5 Best LED Grow Lights 2024 (Cannabis Yields, Speed, & LED Bud Quality)

Last updated Jan 06, 2024

by Nebula Haze


Table of Contents

Intro to the Best LED Grow Lights for Weed

  1. Spider Farmer SF Series (Best Budget LEDs)
  2. Horticulture Lighting Group (Best Yields)
  3. HLG R-Spec Series (Best THC Production)
  4. Custom LED Mix (Most Customizable)
  5. Mars Hydro (Best 300W Budget Light)

 

Did you know that in 2024 LED grow lights can increase your cannabis yield by 30% or more compared to old-tech generic LED grow lights? Cheap LEDs are cheap for a reason. But honestly, there’s never been a better time to grow weed indoors than 2024. In fact, the best LED grow lights available today are more effective at growing weed than even the best LEDs from 1-2 years ago. Modern LED grow lights are getting tested on live cannabis plants, which results in huge speedy improvements in cannabis LED grow light technology. If you are looking for an LED grow lights review by professional cannabis growers, you’ve come to the perfect tutorial! This regularly-updated 2024 LED grow light review page focuses on how to choose LED grow lights in order to get the best cannabis yields, growth, and bud potency (maximize THC) so you produce top-shelf bud quality every harvest. These reviews are based on my LED experience and results.

Note: Avoid generic LEDs from Alibaba and eBay, as well as used LEDs. At least, avoid them if you want to be impressed by your next harvest. The specific model of LED you choose affects your cannabis yields, appearance, and even the THC levels in your buds! 

LEDs grow magnificent cannabis plants indoors without much heat or electricity. Today you’ll learn about some of the best LED grow lights for cannabis plants in 2024.

LEDs grow magnificent cannabis plants indoors without much heat or electricity. Today you'll learn about some of the best LED grow lights for cannabis plants in 2023.

History: Until just a few years ago, most LED grow light improvements for marijuana plants came from experimental DIY LEDs created by home growers wiring their own lights. When I first started growing cannabis in 2008, it could take years for LED grow light companies to catch on. But that has all changed. LED grow lights have easily overtaken HPS and other HIDs as the best cannabis grow light for nearly all home growers. Although there are some situations where alternatives like LECs or HPS are a great choice (for example in a cold space where the heat of the lights is a positive thing, or if you’re making concentrates and want to use special bulbs to increase trichome production and terpene levels/smells), generally most home growers will be happiest with LEDs. On top of the improving grow light technology, the cultivation of weed has been legalized in multiple parts of the US and other parts of the world including Canada and Thailand. If you want to grow weed, now is the time!

Why LED Grow Lights for Weed Plants?

There are multiple types of grow lights, but LEDs are the best option for most cannabis growers because of their efficiency and custom spectrums.

  • More light, less heat – LEDs produce more light and less heat, watt-for-watt, than cannabis grow lights that use bulbs (like HPS, LECs, or fluorescent lights)
  • Make plants more heat-resistant – Not only do LEDs physically run cooler, cannabis plants grown under LEDs actually prefer warmer temperatures. That means LEDs are the perfect grow light to deal with heat (a common challenge for growers). If your grow space gets warm, LEDs are your best grow light choice when it comes to cannabis plants.
  • Use less electricity – If you choose the best LEDs for your cannabis grow space, you will produce more weed for less electricity, saving money on your electricity bill every month.
  • Best yields – In my side-by-side grows using clones, modern LEDs produce higher yields than other types of grow lights for the amount of electricity used.
  • Colorful buds – LEDs tend to bring out colors like pink and purple on buds and leaves. Although some strains will stay green no matter what, many strains have the ability to turn color in certain environmental conditions. LEDs will almost always bring out colors in those strains especially as plants approach harvest.
  • Higher bud potency – In smoke tests and lab tests, some LED models seem to produce stronger bud potency. When smoked the effects feel stronger, and when buds are sent to the lab they often test for higher THC than plants grown in identical conditions with grow lights like HPS and LECs.

I test new LEDs on cannabis plants regularly, and every year the rate of improvement on new LEDs seems to be speeding up. I continue to be impressed with new models. It may come as a shock to us old-timers who were underwhelmed by older LED technology, but new LEDs have fairly won the title of “best cannabis grow light” for home growers. Today, I’m going to share some of the best LED grow lights for cannabis in 2024 so you can harness that power in your own grow.

Modern LEDs like this HLG LED grow light make dense heavy cannabis buds with excellent yields.

Modern LEDs like this HLG LED grow light make dense heavy cannabis buds with excellent yields.

