COB Light Wattage Guide: 3W, 6W, 12W, 15W, and 18W - Which to Use Where?
Not sure whether to pick a 6W or an 18W COB light for your room? The right wattage depends entirely on what the light needs to do, highlight a small spot, light up a bedroom, or brighten an entire living room. Here's a straightforward breakdown of the five most common COB wattages and exactly where each one works best.
Quick Answer: How Much Wattage Do You Actually Need?
As a simple rule of thumb, most rooms need roughly 15 to 20 lumens of light per square foot for comfortable general lighting. Since COB lights typically produce 80 to 100 lumens per watt, you can estimate your wattage needs by working out your room's area and matching it against the table below. If you're using multiple fixtures, divide the total wattage needed across the number of lights you're installing.
3W COB Light: Small Accents and Tight Spaces
A 3W COB light produces roughly 250 to 300 lumens, enough for a small, focused spot rather than general room lighting.
Best used for:
• Highlighting a shelf, showpiece, or small wall art
• Compact spotlights inside a wardrobe or display cabinet
• Narrow corridors where a wide spread isn't needed
5W or 6W COB Light: The Everyday Downlight
A 6W COB light is one of the most common wattages for home downlighters, producing around 500 to 600 lumens. It's bright enough for regular use without feeling harsh in smaller spaces.
Recommended Product: LED COB Spot Light 6W
Best used for:
• Bathroom vanities and mirror lighting
• Bedroom ceiling downlights, especially when multiple fixtures are used
• Corridors and entryways that need slightly more brightness than a 3W spot
12W COB Light: Kitchen Counters and Small Rooms
At around 1,000 to 1,200 lumens, a 12W COB light covers a wider area with noticeably more brightness, making it suitable for task-focused zones.
Best used for:
• Kitchen counters and prep areas where visibility matters most
• Small living rooms or study rooms as a single central ceiling light
• Entryways or foyers that need a stronger welcoming glow
15W COB Light: General Room Lighting
A 15W COB light produces roughly 1,300 to 1,500 lumens, striking a balance between brightness and energy use for mid-sized rooms.
Best used for:
• Bedrooms or study rooms needing brighter, more even general lighting
• Home offices where consistent brightness reduces eye strain during work
• Dining areas where you want clear, functional light over the table
18W COB Light: Living Rooms and Larger Areas
An 18W COB light is the brightest option in this range, producing around 1,600 to 1,800 lumens, and is typically used as one of several fixtures spread across a larger room rather than a single point source.
Best used for:
• Living rooms, where multiple 18W fixtures spaced across the ceiling give even, comfortable brightness
• Rooms with higher ceilings, where light needs to travel further to feel effective
• Larger bedrooms or open-plan spaces combining living and dining areas
COB Wattage Comparison
| Wattage | Approx. Lumens | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 3W | 250–300 lumens | Accent spots, small shelves, display lighting |
| 6W | 500–600 lumens | Bathroom vanities, bedroom downlights, corridors |
| 12W | 1,000–1,200 lumens | Kitchen counters, small rooms, entryways |
| 15W | 1,300–1,500 lumens | Bedrooms, home offices, dining areas |
| 18W | 1,600–1,800 lumens | Living rooms, larger spaces, higher ceilings |
Orient Electric's COB lights range includes options like the LED COB Spot Light, available in multiple wattages to match different tasks around the home. For general ceiling lighting at the higher end of this range, the LED down lighters and LED panel lights collections offer options across this same wattage spread.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
• Multiple lower-wattage fixtures often beat one high-wattage fixture. Spreading light across three 12W downlights usually looks more even than relying on a single 18W point source in the centre of the ceiling.
• Lumens matter more than watts. Two COB lights with the same wattage can differ in brightness depending on their efficiency, so check the lumen figure on the product listing rather than judging by wattage alone.
• Task areas need more light than ambient spaces. A kitchen counter or study desk benefits from higher wattage or closer placement compared to a hallway or accent corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How much wattage COB light do I need for my room?
It depends on the room's size and purpose. As a general guide, small accent areas need around 3W to 6W, task areas like kitchens need 12W, and general room lighting for bedrooms or living rooms typically needs 15W to 18W per fixture, often with multiple fixtures used together.
Q2. Is an 18W COB light bright enough for a living room?
Yes, especially when a few 18W fixtures are spaced evenly across the ceiling rather than relying on just one. A single 18W light can work for a smaller living room, but larger rooms usually need two or three spaced fixtures for even brightness.
Q3. What is the best wattage for a COB downlight in a bedroom?
A 6W COB downlight works well for focused lighting near a bed or wardrobe, while 15W fixtures are a better fit if you want brighter, more even general lighting across the whole room.
Q4. Can I mix different COB wattages in the same room?
Yes, this is actually a common approach. A lower wattage, like 3W or 6W, works well for accent lighting, while a higher wattage, like 15W or 18W, handles general room brightness, and combining both gives more control over the mood and function of the space.
Q5. Is a higher wattage COB light always brighter?
Not always. Brightness depends on lumens, not watts alone. A well-designed 12W COB light with high efficiency can sometimes match or exceed an older, less efficient 15W fixture, so it's worth checking the lumen output rather than comparing wattage alone.
