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Integrated LED, LED bulb, halogen, filament: home light sources compared

By the Alméa team 12 October 2026 8 min read

Integrated LED, LED bulb, halogen or filament: this comparison of home light sources puts energy use, lifespan, colour rendering, heat and atmosphere side by side. Everything you need to choose the right technology for each light, without getting it wrong.

On a product sheet, the light source often fits on one line: “integrated LED”, “E27 fitting”, “bulb not included”. Yet this choice determines your electricity bill, the quality of the light and the lifespan of your light fitting. Here are the practical guidelines, with a big comparison table and advice room by room.

Contents

The four light sources in brief
The big comparison table
Integrated LED: the light and its source are one
LED bulbs: the freedom to change
Halogen: a technology on its way out
Filament: retro charm, in LED
Wattage equivalents
Colour rendering, colour temperature and dimmers
Which light source for which room?
In short
Frequently asked questions

1. The four home light sources in brief

An integrated LED is a light module built into the fitting, with no bulb to screw in. An LED bulb screws or clips into a lampholder (E27, E14, G9, GU10) and is replaced like a standard bulb. Halogen is an improved incandescent bulb, very hot and power-hungry. Finally, filament today mainly refers to the LED bulb with visible filaments, which imitates old bulbs while using LED levels of energy.

To decode the units used in this article, keep our lumens, watts and kelvins decoder to hand.

2. The big light source comparison table

Filament bulb with a warm glow, a soft light source

Criterion	Integrated LED	LED bulb	Halogen	LED filament
Efficiency	Very high	High, 80 to 150 lm/W	Low, 15 to 20 lm/W	High, often 100 lm/W or more
Wattage for 806 lm	Depends on the model	6 to 8 W	About 42 W	6 to 7 W
Stated lifespan	High, tied to the fitting	15,000 to 25,000 h	About 2,000 h	10,000 to 15,000 h
Heat given off	Low, dissipated by the housing	Low	Very high	Low
Colour rendering (CRI)	80 to 90 and above	80 to 90 and above	100	80 to 90
Replacement	Rarely possible	Instant	Instant	Instant
Dimming	Depends on the driver	If marked dimmable	Always	If marked dimmable
Strength	Slim design, controlled light	Versatility	Perfect colour rendering	Visible retro look

These values are typical orders of magnitude: always check the bulb label or the light's product sheet.

3. Integrated LED: the light and its source are one

With an integrated LED, the light is designed at the same time as the fitting. That is what makes very slim wall lights, light bars, up-and-down lighting and shapes that would be impossible with a bulb. The housing, often metal, dissipates the heat, which protects the lifespan of the diodes.

The downside: when the module or its driver wears out, you do not change a bulb, you repair or replace the light. The pros and cons are detailed in integrated LED or replaceable bulb.

4. LED bulbs: the freedom to change

The LED bulb fits a standard lampholder. You choose the output, the colour temperature and the shape, and you can change everything in a few seconds. It is the most flexible solution for pendant lights and wall lights with a lampholder, and the easiest to maintain over the long term.

The bulb base must match the lampholder: our guide GU10, E27, E14, G9 helps you avoid mistakes. For an E27 fitting, our warm white E27 LED bulbs suit most wall lights and pendant lights.

Alméa tipIn any one room, keep the same colour temperature throughout, for example 2700 K. Mixing 2700 K and 4000 K gives inconsistent light, with yellowish areas and bluish ones.

5. Halogen: a technology on its way out

Halogen produces light with perfect colour rendering, but with very low efficiency: most of the energy is lost as heat. In the European Union, most halogen bulbs can no longer be placed on the market: standard models since 2018, and most remaining formats, such as G9 capsules, since 2023. The UK has followed a similar path since 2021. Some stock is still around, but replacing them with LEDs is cheaper to run and safer.

Their heat makes them particularly unsuitable in rattan, wood, paper or fabric shades.

6. Filament: retro charm, in LED

The carbon or tungsten filament bulbs of the past have left the shelves for general lighting. LED filament bulbs take up their look: thin glowing rods visible through clear or amber glass, with LED energy use. They are ideal in pendants with a visible bulb and in industrial-style chandeliers.

