Your guide to B22 LED bulbs

The classic ‘bayonet’ fitting lamp - the single bulb you’re guaranteed to find in every home across the country. But the questions is are you really clued up about LED bayonet bulbs? If not, you’ve landed on the right article - you’ll be surprised by the differences.

What is a B22 LED bulb?

B22 bulbs have the classic bayonet base fitting, which features two ‘mounts’ on either side of the bulb. This is also known as a ‘standard’ bayonet fitting and is the most common in the UK. Make sure you don’t get confused with B15 bayonet fittings that are smaller and less common.

LED B22 bulbs are identical to the B22 bulbs you’re used to buying in the shop. The main differences to consider is the energy saving potential, longevity and light quality of LED B22s. They will reduce energy consumption by up to 90%, which is massive when you consider lighting is the second highest consumer of energy in your home. Add to that a 25,000 lifespan that is 20 times longer than your standard incandescent or halogen B22, and you can see the real value for money.

What wattage do I need?

Think wattage is a sure-fire measurement of brightness? Well, think again… When it comes measuring the level of brightness in a B22 LED, you need to consider ‘lumen’ value. For example, a 4.5W B22 LED bulb with 350 lumens will produce a brightness similar to that of a 50W halogen B22. The important difference is that the LED will consume a tenth of the energy. It’s also worth noting how beam angle effects brightness. A narrower beam angle (of 45° or less) produces a more concentrated, and thus brighter, light. At LEDHut we specify the rough wattage-lumen equivalents to help you make a decision.

Which colour light is best for me?

B22 LED bulbs come in different colours too. These colours are measured in Kelvins. The lower the Kelvin, the warmer the light, the higher the Kelvin, the cooler the light. You can choose from Cool White, Warm White and Daylight colours. Where you use these colours is entirely up to you. If you want an idea, many customers use Warm White for cosy living areas, Cool White for bathrooms, while Daylight offers a happy medium. You can learn more about colour options here to see how they could look in your home.

Will I need an electrician? Nope. You can pop B22 LED bulbs into any standard bayonet fitting.

Can I purchase dimmable B22s?

You can indeed. They only cost a little extra and the best bit is that they can be used with most 3rd party dimmer switches. However, for optimum performance, we advise trailing edge and inductive dimmer switches.

What beam angle do I need?

The beam angle is basically the width of the beam of light that comes from the bulb. It’s measured in degrees and a wider beam angle covers more space with light. Your choice of beam angle, like colour variant, is completely down to you. As a guide, we’d advise using wider beam angles in living spaces where many people are gathered round. Narrow beam angles, on the other hand, are often used for decorative purposes or areas where you need focus.

How much will a B22 cost me?

First off, there’s a myth that LED bulbs are expensive - this is a massive misconception. Yes, the initial cost is higher than that of a halogen, CFL or incandescent, but you’ll get that money back on your energy bills quickly. Not to mention LEDs last longer (20 times longer in fact), which means you won’t be replacing them anywhere nearly as often. B22s are priced between £6 to £9 and can vary depending on brightness and style.