Which Light Bulbs Work With Dimmer Switches (2024)

Getting the right light bulbs that work with dimmer switches is important if you want to add dimmers to your home or business. Most light bulbs will work with a dimmer switch, but you will want to be careful to pick the right light bulbs. Some lightbulbs are incompatible with these energy-saving switches, so it’s important you swap out these bulbs before installing your dimmer switch.

Changing to a dimmer switch can help you save money on your monthly power bill and make it much easier to control the lighting in your home or office spaces. People prone to headaches or eye strain will welcome the chance to work in comfort and you will also find that you can control the mood of your home or business space much more effectively with dimmer switches.

As a rule of thumb, nearly all incandescent light bulbs are compatible with dimmers. Incandescent light bulbs are the traditional ones where you can see the filament inside.

The places where you might run into trouble are LED bulbs. There are various kinds of these bulbs that do not work with a dimmer switch. In many cases, LED light bulbs cannot be dimmed as low as the dimmer switch allows with incandescent bulbs. This is because LED bulbs often do not have the right wattage capabilities to work with the dimmer switch.

What is a Dimmer Switch?

A dimmer switch is a light switch that allows you to control the amount of wattage that is flowing to the bulbs that are connected to it. This means that you can make the lights as dim or bright as you wish. You can control the light in a room with a dimmer switch very carefully which can be useful for a whole variety of reasons.

The switch inside a dimmer switch controls the amount of resistance to the circuit which in turn changes the brightness of the lights attached to it without making the light flicker.

Dimmer switches cannot alter the color of the light that is being emitted, but they can greatly reduce the glare and brightness of the light that is being produced in a space.

These are common light switches that can easily be added to your office or home. You probably have seen these switches before, even if you have never installed them in your own home or business. Dimmer switches are a simple solution to install in your home to save money on power and to help with eye strain and other issues that might impact your comfort while at work or watching TV.

Benefits of Using a Dimmer Switch with Light Bulbs

Dimmer switches offer many benefits for your home or business use. Dimmers can also provide health, money-saving, and comfort-based benefits. If you have been pondering if this solution will help you to be more comfortable in your home, you need to check out these benefits of using dimmer switches:

Dimmer Switch Will Dim the Lights and Save Money

Dimmer switches can save you money on your power bill each month because dimmed lights will not use as much power. This is a simple and effective way to keep costs low when you spend a lot of time in a room during the daytime and just need a little extra illumination for your comfort.

Many spaces in homes or businesses do not need the full power to be delivered to the lights in the space, especially when there’s sunlight coming through the windows. Adding dimmer switches to your home or business can save you as much as 40% on your power bill each year. One of the other added benefits of using this kind of switch in your home is that your light bulbs will last much longer since they are not being used with the full current of power every day. You will find that most kinds of lights will have a longer shelf life when used with a dimmer, although LED lighting already offers many years of usable life and might not be as positively impacted by the use of a dimmer switch.

Installing Lights with Dimmer Switches Can Improve Your Eye Comfort

For those prone to headaches, migraines, or eye strain, installing dimmer switches can be a big benefit. Overhead lights can cause glare on TV screens and computer screens and can cause you to slightly squint all day without realizing it. You might also feel more at peace when the light is not so bright, which can help reduce the tension that can lead to headaches and other health concerns.

During the brightest part of the day or the summer, you might not need the full power of your lights due to the ambient light in the room. Enjoying more natural lighting is really good for your health and your vision as a whole, and dimmer switches can make it simple to access these benefits.

Improved Aesthetics by Using Dimmer Switches with Light Bulbs

The mood of a room can be significantly changed when you choose to use a dimmer switch for your light switches. You will be able to create a much lower light for a calmer mood or you can turn up the lights to help feel awake and energetic when needed.

Dimmer lights are commonly used in spaces like spas and other areas that might require lighting that fits a certain mood. You can create this kind of mood-friendly light in your own living space when you chose to use dimmer lights. These changes to lighting can make other parts of the room more comforting in appearance as well, and might even be part of your overall design to change the way a certain room is used and experienced.

Using Dimmer Switches for Bulbs Are Better for TV or Movie Rooms

Flat-screen TVs and projected images can be hard to see when there is too much light shining on them. Glare and other kinds of light interruptions can make your time watching a movie or TV uncomfortable or frustrating. When you have dimmer switches installed, you can turn the lights down much lower so that the glare vanishes, or turn the lights off as needed. This can make a movie room or your living room a much more enjoyable space to watch TV and movies every day.

Common Types of Light Bulbs That Work With Dimmer Switches

LED Light Bulbs Can Work With Dimmer Switches

LED light bulbs are becoming increasingly common. You should be able to tell immediately that the lights you are attempting to buy are LED lights because the packaging will say so. The brightness of the light might also be a good indicator that the light is an LED. Bright, white light is almost always only possible with an LED light. The packaging should also tell you if they are made to work with dimmer switches. Most LED lights will work with these switches, but you should never assume that this is the case.

