7 Of The Best Microwave Light Bulbs
Introduction
Hi there, and welcome to this article about the best microwave light bulbs.
So not only does my microwave go ping when it is finished, it also has a light. And this light comes on so you can see the food go round and round.
Though I have to admit that I don’t like looking through the window when the microwave is on. While I studied microwaves in my course at university, and I know that the mesh in the glass blocks any leakage. Still, I just don’t like doing it. For me it is like looking at a shark in the aquarium. You know the glass is not going to give way. Buy still….
Anyway, enough about my irrational microwave fears and onto the best light bulbs to use inside them. To clarify, this review is about bulbs that can go inside the microwave, not just at the bottom of the microwave lighting up the range.
One point to note is that all the bulbs in this review come with an E17 intermediate base. So, I recommend that you carefully check the manual for your microwave, or the old bulb, to ensure that they will fit.
If you are looking for other appliance bulbs, or just the best light bulbs in general, check our other reviews and articles here.
Choosing the Best Microwave Light Bulbs
Our selections for the best microwave light bulbs are based on a number of criteria:
- Online reviews from a number of light bulb retailers
- Price, we are always looking for the best value
- Energy Star qualified, whether the bulbs has met strict energy efficiency criteria set by the EPA
- Lifetime and length of warranty, as these provide a measure of quality
- Dimmable, having a bulb that can be used with a dimmer switch makes it more versatile
LED – GE 15 Watt LED
Firstly, I have to admit that yes, there are a lot of G.E. bulbs on this list. However, we are looking at specialist light bulbs. It’s not like you can just take any old bulb and shove it in your microwave. And G.E. make a huge range of light bulbs. So not super surprising that their specialist appliance range is highly featured here.
This small clear 15 watt replacement bulb comes with an E17 base and produces a low 170 lumens of soft white light. Also it is rated to last 15,000 hours and has a five year warranty. Finally it uses a super miserly two watts of power. So it is not going to run up your power bills. All for $6.50.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $6.50 a bulb if bought individually
- Wattage: 15 watt equivalent / 2 watts actual
- Lumens: 170
- Light Range: Soft White (2700k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 15,000 hour (13 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 5 years
- Dimmable: No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only
LED – 25 Watt – GE
Not only have GE been in business since 1892 they are also the most popular brand here in the U.S.
This bulb is from their appliance range. Firstly it gives out a low 200 lumens of warm white light. Secondly it is rated to last 15,000 hours and has a three year warranty. In particular G.E.’s warranty allows for eight hours of usage a day. So someone is obviously using them for more than popcorn.
What I like about this bulb and one of the reasons it makes it onto the best microwave light bulbs list is its looks. Specifically, it looks like a MR16 spotlight has been placed inside a normal bulb. And then a little window has been added to let you see it. And then it goes inside a microwave. This is the turducken of light bulbs. For only $6.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $6 a bulb if bought individually
- Wattage: 25 watt equivalent / 2.5 watts actual
- Lumens: 200
- Light Range: Warm White (3000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 15,000 hour (13 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 3 years (at 8 hours per day)
- Dimmable: No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only
LED – 40 Watt – Feit
Feit are a family owned and operated company based in Los Angeles, California. According to their website they keep a stock of over 100,000,000 bulbs. So as to reduce order waiting time.
This bulb produces 270 lumens of light. Analogous to a 40 watt incandescent according to Feit. Though I would suggest more like 25 watts. So not particularly bright.
Additionally they are rated to last 15,000 hours and have a two year warranty. And have an E17 intermediary size screw base. This screw size tends to be particular to appliance bulbs. So check your old bulb carefully before spending $10 on one of these bulbs.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $9.75 a bulb if bought individually, or $5.70 a bulb if bought in a 6-pack
- Wattage: 40 watt equivalent / 3.5 watts actual
- Lumens: 270
- Light Range: Warm White (3000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 15,000 hour (1.8 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 2 years
- Dimmable: Yes
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only
LED – 40W – Taiyaloo
Finally in the LED section of our list of best microwave light bulbs is this small corn cob style bulb from Taiyaloo.
In general when I am compiling these lists there is one manufacturer I have never heard of before. And in this list it is Taiyaloo. A web search revealed little about them except that they sell their products in Kmart, Sears and Amazon.
So, a few facts about this appliance light bulb. Firstly it is rated to last a massive 30,000 hours and has a two year warranty. Also it provides 450 lumens of bright daylight. Finally it costs $5 and come in a two-pack.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $5 a bulb if bought in a 2-pack
- Wattage: 40 watt equivalent / 5 watts actual
- Lumens: 450
- Light Range: Bright Daylight (6000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 30,000 hour (13 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 2 years
- Dimmable: Yes
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only
Incandescent – 40 Watt – Feit
Another light bulb from Feit. This time an older style incandescent one. Again it comes with the appliance E17 size screw base.
Additionally this is a small bulb being only 2 and 7/8 inches in length. And is corn-shaped (according to Feit).
Being and incandescent it only has a lifetime of 2,000 hours. Which is not great for a bulb that costs over $5. That said it does have excellent online views. Also, if you use your microwave like we do, mainly to make popcorn, then 2,000 is way longer that my microwave is likely to last.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $5.60 a bulb if bought individually
- Wattage: 40 watts actual
- Lumens: 200
- Light Range: Daylight (5000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 2,000 hour (1.8 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Dimmable: Yes/No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only
Incandescent – 40 Watt – Satco T8
Satco is a leading supplier of lighting products. Providing lighting for commercial, residential and industrial customer. They have 1.5 million square feet of inventory throughout North America. With offices and warehousing in Brentwood, New York.
So a few facts about this 40 watt incandescent bulb. Firstly it produces 370 lumens of bright daylight. Secondly it is rated to last 2,000 hours. Which is much shorter than an LED bulb. However it is quite a while if you only use your microwave for a few minutes per day. Finally they cost just under $2 which seems like good value to me.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.9 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $1.90 a bulb if bought individually
- Wattage: 40 watts actual
- Lumens: 370
- Light Range: Bright Daylight (6000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 2,000 hour (1.8 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 1 years
- Dimmable: No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only
Incandescent – 40 Watts – Philips T8
Philips are the number one supplier of light bulbs in Europe and are known for their reliable if somewhat expensive bulbs. In this case at $6.50 for an incandescent light bulb, definitely on the pricier side.
Philips say that the bulb creates a crisp white light. Which makes it good for seeing details. And at 400 lumens it is reasonable bright. As well as microwaves is can be used in dryers, freezers, range hood and refrigerator. Also, interestingly, in sewing machines.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $6.50 a bulb if bought individually
- Wattage: 40 watts actual
- Lumens: 400
- Light Range: Soft White (2700k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 1,000 hour (0.9 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Dimmable: No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only