Your outdoor security matters, and there are fewer better ways to illuminate an area than installing bright flood lights of the PAR38 caliber. An efficient flood light shines brightest throughout the night without the risk of blowing off.
The best PAR38 flood light is the Sunco Lighting LED with 2,800 lumens. However, if you’re looking for the ideal PAR38 light to replace your halogen lamp, go for the equally bright LEDVANCE Sylvania Night Chaser. It has a luminous intensity of 2650.
Other energy-saving PAR38 bulbs to consider are:
● Best Colored PAR38 Flood Light: BlueX LED Par38 Flood Red
● Best-Rated PAR38 by Customers: Cree Lighting PAR38 Weatherproof Outdoor Flood
● Best Long-Lasting PAR38: GE Ultra Bright LED Light Bulbs
Above is just a snapshot of the top PAR38 lights for your outdoor area. We’ll discuss them at length below, so join us as we delve deeper into the topic.
What Does PAR Light Stand For?
Let’s start with the basics. What does PAR mean in PAR38, and what does the number represent?
PAR is an acronym for a parabolic aluminized reflector. The bulbs feature a reflector and unique lens that facilitate directional lighting, which is the primary application of the bulbs.
Also, the body is shorter in PAR bulbs than in their BR light bulbs counterparts.
So how do PAR bulbs compare with BR bulbs? Check out the table below:
| PAR Bulbs | BR Bulbs |
| They feature a parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR), have a bowl shape and are relatively less deep than BR lights. | They feature a bulged reflector (BR) to increase the amount of light they dissipate, hence their bulged shape. |
| They have quite a narrow beam angle to facilitate directional lighting. | The bulbs provide relatively wide beam angles. |
| They provide soft light that further features a sharper edge than BR bulbs. They’re more prone to creating shadows than BR bulbs. | They illuminate a soft light to view an extensive area with minimal shadows and limited edges. |
And what about the number that comes after PAR? Well, the number indicates the lamp’s diameter to 1/8ths of an inch. So, for instance, PAR38 means that the lamp measures (1/8 x 38) inches in diameter.
The Top PAR38 Flood Lights in 2023
Best Overall PAR38 Flood Light: Sunco Lighting 2800 Lumens Outdoor LED
We rank this bulb as the top PAR38 flood light primarily because of its out-of-this-world brightness of 2,800 lumens.
Other outstanding features you can’t help but fall in love with are:
● The bulb includes a dimming option. You can set it to your preferred mood and ambiance.
● The bulb is also weatherproof and ideal for rainy nights and any weather you throw at it.
● It also features a UL certification, a mark of its excellent quality over conventional incandescent and CFL lights.
A pair of these bulbs go for $24.99; given their outstanding qualities, they’re worth every penny.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best Halogen Replacement PAR Flood Light: LEDVANCE Sylvania Night Chaser LED PAR38 Light Bulb
Halogen bulbs are good, but LEDs are better.
The LEDVANCE Sylvania Night Chaser is extra bright with a luminous intensity of 2650 lumens. In addition, the bulb further features an Energy Star rating, which further indicates its excellent quality.
- Ultra Bright Halogen Replacement: Illuminate with a best-in-class brightness of 2,650 lumens which makes for an ideal replacement for fragile and short-lived halogen bulbs; offering 40 degree directional angle.
- Ultra Efficient: Energy Star rated, save up to 87% on energy compared to incandescent bulbs with an estimated energy cost of $2.77 a year!
- Innovated to last: Bulbs last a 25,000 hours (that's 22 years, If used 3 hours per day) so forget about climbing ladders to replace hard to reach lighting.
- White Color Temperature: 3000K is closer to natural daylight which makes it a great choice for task lighting and general illumination. It is also UL wet rated for use outdoors for house and yard.
- Dimmable: dim down to 10%, works with compatible LED dimmer switches
Moreover, it yields a 3000K white light temperature, arguably similar to natural daylight. This bulb gives you great illumination at relatively lower energy use than halogen lights.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best-Priced PAR38 Flood Light: Philips 90W Equivalent Bright White (3000K)
This top-ranking PAR 38 flood light has a high luminous flux of 900 lumens.
In addition, you can dim the 90-watt flood light to your liking, which is imperative in saving energy when you don’t want to use it.
