Library · Light & photoperiod
Fixture Comparison.
Grow Light Fixture Comparison
Compare grow lights by PPF, PPE, coverage, price, and tunability across hobby to commercial scales.
PPE benchmark guide
| PPE (μmol/J) | Tier | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0+ | Industry-leading | Top-end Fluence, Heliospectra, Gavita; latest LM301H EVO+ designs |
| 2.7-3.0 | Premium commercial | Fluence VYPR 3p, Gavita 1700e, ChilLED |
| 2.5-2.7 | Solid commercial | Most modern commercial LED fixtures |
| 2.2-2.5 | Mid-tier / older premium | Older commercial; current prosumer bars |
| 1.8-2.2 | Hobby quality LED | Mars Hydro, Spider Farmer flagship |
| 1.5-1.8 | Cheap LED / older HID | Budget Amazon LED; HID with older ballasts |
| 1.3-1.5 | HPS / older LED | 1000W HPS DE; 600W HPS legacy |
| <1.3 | Low quality / inefficient | "Burple" lights; very old technology |
DLC QPL listing
The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) maintains a Horticultural Qualified Products List (QPL). Fixtures on the list:
- Have third-party verified specs (PPF, PPE, lifetime, beam pattern)
- Are eligible for utility rebates in many jurisdictions (often 25-50% off purchase price)
- Meet minimum efficacy thresholds for the QPL category they're listed in
- Include warranty + service standards
For commercial purchases, prefer DLC-listed. The third-party verification eliminates marketing-spec inflation, and the rebate dramatically reduces effective purchase price.
Free under CC BY 4.0. Cite as "OAT Fixture Comparison Tool (openagriculturetechnology.com)". Specs from public manufacturer datasheets and DLC QPL where applicable; verify before purchase.