 

5 Best LED Grow Lights for Cannabis Plants (2024 List)

Some LEDs are far better than others for growing cannabis, and the “best” LEDs change constantly. Since I used my first LED grow light in 2008, the top LEDs companies have changed drastically. Many of the old popular LED companies aren’t even around anymore.

If you’ve got older LEDs, maybe your 2024 gift to yourself should be upgrading to something new. The LED choices are better than ever as more and more people figure out ways to tweak LEDs to produce even more yields and better cannabis bud quality.

Today, the best LED grow lights for cannabis obliterate the results of the worst LED grow lights. The challenge for the grower is figuring out which models to avoid and which LEDs work the best. After tests with real cannabis plants, we’ve narrowed down the 2024 list to the 5 best LED grow lights for growing weed.

  1. Spider Farmer SF Series (Best Budget Lights)
  2. Horticulture Lighting Group  (Best Yields)
  3. HLG R-Spec Series (Best THC Production)
  4. Custom LED Mix (Most Customizable)
  5. Mars Hydro (Best 300W Budget Light)

 


 

1.) Spider Farmer (Best Budget Light)

Spider Farmer (official website) is a sleeper. If you’re not sure which grow light to get and the cost is an issue, get one of these lights. They’re not perfect but are well constructed, don’t need any setup, are easy to use, and cannabis plants grow fast. I’ve tried multiple models in the SF series, and they get surprisingly great yields for a small amount of electricity. I was impressed with these lights even after using more expensive LED models.

A grow featuring the Spider Farmer SF-2000 (buds are amazingly fat at just day 28 of flowering)

Spider Farmer SF-1000

  • Price: $150
  • Grow Space: Perfect for a 2’x2′ grow tent or closet
  • Actual Power Consumption: 100W at full power, and can be dimmed. This light uses the least electricity on this list but still produces hefty buds.
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 18″ for the vegetative stage. 12-18″ away in the flowering stage (keep as close as 12″ away but if top leaves appear pale from light stress, move to 18″ away)
  • Average Yields: 2-4+ oz – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do will make a huge difference in your final yields.

Spider Farmer SF-1000 – up to 4+ oz

I grew this plant under the SF-1000 in a tiny 2’x2’x4′ grow tent. Check out the grow journal here.

Chasb40 said this about the SF-1000: “Loving the light, plants are as well. Solid build and I don’t have to worry about hot temps in my tent, much cooler than the older blurple LEDs…and quieter.”

 

Spider Farmer SF-2000

  • Price: $230 (2’x4′ rectangle version) or (3’x3′ square version)
  • Grow Space: Perfect for a 2’x4′ or 3’x3′ grow tent or closet (choose the version that matches the size of your grow space)
  • Actual Power Consumption: 200W at full power, and can be dimmed for younger plants. Its low power consumption is another reason this is a great budget grow light.
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 20-24″ for the vegetative stage. 18-24″ away in the flowering stage (keep as close as 18″ away but if top leaves appear pale from light stress, move to 24″ away)
  • Average Yields: 5-10+ oz – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do will make a huge difference in your final yields.

Spider Farmer SF-2000 (2’x4′ version) – up to 10+ oz

Spider Farmer SF-2000 (3’x3′ version) – up to 10+ oz

I grew these plants with an SF-2000 in a 2’x4′ grow tent, which produced over 10 ounces of buds. Here’s the grow journal.

Janelle’s results on her first cannabis grow (three SF-2000s in a 5’x5′ grow tent)

Spider Farmer SF-4000

  • Price: $395
  • Grow Space: Perfect for a 4’x4′ or 5’x5′ grow tent or space
  • Actual Power Consumption: 450W at full power and can be dimmed.
    • Note: No front-facing dimmer. You have to unscrew the driver from the board, and then you’ll see the dimmer.
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 24″ for the vegetative stage. 18-24″ away in the flowering stage (keep as close as 18″ away but if top leaves appear pale from light stress, move to 24″ away)
  • Average Yields: 10-20 oz+ – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do will make a huge difference in your final yields.
    • Note: the SF-4000 light can get quite hot compared to the other Spider Farmer LEDs. Unless growing in a particularly cold grow space, you will probably need an exhaust fan or AC to control the heat from this light. Keep the temperature between 75-85°F (24-30°C) when lights are on to get the best yields.