Most importantly, the flood light retails cheaply at $19.99 for a pack of two quality bulbs. This is definitely a bargain that’s worth trying out.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best Colored PAR38 Flood Light: BlueX LED PAR38 Flood Red
A colored flood light adds some vibe to your outdoor space. What more perfect way to do it than with the energy-saving red light bulbs from the Bluex Bulbs Store?
It’s an 18W bulb that will save you a lot in terms of electricity costs while at the same time giving you loads of benefits over the average incandescent bulb.
Other outstanding properties of the flood lights include:
● It’s great for creating a celebratory mood during the night.
● The bulb is also perfect for Halloween parties and other celebrations you want to host in your yard.
● Moreover, it emits an illumination of 1,500 lumens that you can always dim to your liking.
● The bulb is a safe alternative to mercury lamps as it won’t release hazardous materials into the atmosphere if it breaks.
● Like all LEDs, this bulb will last longer than any conventional lighting fixture (at least 10,000 hours). So, it significantly saves you immensely on new bulbs.
- Energy-Saving Bulb. Enjoy pure red lighting without the high electric bills. While similar products offers a lower wattage, this 18W bulb (120-watt equivalent) uses less energy and endures longer, making it the perfect replacement to an incandescent light.
- Artistic Lighting Effects. Replace a boring, soft white light with a red christmas bulbs -colored light bulb to bring any party to life. Great for Halloween parties, special occasions and as a nightlight, these bulbs will add a touch of color to any setting, And Dimmable to your comfort.
- High-Performance. Easy to install with an red spotlight bulb E26 base led flood light bulbs, each christmas light bulbs red light bulb emits a whopping, 1500-lumen red light to create a relaxing atmosphere. Unlike most other red bulbs, this one also boasts an adjustable dim feature to deliver the perfect ambiance.
- Safe Alternative. There's no need to worry if a par38 bulb red breaks or about having to recycle it. Unlike fluorescent bulbs, these LED lights do not contain mercury and won't release any hazardous gases into the air.
- Long Lifespan. Save money on replacement costs along with the hassle of changing bulbs in your light fixtures. Each bulb can last up to 10,000 hours, providing long-term use and making it virtually maintenance-free.
Lastly, the bulbs retail in various colors, so you can buy the ones you like for a cost of $24.99 per pack of two.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best PAR38 Flood Light in Customer Reviews: Cree Lighting PAR38 Weatherproof Outdoor Flood
The customer is always right, and this bulb perfectly epitomizes this saying as it has attracted top reviews on Amazon. Why is that so? Check out these key features:
● It has a wattage of 19 watts, so it barely consumes electricity while yielding a light of 1,200 lumens.
● The bulb is also fit for all-weather use as it’s primarily weatherproof.
● It also has a quality white light for outdoor use and can last up to 25,000 hours (quite a lot more than some of the bulbs we’ve covered!)
The bulb also retails cheaply at $9.99 on Amazon, although its primary downside is that it comes in one pack.
- Weather proof for outdoor use
- Exceptional light quality - 90+ high CRI light makes colors appear vibrant, rich & natural
- Long life - 22+ year rated lifetime (lasts over 25, 000 hours)
- Dimmable
- Backed by 10 year, 100% Satisfaction
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best ULTRA LED HO PAR38 Flood Light: SYLVANIA ULTRA LED PAR38
With 25 watts of high-lumen output, the bulb is one of the best PAR38 lights with COB technology. It’s also a top-quality bulb with an Energy Star rating and is CEC California compliant.
You should also invest in it if you’re looking for a long-lasting PAR38 lamp, as it can take up to five years before replacing it.
Further features of this top-rated bulb include an E26 medium base, a brightness of 2,500 lumens, and a CRI of 81. It’s one of the best bulbs for flood lights and outdoor lighting applications.
The all-weather bulb also comes at a relatively affordable price of $15.99. However, unlike the rest of the flood lights we’ve covered, it’s not dimmable.
- This ULTRA LED HO PAR38 lamp delivers 25W of exceptionally high lumen output along with outstanding color uniformity and 15 degree beam quality utilizing COB technology.
- Energy star and wet-rated, this bulb offers a lifetime up to 25,000 hours backed by our 5-year promise. Take advantage of cost savings at an annual cost of only $3.01!
- Designed with an E26 medium base, this bulb produces 2500 lumens of brightness with a 81 CRI, making it ideal for spotlights, downlights, and bright general lighting.
