Growing plants is an exciting, yet challenging venture; one that requires meticulous research and dedication. For instance, there are a lot of things to consider when first starting out, like buying the best LED grow lights, providing enough space, getting all the right tools for the job, and etc.

Still, with so many options out there, it's hard to keep track. Luckily for you, we did our homework and compiled a comprehensive list of the best LED grow lights for a 2x2 grow tent to make your life so much easier.

What type of grow light is best?

You will need to consider your budget and spacing need in order to make the best LED grow light comparison. However, you will also need to think about the spectrum, light control, and electrical usage of your lights, too.

You should consider the colors of your LED grow lights. Light intensity is important when your plants are engaging in photosynthesis. Plants can utilize lights at all wavelengths, with blue being the most important as your plant is growing and producing leaves. However, red will be more important during the flowering stage. Your plants will need to experience a change in the color and intensity of light to encourage their natural growth and biological processes.

This is why a good LED light is important. LED lamps contain many individual LEDs, so you can buy one that has both red and blue lights and allows you to adjust between the two throughout the day.

When you consider spectrum, know that you will need a full-spectrum LED grow light to help your plants grow. Although blue and red spectrums are important, so are ultraviolet and infrared spectrums. You need powerful light with multiple different wavelengths in order to get your plants to grow. Although full spectrum yields are new, they are a good option to consider these units run cool and don't require fans, adding to electrical savings and overall safety. Plus, these lights tend to be more durable.

You should also consider the electrical usage of your LED lights. This ties into the durability and spectrum of your grow lights, but remember that good LED grow lights will need to run for a minimum of ten hours a day. Make sure you understand the total output of the light is - the higher the output, the more powerful the unit is and the less electricity it will use.
Light control is also important. You want to make sure your plants are received the most amount of lighting possible. We have broken this down for you above, but make sure the LED grow light you select is equipped to provide optimal control of these times.

Should I Choose a Full-Spectrum LED Grow Light?

A full-spectrum LED grow light is always the way to go - if your budget allows it.

Full-spectrum LEDs are best for growing indoor plants because they are more energy-efficient and mimic the effect of natural sunlight. Because these acts like the sun, changing the quality of light throughout the day, your plants are better equipped to engage in the process of photosynthesis.

Overall, a full-spectrum LED light will give you higher grain quality and reduce your electricity needs over time. You will need fewer exhaust fans to circulate the temperature because full-spectrum lights run a lot cooler compared to other lights. You also don't need to replace them for over 50,000 hours, giving you a better life and regular bulbs. Most full-spectrum LED grow lights also offer a minimum of a three-year warranty.

ECO Farm Newest Samsung LM301B 220W Quantum Board with Daisy Chain

Features:
ECO Farm LED Grow Lights utilize the latest in high yielding LEDs technology today-Samsung LM301B diodes, high Energy Efficiency with 2.7 umol/J, delivers a powerful light output and uniform canopy penetration to resulting maximum higher yields. Running 50% less power than the HPS or other SMD LEDs or Blurple lamps. At the same time, it also has an ideal full-spectrum and amazing heat dissipation: excellent full-spectrum mixing of white, blue, red, and IR (3000K, 660nm and IR 760nm and UV 395nm). 3000K diodes providing more reddish light. The 660nm red and IR light is especially useful during bloom, where it speeds up flowering time and boosts yields. Turn your seeds into your own supply. And the light looks fairly natural, so it's good for accurately monitoring plant health. No Fan Noise Free. High Safety performance MEAN WELL Driver. Update aluminum board is thick and sturdy, doesn't put out a tremendous amount of heat

Viparspectra Pro Series P2500

Features:
The secret to VIPARSPECTRA's success is optimal full spectrum lighting which provides plants in all stages from veg to flower with everything they need in the natural sunlight, turn your seeds into your own supply, produce beautiful high yielding plants. And make indoor planting become easier and more convenient. This results in bigger buds and higher yield all while saving you on energy costs. IR light is particularly useful during flowering, it can accelerate bloom time and increase yield, fill the flowers with space and obtain an amazing harvest. The light makes indoor planting become easier and more convenient. Innovative fanless design, Large areas of the solid aluminum heat sink are excellent for heat dissipation. No need to worry about heat dissipation. The dimmable function allows precise spectral control and is suitable for each growing phase.

iPlantop Daisy Chain 1500W LED Grow Light

Features:
The combination of Bridgelux SMD diodes in a multi-spectral layout makes this LED light have a complete natural full white spectrum, which will make your plants like it at all stages of growth. Yellow 3000k and white 6000k to meet the plant growth needs of plants. In addition, there are deep red 660-nanometer LED lights and 760-nanometer infrared lights, which can provide an extra boost for the final stage of flower growth, making it better than other growth lights. Keep your growth space clean and orderly by reducing the clutter of the power cord. Each LED has a 120V 1.5A power socket, which can connect multiple LED lights together. Make full use of the entire illumination range of the SMD 3030 LED, reduce light leakage and transmit the light to a 140° emission angle. Compared with a lamp without a reflector, this can almost double your average rating.

LED vs HPS grow light comparison

When you are shopping for the best LED grow lights and comparing LED lights vs HPS grow lights, LED grow lights win in every test. Not only do LED lights provide the same level of intensity as HPS grow lights, but they also outperform them in most cases. HPS grow lights offer poor circulation while LED lights allow for maximum heat output - with none of the burning heat.

LED grow lights yield 1 to 1.5 grams per watt while HPS lights yield .5 grams per watt of growing product - your yields will be far better when you use LED grow lights.

LED grow lights also last five to ten times as long as 600w HPS setups. They are more versatile and not nearly as bulky as their HPS counterparts. 

What Are the Best LED Grow Lights and How We Picked Them

We ranked the products on our list based on the following criteria: value, power consumption, area coverage, durability, and satisfaction guarantee.

Value
Does the value match the price? Yes, products can be of top quality and still be affordable; a product may look costly but be well worth the price. On the other hand, a cheaper product may look appealing at first, but the quality may be so poor that it simply isn't worth it.

Hence, to give you some peace of mind, we listed only the best companies offering high-quality products that are reasonably priced; those that offered more value generally ranked higher.

Power Consumption
The best LED grow lights reviews will tell you that LED lights consume less power than regular lights, that they are more versatile, and that they are made of eco-friendly materials. In fact, a 200W LED light can easily cover the same area as a traditional 300W MH/HPS light, saving a lot of your hard-earned cash in the process.

Area Coverage
Before you become a master cultivator, you need to consider the size of the place (small room, tent) where you plan on planting your plants. For example, if you use only one light, you should plant around 1–8 seeds. Yet, fear not, as the products on our list offer the best indoor grow lights for plants and offer multiple options when it comes to coverage - from 7.8×7.5 ft to just 3×4 ft.

Durability & Coolness
The average lifespan of a LED bulb is approx 50,000 hours, which translates to around 5 years. The bulb's durability will depend on the heat - hence why every good light has a built-in cooling system.

Some products on our list last for even longer - 100,000 hours (a whopping 10+ years!).

Satisfaction Guarantee
Last but not the least, we considered these criteria carefully while making our LED grow lights review. All products come with a minimum 1-year and a maximum 5-year warranty, followed by a 30- and 90-day refund policy.

Conclusion

To be a thriving plants cultivator you need to take a lot of things into consideration. For instance, do you have enough space? Do you have a specific budget? What kind of LED growing light should you choose?

The first two questions you need to answer yourself. As for the latter, we hope our list of the best LED grow lights did a good job of clearing any uncertainties and doubts you might've had.

Happy growing!