Spider Farmer SF-4000 – up to 20+ oz

“Very nice little 450w lights indeed! My buddy’s little medical garden did very well and produced very high quality medicine. 1.91grams per watt, organic notill beds. Strains were, blackberry Kush, GG4, 501st OG, and a special cultivar called Pineapple Dreamwreck.” ~Robert

 


 

2.) HLG – Horticulture Lighting Group (Best Yields)

Horticulture Lighting Group (HLG – official website) made a mark in the LED world with its line of “quantum boards” released in 2016. These quantum boards were based on hobbyist lights that cannabis growers designed and constructed. HLG has been a leader in LED grow lights for cannabis ever since, and I’ve noticed that all the other LED grow light companies copy their best-performing LEDs. HLG regularly releases new form factors, like the Blackbird, R-spec series, and the Diablo series listed here. On the one hand, I like that they’re constantly innovating, but they do occasionally stop producing awesome light models for seemingly no reason, so the downside is that you should buy the light you want because it may not be around forever. HLG lights are tested on real cannabis plants and in my experience, get some of the best yields per watt of any LED grow lights currently available.

Features of the HLG LED grow lights for growing cannabis:

  • Outstanding yields with long, dense buds
  • Excellent bud potency and quality
  • Fast vegetative and flowering growth (great growth speed from seed to harvest)
  • These are some of the best LED grow lights for cannabis for the biggest yields

 

HLG 350R Quantum Board – this is an even better version of the now-discontinued HLG BlackWing (which was an excellent 225W grow light).

  • Price: $550
  • Grow Space: The rectangular shape makes this model perfect for a 2’x4′ or 3’x5′ grow tent or closet.
  • Actual Power Consumption: 330W at full power, and can be dimmed down to 60W for younger plants
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 20-24″ for the vegetative stage. 16-24″ away in the flowering stage.
  • Average Yields: 8-14+ ounces – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do will make a huge difference in your final yields. This LED model has performed better than most others in this size.

HLG 350R Quantum Board (for a 2’x4′ grow tent) – up to 14+ oz

The 350R has a big empty space in the middle third of the panel, with many ultra-bright lights on the two outer thirds. HLG found this increases the diffusion of light, which results in better plant coverage and deeper penetration into the plants.

 

HLG Blackbird (for a 4’x4′ grow tent)

  • Price: $700
  • Grow Space: Perfect for a 4’x4′ grow tent or closet (specifically designed to fit in a 4’x4′ grow space)
  • Actual Power Consumption: 600W at full power, and can be dimmed for younger plants
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 22-28″ for the vegetative stage. 20-28″ away in the flowering stage (keep as close as 18″ away but if top leaves appear pale from light stress, move to 24″ away)
  • Average Yields: 14-24 oz+ (note: 24 oz is 1.5 lbs) – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do will make a huge difference in your final yields.

The HLG Blackbird LED grow light is particularly and thoughtfully designed to be optimal when used in a 4’x4′ grow tent. A better choice for a 4’x4′ grow tent than other LEDs by HLG in this wattage range, like the overly powerful HLG Scorpian Diablo, which tends to be better suited to a grow room or commercial grow.

HLG Blackbird (for a 4’x4′ grow tent) – up to 24+ ounces

The Blackbird LED light is thin and lightweight

 

HLG Scorpion Diablo (for a 5’x5′ grow tent or larger)

  • Price: $1300
  • Grow Space: Perfect for a 5’x5′ grow tent or bigger (also excellent in a grow room or for a commercial grow).
  • Actual Power Consumption: 630W at full power, and can be dimmed for younger plants
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 22-28″ for the vegetative stage. 18-28″ away in the flowering stage (keep as close as 18″ away but if top leaves appear pale from light stress, move to 24″ or even 28″ away)
  • Average Yields: 15-25 oz+ (note: 25 oz is over 1.5 lb) – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do will make a huge difference in your final yields.
  • Note: If you’re growing in a 4’x4′ grow tent, get the Blackbird!

HLG Scorpion Diablo (for a 5’x5′ grow tent) – up to 25+ oz

Side view of the Scorpion Diablo

 


 

3.) HLG R-Spec series (Best THC Production)

Horticulture Lighting Group (HLG – official website) is the only company on this list twice. That’s because their “R-spec” series is so different from their other LED grow lights. They cost a bit less and still get decent yields, but their specialty is bud potency. Their unique red spectrum (“R-spec”) produces the highest THC levels of any grow light I’ve tried. In side-by-side tests, although the R-specs got lower yields than some other LED lights, their buds consistently test at higher THC levels.