- Developed with a color temperature of 3000K of white brightness and up to 100 LPW. 277 volts allows compatible replacement for HID lamps.
- Rated for use in enclosed fixtures. CEC California compliant. Please note this product is non-dimmable.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best ECO LED PAR38 Flood Light: SYLVANIA ECO LED PAR38 Light Bulb
Why use the 90-watt incandescent lamps that suck up 10 times more energy than these two bulbs that require just 14 watts to produce 1,000 lumens? These are arguably the top energy-saving option, primarily because of their limited power use but also because they’re long-lasting.
Each bulb can last up to 7,700 hours and is easy to install, unlike conventional bulbs, thanks to their E26 screw base.
Nonetheless, they are not dimmable. You cannot buy them if you’re in California, as Amazon doesn’t ship them there.
- Long-Lasting: This 2-pack of 7 year LED lamps make an energy-efficient replacement and substitute for standard 90 watt incandescent lamps; At 14 watts, each bulb emits the bright light output of 1,000 lumens.
- Cost Savings: These bulbs are a great energy-saving replacement for old incandescent bulbs because each lamp has a total lifespan of up to 7,700 hours. Estimated yearly cost of only $1.69!
- Energy Savings: These 14W LED lightbulbs require less energy and can save money on your energy bill. Each soft white light bulb works as a great replacement for old 90 watts incandescent bulbs
- Design: These bulbs produce 3000K of warm white color and 1000 lumens of brightness. With a standard E26 screw base, easily replace traditional bulbs for quick and easy installation to start saving today.
- Please note that this bulb is non-dimmable and does not ship to California.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best Long Lasting PAR38: GE Ultra Bright LED Light Bulbs
Now listen to this; these bulbs by GE can last up to 22 years. Sounds far-fetched, right? Well, it’s true if you limit their use to three hours daily.
That’s quite impractical, considering these are outdoor use bulbs you leave on all night.
So are they genuinely long-lasting? GE is a top electronics manufacturer, and while these bulbs may not reach the lifetime that the company claims, there’s no doubt they’ll outlast the others on this list.
Moreover, they’re dimmable, which increases their lifetime. The lights are also somewhat shatter-resistant.
They are also the brightest PAR38 bulbs we’ve covered so far, yielding 3,000 lumens from a wattage of just 32 watts.
- 250 Watt replacement using only 32 Watts (3000 lumens)
- Rated to last 22 years based on 3 hours per day use
- Saves 599 dollars on energy costs per bulb vs. 250-Watt PAR38 halogen over the bulb's life
- Dimmable and works with most dimmer switches
- Warm white light/3000 Kelvin color temperature
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best Pack PAR38 Flood Lights: Sunco Lighting PAR38 LED Flood Light Outdoor Bulb
Does the number of lights per pack matter to you? If they do, these Sunco outdoor bulbs are the ideal choice for you. A pack of the lights has six dimmable, all-weather bulbs for outdoor use.
You can install them in your driveway, garage, or other outoor area requiring a narrow-beam-angle light.
Moreover, they have the Energy Star and UL certifications as proof of their excellent quality.
The bulbs also come with a five-year warranty.
- Top Rated Dimmable PAR38 LED Bulbs / Spotlights, Fits 6” Cans
- ✅ BRIGHT LIKE STADIUM LIGHTS - Our PAR38 LED bulbs can brighten up to 2,500 sqft with our wide beam angle (90°) feature. These security-like lights are too bright for strangers to go undecteded, and they are especially great for lighting your driveway or backyard!
- ✅ EASY INSTALLATION & WEATHERPROOF - With our industry standard E26 base (Medium Edison Screw) bulb, you can effortlessly install into various lighting fixtures (e.g. recessed, track, can, flood). These high-quality waterproof bulbs can withstand even rain and snow thanks to our shatter-resistant and durable tight construction technology.
- ✅ DIMMING OPTION FOR POTENTIAL INDOOR USE - Create an inviting ambiance using our seamless dimmable capabilities (10%-100%) to match your desired mood. Our floodlight bulbs feature softened edge shadows and activate instantly with the lastest LED flicker-free techonolgy for maximum eye comfort.
- ✅ REDUCE YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL - Replace your old incandescent, halogen, or fluorescent light bulbs and save up to $225 per year on energy costs thanks to our low wattage (13W, 100W equivalent), UL certified LED bulbs that lasts up to 25,000 hours!
