Three unlabeled clear glass bulbs of different shapes resting on a linen cloth beside an opal glass fan shade

Choosing ceiling fan light bulbs

Check the fixture first, then the bulb.

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Maximum wattage

NFPA says the bulbs in your lights should match what is safe for the fixture, and that there should be a sticker showing the maximum wattage. The CPSC says bulbs of too high a wattage can cause overheating.

The bulb your fan takes

Your fan's manual or the light kit label names the bulb it takes, including the base. Match it exactly, and ask the maker if it is not listed.

Brightness and color

ENERGY STAR says to look for lumens, not watts, and uses the Kelvin scale for light color. → `/guides/lumens-vs-watts` and `/guides/color-temperature-guide`

Dimming

ENERGY STAR says that for dimmable lighting in a ceiling fan, you should use dimmer switches compatible with LED lights, and that ENERGY STAR bulbs and fixtures show dimming information on the package.

Changing a bulb

Turn the light off and let the bulb cool; NFPA says bulbs can get very hot. Follow the manual for the glass. If a fixture flickers, buzzes, or smells hot, stop using it and call a licensed electrician.

Before you buy a bulb. What NFPA and ENERGY STAR say.

Sources: NFPA, Electrical Safety Checklist (PDF); CPSC, Guide to Home Wiring Hazards (PDF); ENERGY STAR, Ceiling Fans Made Easy (PDF); Hunter Fan, Warrant Ceiling Fan Installation Manual (PDF). Brand names belong to their owners. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

FAQ

Can I use a brighter bulb?

More lumens can be fine, but never more watts than the fixture label allows.

What about built-in LED lights?

One maker's manual describes an LED light kit module. Your manual says what can be replaced.

General information only. Ceiling fans and light fixtures are electrical equipment. Hire a licensed electrician for any installation, wiring, electrical box, switch, or light kit work, and follow the fan maker's manual and your local electrical code. Before cleaning, changing a bulb, or checking a fan, turn it off and let the blades stop and the bulbs cool; turn off power at the circuit breaker before any work near the fan's wiring. Use a stable ladder, and if you are not comfortable working overhead, call a pro. Never use a bulb above the maximum wattage marked on the fixture. If a fan or light flickers, buzzes, smells hot, or trips a breaker, stop using it and call a licensed electrician.

A dim room on the left half and the same room brightly lit on the right

Lumens vs watts

Brightness, not power.

A row of four identical frosted globes glowing from warm amber to cool daylight white against a dark plaster wall

Color temperature, explained

Warm to cool, in kelvin.

A ceiling fan with a branched three-arm light kit with frosted shades glowing warmly above a dining table

Ceiling fan light kits, explained

Branched, bowl, uplight.

Next: lumens vs watts