| Dimmable | No |
| Renter-safe method | A bulb swap. Fully reversible. |
What it gets right
- Dusk-to-dawn operation built in
- Warm 2700K
- Listed for damp locations (Target)
What it costs you
- CRI 80
- Damp rated, not wet
- Enclosed rating not published
Spec source: GE Lighting - LED+ A19 dusk to dawn product page - retrieved September 3, 2026.
03
A plain dusk-to-dawn bulb for an open fixture
Sylvania Dusk to Dawn A19 LED, 60W Equivalent, 2700K (41288)
#ad No live price right now, so we show none. How we earn
800 lumens at 2700K with a light sensor and a 40 second delay after light is detected, for indoor or outdoor use - simple, with fewer published ratings.
| Lumens | 800 lm |
|---|---|
| Color temperature | 2700K |
| CRI | 80 |
| Power source | A19 bulb (9W) |
| Dimmable | No |
| Renter-safe method | A bulb swap. Fully reversible. |
What it gets right
- 40 second delay after light is detected
- Indoor or outdoor use
- Warm 2700K
What it costs you
- No damp or wet rating published
- Not sold in California
- CRI 80
Spec source: HomElectrical - Sylvania dusk to dawn A19 (41288) listing - retrieved September 3, 2026.
04
A porch or garage flood that switches itself on at dark
Feit Electric PAR38 Dusk to Dawn LED, Selectable 2700K - 5000K (PAR38100/5CCTCA/DD)
#ad No live price right now, so we show none. How we earn
A built-in photocell turns it on at dusk and off at dawn, with 1,050 lumens, CRI 90 and selectable color from 2700K to 5000K - automatic light from an ordinary socket.
| Lumens | 1,050 lm |
|---|---|
| Color temperature | 2700K - 5000K, selectable |
| CRI | 90 |
| Power source | Screws into a standard E26 socket (11.6W) |
| Dimmable | No |
| Renter-safe method | A bulb swap. Fully reversible, with no timer or wiring needed. |
What it gets right
- Built-in dusk to dawn photocell
- Selectable color, so it can be set warm
- Wet rated
What it costs you
- Not dimmable
- Lower output than Feit's 1,400 lm flood
- The sensor needs daylight to reach it - a deeply shaded fixture can confuse it
Spec source: Feit Electric - PAR38100/5CCTCA/DD dusk to dawn product page - retrieved September 3, 2026.
FAQ
Questions people actually ask
+How do dusk-to-dawn light bulbs work?
A light sensor in the bulb turns it on when it gets dark and off when daylight returns. The wall switch has to stay on for the bulb to do its job.
+Do dusk-to-dawn bulbs work in enclosed fixtures?
Some are rated for it. The Philips here is listed as suitable for enclosed fixtures. Whatever the rating, the sensor still needs to see daylight through the glass.
+Why does my dusk-to-dawn bulb stay on during the day?
Usually because its sensor cannot see enough daylight - a deep porch roof, heavily frosted glass or a shaded corner. A plug-in or in-wall timer is the alternative in those spots.
+Are dusk-to-dawn bulbs wet rated?
The A19s here are damp rated at most, which suits a covered porch. For a flood fixture exposed to rain, Feit's PAR38 dusk-to-dawn bulb is wet rated.
+What color should a dusk-to-dawn porch bulb be?
Warm - around 2700K. All three A19s here are 2700K, and the National Park Service's outdoor lighting guidance favors warm light.
Sources
Where the numbers came from
- Philips - LED bulb 60W A19 E26 dusk to dawn (800 lm, 2700K, 15,000 h)
- Target listing - Philips LED dusk to dawn A19 (CRI 90, damp and enclosed)
- GE Lighting - LED+ A19 dusk to dawn (800 lm, 2700K, CRI 80)
- HomElectrical - Sylvania dusk to dawn A19 41288 (800 lm, 2700K, 40 second delay)
- Feit Electric - PAR38 dusk to dawn, selectable 2700K - 5000K (1,050 lm, wet rated)
- National Park Service - outdoor lighting principles (2700K, blue light, glare)
All sources retrieved September 3, 2026.
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About the author
Sawyer V. An enthusiast who reads the spec sheets and does the arithmetic. No lab, no test bench.