You will also need to be sure that the dimmer that you are looking at buying will work with the LED light bulbs in question. Matching these details is important to make certain that your lights and switch will be compatible. The packaging should tell you all that you need to know about the requirements for both items.

If you already have dimmer switches installed, but they are older, they are not likely to work with LED lighting. If you are making the upgrade to LED lights, you should usually plan to just replace both items at the same time to prevent issues with incompatibility.

Dimmer Switches Work Very Well with Incandescent Lights

Dimmer switches work very well with these lights and nearly every kind of incandescent light bulb will work with a dimmer. These lights emit a soft, golden, or yellow kind of light which can be a nice choice for living spaces or areas where you would not want to have a bright, white light at any time. Incandescent bulbs are almost always immediately recognizable since they are the traditional lighting style that is most familiar to many people.

These light bulbs will be made of glass except for the metal bit that is plugged or screwed into a light fixture. These light bulbs also show the tell-tale filament in the middle of them which is the item that generates the light when the switch they are connected to is turned on. These lights also emit heat, which is not a feature of the use of LED lighting.

If you are concerned that you are not sure what incandescent bulbs look like when compared to CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) bulbs, remember that CFL will emit greenish light and that these bulbs are almost always curly in shape. CFL lights that are not curly will show a tube inside of them rather than a filament.

Fluorescent (CFL) Lights Can Work With Dimmer Switches

CFL light bulbs are not as commonly used. They are more common in large business buildings or outdoor spaces that need bright lighting. CFL lights will be clearly called out on their packaging, and you should be able to see if the lightbulb that you are holding can be used with a dimmer. Most of these lights cannot be used with a dimmer due to their design.

CFL lights are typically curly in shape, or they will show a tube where the filament would be in an incandescent bulb. They also emit a light that is slightly green and quite bright. The kind of light these bulbs cast is not like the light shed by incandescent bulbs or LED lights.

How to Tell if a Light Bulb is Dimmable?

Light bulb packaging will give you a lot of information about the product inside the box. You will be able to see if the light bulb can be used with a dimmer switch and some companies also include the information that you need about the kinds of dimmer that can be used with the bulb as well. If you are not able to see these specifics on the box, you can look up the product number online and see more information about it with ease.

Another good resource to verify this information is a worker at the home improvement or lighting store that you are shopping in. You will be able to get a lot of information about the light bulb products that you are shopping for by tapping into the knowledge of the salespeople at the store. When shopping online, you can easily use buyer’s guides to find the right pairing of lighting and dimmer switches as well if you want to be sure that you are getting the right products for your needs.If you have light bulbs that are not labeled in any way, you can try to use them with your dimmer switches and see if they work. It is usually far easier to just get new products if you are making the switch to dimmer light switches. This makes it much less likely that you will have issues with your dimmer switch and lighting.

Will My Existing Light Bulbs Work With a Dimmer Switch?

If you have lighting that is already installed and you think it might be compatible with a new dimmer switch, you will want to verify this information.

Your lighting is not compatible with your dimmer switch if the lights cut off at certain points along with the range of the dimmer’s control options. If fixtures are brightening suddenly or dimming abruptly, this is also a sign that the bulb and dimmer are not compatible as well. Lights that do not respond to the changes that you make to the dimmer switch are also not compatible with the switch.

Be careful to immediately turn off your dimmer switch if you hear buzzing or humming from your lights. You will also want to turn off the dimmer if the lights are flickering rapidly.

Can I Install a Dimmer Switch For Light Bulb on My Own?

The process of installing a dimmer switch is not that hard. Remember that having an expert take care of this process can be easier for you. There are some risks associated with installing a dimmer switch on your own. If it is not installed properly, it could cause a fire or other electrical hazard. It is always best to consult with a professional electrician before installing a dimmer switch because they can help you choose the right dimmer for your light bulbs and make sure it is installed correctly.

Potential Dangers of Light Bulbs on Dimmer Switches

Some risks are associated with using light bulbs that are incompatible with your dimmer switch. You will find that in most cases, the dimmer and lights will just not perform correctly when they are paired up. However, in some cases, incandescent lights can be destroyed by the fluctuations of power that the dimmer is sending to them or you might end up with blown fuses and other electrical issues. The incorrect pairing of dimmers and light bulbs can also lead to the switch drawing far more power than it is supposed to and causing a fire hazard.

Remember that you should always get help from an electrician or power expert if you are not sure about doing your own light switch to dimmer switch swap. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry if you are not sure about the way that these switches work. You can cause risky situations by accident when you do not install these items correctly in your home or business.

EPB Energy ProsSM can help you make educated energy decisions and help you find a trustworthy electrician to install dimmer switches in your home. Schedule your free consultation for energy advice and a comprehensive, no-charge home energy checkup.