The best outdoor flood light bulbs

Most exterior flood fixtures take a PAR38 reflector bulb on a standard base, which means the fixture you already have can be transformed by the bulb you put in it. Three things decide the choice.

• Lumens. The actual light, as opposed to the wattage equivalence on the box. The picks here run from 900 to 1,400 lumens.
• A wet rating. If rain can reach the bulb, it must be wet rated. The difference is explained in wet vs damp rated.
• Warm color. 3000K is as bright as 5000K at the same lumens and produces less glare, which the National Park Service's guidance on blue light supports.

Feit Electric PAR38, 1,400 lm - the pick. 1,400 lumens at 3000K and CRI 90, with a 40-degree beam, wet and enclosed ratings, dimming and a 25,000 hour rated life - all published by Feit. It is the brightest warm flood here.
Cons: an Amazon listing title shows 1,000 lumens, so check it matches Feit's figure; 15.5W runs warm in a tight enclosed housing; no built-in sensor.

Feit Electric PAR38 dusk to dawn - the one that runs itself. A built-in photocell switches it on at dark and off at daylight, with 1,050 lumens, CRI 90 and color selectable from 2700K to 5000K. For a porch or garage flood with no timer, it is the simplest fix there is.
Cons: not dimmable; lower output than the 1,400 lm model; the sensor needs daylight to reach it.

GE Outdoor Style PAR38 - a dimmable warm flood. 3000K at CRI 90, wet rated and dimmable, drawing 15W.
Cons: GE's own pages give 1,200 and 1,300 lumens; beam angle not published; match the Outdoor Style name on the listing.

Philips PAR38 90W equivalent - modest and wet rated. 900 lumens at 3000K and CRI 90, rated for wet and enclosed fixtures, at 10W.
Cons: not dimmable; the lowest output here; an 11,000 hour rated life.

Check the fixture's maximum. An LED draws far less than the incandescent it replaces, but the fixture label still sets the limit and the socket type.

Aim down. Point floods at the driveway or path, not across the yard. It lights what you need and keeps glare out of neighbors' windows.

Keep it warm. The picks here are 3000K, or selectable in the dusk to dawn bulb's case - set it warm. The reasons are in 2700K vs 3000K for outdoor lighting.

Mind enclosed housings. Heat shortens LED life. The Feit 1,400 lm and the Philips are enclosed rated; the reasoning is in best LED bulbs for enclosed fixtures.