Pros

  • Highest bud potency (in tests, the buds grown under HLG lights produced measurably higher levels of THC than other grow lights)
  • Good yields (but not quite as good yields per watt as the HLG lights listed above)
  • Excellent bud quality/appearance with high “sparkle”
  • Tends to bring out quite a bit of purple color in many strains
  • Slightly cheaper than other HLG lights

Cons

  • The main downside to these R-spec lights is they tend to produce stretchy growth in the vegetative stage (which can be controlled with plant training but is a little annoying).
  • They get good yields, but not quite as good yields per watt as the other HLG lights

These Mandarin Cookies buds grown under the HLG 300 R-spec measured 28.3% THC at the lab. Buds from a clone of the same plant grown under a LEC only measured 26.94% THC at the lab. We found increased potency across the board when we lab-tested clones grown under HLG vs other grow lights. HLG LEDs seem to help maximize the potency of buds.

 

HLG 100 R-Spec Quantum Board

  • Price: $150
  • Grow Space: The small square shape and low heat output make this model perfect for a 2’x2′ grow tent or in a closet.
  • Actual Power Consumption: 95W (cannot be dimmed)
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 15-20″ for the vegetative stage. 12-15″ away in the flowering stage.
  • Average Yields: 2-4+ ounces – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do will make a huge difference in your final yields.

HLG 100 R-Spec Quantum Board – up to 4+ oz yield

Here are some plants I grew under this HLG 100 R-spec light in a mini 2’x2’x4′ grow tent.

The inside of Nebula's microgrowery - look at all those colas growing under the 100W HLG Quantum Board LED grow light

 

HLG 300L R-Spec Quantum Board

  • Price: $380
  • Grow Space: The rectangular shape makes this model great for a 2’x4′ grow tent or closet.
  • Actual Power Consumption: 270W at full power, and can be dimmed down to 90W for younger plants
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 20-24″ for the vegetative stage. 18-24″ away in the flowering stage.
  • Average Yields: 7-11+ ounces – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do will make a huge difference in your final yields. This LED model has performed better than most others I’ve tried so far.

HLG 300L R-Spec Quantum Board – produces high THC levels and up to 11+ oz yield

A recent grow under the HLG 300L R-Spec using defoliation in the flowering stage produced almost 11 oz (check out the full grow journal)

The HLG 300 R-Spec really brings out the purple for many strains!

The one downside I’ve noticed with the R-Spec HLG LEDs is plants tend to grow tall and stretchy in the vegetative stage due to the high amounts of red in the spectrum. However, that can be controlled with plant training like bending the stems over and tying them down. If you’re looking to produce the highest THC in your buds as possible, it’s worth the extra care.

HLG 600 Quantum Board R-spec

  • Price: $580
  • Grow Space: Ideal for a 5’x5′ grow tent
  • Actual Power Consumption: 600W at full power, and can be dimmed down to 60W
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 30-36″ for the vegetative stage. 24″ away in the flowering stage (may need more distance for light-sensitive plants, or in a hot grow space).
  • Average Yields: 12-21+ oz – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do makes a huge difference in your final yields. Keep the temperature between 75-85°F (24-30°C) during the flowering stage to get the best yields and bud quality.

HLG 600 Quantum Board R-spec – produces high THC levels and up to 21+ oz yield

Electric Sky 300 LED grow light (ES300)

The HLG 600 R-Spec LED light is thin and lightweight

Cannabis plants grown by cannabichiro (check out their Instagram profile for more!)

Quantum Board LED grow light (HLG550) by cannabichiro

Cannabis plant in DWC grown by rumplenuggrower (check out their Instagram profile for more!)

DWC-grown cannabis under an HLG500, grown by rumplenuggrower

 


 

 

4.) Custom LED Mix (Most Customizable)

If you’ve got an unusually shaped grow space, or just want a lot of flexibility with your LED placement, sometimes the best option is to choose multiple LEDs. This is also a good way to start really small and scale up as needed.

It’s common for beginner growers to start with one small LED for their young plants, then add more lights as plants grow. For example, the growers below needed to increase their wattage and coverage so they added additional LEDs to focus a lot of light directly onto the plants.

Many growers mix and match LEDs, like Mental24 who used two Mars Hydro TS1000s and one Spider Farmer SF-2000 to grow this beautiful harvest for less power and heat than a 600W HPS

Another popular option is to mix LEDs with other types of grow lights like HPS or LEC.

When you're using high-powered grow lights like HPS and LED, it's important to protect your eyes if you're spending a lot of time in the grow room!