Where to Buy: Amazon
Best Decorative PAR38 Flood Lights: LOXYEE PAR38 LED Flood Blue Light Bulbs
These LOXYEE PAR38 bulbs are the go-to lights if you’re looking for the perfect outdoor decorative lights. They’re available in a variety of colors, including orange, green, and blue.
Although non-dimmable, the bulbs use just 20 watts to yield a luminous intensity enough to replace several traditional incandescent bulbs. They are also long-lasting and thus will save you a lot in new bulb acquisition costs.
Nonetheless, each differently colored bulb has a unique price, so you must consult the seller on the price depending on the type you want. Besides this, they’re the best decorative PAR38 bulbs in the market.
- 【Halloween Decorations】:Blue flood lights will create a festive atmosphere for your Halloween, as can blue LED lights for your Christmas,making your home more beautiful during the festival.Christmas outdoor decorations
- 【Energy-Efficient】:20W Blue Outdoor Halloween Lights Bulbs enjoys bright lighting while 85% less energy consumption to save your electric bills
- 【Long Lifespan】:Blue light extremely long lifespan ,virtually maintenance-free,largely reduce the frequency of replacing bulb and save money on replacement
- 【High-Performance】:Colored light bulbs will light up with a comfortable blue light, High lumen blue light illuminates a large area. The bulbs also feature adjustable dimming for the perfect ambience.
- 【 E26 Standard Socket】: Blue flood light bulbs can be installed indoor or outdoor,fit for which was standard E26 base
Where to Buy: Amazon
Bestselling PAR38 LED Bulbs
Aside from the list above of what we found to be best, I’m only one person. The people have spoken, so I wanted to also include the list of the five bestselling PAR38 LED bulbs on Amazon as well:
- Long-Lasting: This 2-pack of 7 year LED lamps make an energy-efficient replacement and substitute for standard 90 watt incandescent lamps; At 14 watts, each bulb emits the bright light output of 1,000 lumens.
- Cost Savings: These bulbs are a great energy-saving replacement for old incandescent bulbs because each lamp has a total lifespan of up to 7,700 hours. Estimated yearly cost of only $1.69!
- Energy Savings: These 14W LED lightbulbs require less energy and can save money on your energy bill. Each soft white light bulb works as a great replacement for old 90 watts incandescent bulbs
- Design: These bulbs produce 3000K of warm white color and 1000 lumens of brightness. With a standard E26 screw base, easily replace traditional bulbs for quick and easy installation to start saving today.
- Please note that this bulb is non-dimmable and does not ship to California.
- Includes (2) Philips LED Indoor/Outdoor Non-Dimmable PAR38 40-Degree Flood Light Bulb
- Philips LED bulbs offer the comfort and security you need, with the benefits of long life and energy savings you want
- Light appearance: Bright White (3000 K) - Brightness: 900 Lumens
- ideal for use in kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms.
- Long-lasting, energy efficient LED PAR38 flood light replacement for a 90W halogen bulb, lasting 4 times longer and using 13W to illuminate 1175 lumens of daylight illumination
- Average rated life of 11,000 hours means less time replacing light bulbs and a lifespan of 10 years.
- These bulbs can be used in indoor and outdoor, closed applications & are wet rated.
- RoHS compliant bulb, emitting zero mercury, lead or other hazardous materials.
- Instant On: No warm up time required.
- These PAR light bulbs have 1,275 Lumens - 100 Watt equivalent that uses only 15 Watts of energy making them energy and cost efficient.
- Suitable for use both indoor and outdoor in all weather making these the ideal bulb for your kitchen, living room or bedroom can lights to your garage, home, backyard flood lights.
- This 40 degree beam spread flood light has an E26 standard base allowing you to easily screw it into your existing home fixtures.
- 3000K Warm White with 90 CRI for true color rendering. This dimmable bulb allows you to easily choose the right illumination for your needs and will save you over $250 in energy and bulb replacement costs.
- This PAR 38 is backed by Maxxima with a 3-year warranty, UL Approved and Energy Star Rated.
Final Thoughts
Now you have a comprehensive list of the top PAR38 flood lights for outdoor illumination.
Of importance is to choose the bulb that best fits your needs. Also, when gauging the bulb’s brightness on any day, use the luminous intensity rather than watts.