Hanging incandescent bulb giving a warm, golden light

Often offered in very warm white, around 2200 to 2700 K, they create a muted atmosphere. Everything is explained in LED filament bulbs: retro charm without the energy bill, and globe, tube or giant shapes in our article on decorative bulbs.

LED bars, clean shapes, up and down light: discover our modern design lights.

Discover our modern and design lights

Warm white E27 LED bulb, pack of 3, soft 2700 K light, Maison Alméa — Discover it in the shop: Warm white E27 LED bulb, pack of 3, soft 2700 K light

7. Wattage equivalents between light sources

Today we think in lumens, not watts. Here are the usual equivalents for replacing an old bulb.

Luminous flux	Old incandescent	Halogen	LED
250 lm	25 W	18 W	2 to 3 W
470 lm	40 W	28 W	4 to 5 W
806 lm	60 W	42 W	6 to 8 W
1,055 lm	75 W	53 W	9 to 10 W
1,521 lm	100 W	70 W	11 to 14 W

A simple example: a wall light on for 3 hours a day with a 60 W bulb uses about 66 kWh a year; with a 7 W LED, about 8 kWh. To find out more, see how much energy an LED wall light really uses.

8. Colour rendering, colour temperature and dimmers

CRI measures how faithfully colours appear under a light, out of 100. Halogen reaches 100; a good LED exceeds 90, a standard LED is around 80. For a kitchen or a bathroom mirror, aim for a CRI of 90 or more. Our article on CRI explains why.

As for colour temperature, 2700 K gives a warm, intimate light, 3000 K a crisper warm white, 4000 K a neutral white for work areas. If you want to vary the brightness, check for the word dimmable: an LED not designed for it flickers or buzzes on a dimmer. See dimmable bulbs: how to tell.

SafetyTo change a bulb or fit a dimmer, switch off the circuit breaker, check that there is no voltage and let the bulb cool. Follow the wiring regulations (BS 7671) and call an electrician if in doubt.

9. Which light source for which room?

Glass bulbs lined up to compare home light sources

Room	Recommended source	Colour temperature and guideline
Living room	LED or filament bulb, integrated LED for wall lights	2700 K, dimmable
Bedroom	Dimmable LED bulb	2700 K, moderate output
Kitchen	Integrated LED under units, LED bulb in the pendant	3000 K, CRI 90 and above
Bathroom	Integrated LED with the required IP rating	3000 to 4000 K, CRI 90 and above
Outdoors	Waterproof integrated LED	2700 to 3000 K

To get the brightness right, our guide how many lumens per room gives the recommended values.

Alméa tipFor a wall light with a lampholder, start with a 470 lumen LED at 2700 K. It is a good starting point for ambient light: you can then adjust it to suit the room.

Integrated LED or E27 fitting, in stone, wood or metal: find the wall light that suits you.

See all our wall lights

10. In short

Integrated LED offers the slimmest designs and controlled light, the LED bulb the freedom to change everything, the LED filament retro charm without the energy use. Halogen is disappearing: replace it with an LED of equivalent output. Then choose the colour temperature, CRI and dimmer compatibility to suit the room.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an integrated LED and an LED bulb?

The integrated LED is built into the light and cannot be changed like a bulb. The LED bulb screws into a lampholder and can be replaced in seconds. The first allows slimmer shapes, the second more freedom.

How many LED watts replace a 60 W bulb?

An LED of 6 to 8 W, or about 806 lumens, replaces an old 60 W bulb. Go by the lumens shown on the packaging rather than the watts.

Are halogen bulbs banned?

In the European Union, most can no longer be placed on the market, in stages since 2018, and the UK has applied similar rules since 2021. Remaining stock may still be sold, but LEDs are cheaper to run and give off much less heat.

Does a filament bulb use a lot of electricity?

No, if it is an LED filament bulb: it uses as much as a standard LED, about 6 to 7 W for 806 lumens. Only the old incandescent filament bulbs used a lot.

How long does an LED last?

Manufacturers often state 15,000 to 25,000 hours for an LED bulb. The actual lifespan depends on heat: an LED enclosed in a poorly ventilated light ages faster.

Which light source for a bathroom?

An integrated LED or an LED bulb in a light with the IP rating required for the zone, with a CRI of 90 or more near the mirror and a colour temperature of 3000 to 4000 K.