If you’re a beginner and afraid to completely take the plunge into growing, it can’t hurt to start small. Get a small cheap LED like the Spider Farmer SF1000D for $90 which only uses 87 watts. It is plenty for a small plant and you could even get a plant to grow buds and produce a few ounces. If you catch the growing bug then you could start adding bigger or more expensive lights to the mix. For example, Damian has been slowly adding more LEDs as his plants grow and he identifies dark spots.

 

 


 

5.) Mars Hydro (Best 300W Budget Light)

The Mars Hydro grow lights (official website) produce excellent PAR levels that are spread out evenly through the grow space. In many ways, their models are comparable to the Spider Farmer lights. I think the companies may actually be producing lights in the same factory because some of their models look so similar. However, I have much more experience with the Spider Farmer LEDs and know that all the different SF models work great for growing cannabis. That being said, when I grew with the Mars Hydro LEDs I had a good growing experience, too. In this section of the LED grow lights review, I’m only listing the one model I have personal experience with so far.

I used their Mars Hydro TSL 2000W model, which at $270 is the cheapest 300W LED on this list. I personally feel the 300W size is a great grow light size for most home growers, so if you’re trying to maximize power for cheap in a small rectangular grow space, this may be the best LED grow light for you.

Mars Hydro does well in the vegetative stage but really shines in the flowering stage. These plants are only 28 days after 12/12!

Mars Hydro TSL 2000W

  • Price: $270
  • Grow Space: Designed for a 2’x4′ grow tent or space
  • Actual Power Consumption: 300W at full power, and can be dimmed
  • How Far to Keep from Plants: 24″ for the vegetative stage. 18-24″ away in the flowering stage
  • Average Yields: 7-12+ oz – keep in mind that the strain (genetics) and any plant training you do make a huge difference in your final yields.
  • Note: The biggest downside of this light is it’s a bit bulky and the aluminum reflector is sharp at the edges. You could easily cut your head on one of those edges. When I used it, I covered the edges with tape. I much prefer how all the other LEDs on this list have smooth rounded edges.

The Mars Hydro TSL 2000W produces excellent PAR levels that are spread out evenly through the grow space.

My last Mars Hydro TSL 2000 harvest with the light kept about 24″ away

Here are those buds drying. I was impressed to get these results with such a low-wattage LED

Now about those PAR levels. Let me show you how well this light covers a 2’x4′ grow tent by measuring the light levels 24″ away at 100% power

Here are the results with an Apogee MQ 500 PAR meter (measured in µmol m-2 s) when measuring light levels 24″ away at each plant. The light levels stay between 564-594 µmol m-2 s at the top of every plant. That means there is barely any variation of light levels throughout the tent. This is a huge advantage over other LED models where the plants on the sides are often underdeveloped.

Here’s what grower Andres had to say about the Mars TSL 2000, “my plants came out absolutely beautiful at harvest time and I could not have been happier”

Amanda used her Mars Hydro TSL 2000 in a 2’x4′ grow tent: “The plants absolutely love it & so do I. Very bright. I like having the dimmer on it as well. Well worth the money.”

 

Conclusion

You have just learned about the 5 best LED grow lights for cannabis in 2024. These LED grow lights are my personal top choices for cannabis growers who want to get the most out of their cannabis plants in terms of yield, grow speed, and bud quality. I hope that between the choices you can find an LED to fulfill your budget and needs. With any of the LEDs on the page, you will be ready to start growing amazing weed at home with LED grow lights.

What do you think about LED grow lights? Have you tried any of the models I reviewed in this article? Do you have any questions or suggestions for me? Please use our contact page or submit a picture and let me know. I would love to hear from you.

Happy growing!

 


About the Author: Nebula Haze

I started growing weed in 2008. To be honest, in the beginning, I struggled. There just wasn’t great information available for cannabis cultivation. I had to find my own way through trial and error. After I had figured out how easy it could be, I decided to create GrowWeedEasy.com in 2010 with my partner Sirius to make cannabis-growing information easily available to everyone who wants to grow at home.

Weed companies charge way too much for subpar weed, and we want home growers to learn how easy it is to grow higher-quality buds than most weed you can buy. The secret doesn’t take a ton of money or require you to learn special tricks. You just need good genetics and the right information so you get the best results for the least amount of effort.

That’s why we’ve made all the tutorials on the website easy and straightforward to follow. If you follow our instructions like a recipe, your cupboards will soon be overflowing with weed. I hope you enjoyed this article on LEDs and don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know what you think are the best LED grow lights for marijuana. Also, we’d love to see your plant pictures so we can feature them in our weekly newsletter!

Nebula Haze says, “Thanks for reading, and happy growing!”

Nebula says hi!

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