Best Cheap LED Grow Lights For Indoor Plants (2026 Update)

The most basic thing to know about growing cannabis is that it requires certain fundamental elements of nature: air, water, heat, and light. Although all four of these elements are available in outdoor growing conditions and exist freely in nature, the problem with growing cannabis outdoors is that the grower cannot control them. Essentially, there may be days when the sun is obscured by clouds, meaning both light and heat are insufficient and there may be many such days. Furthermore, there can be extended periods of drought, during which water becomes scarce.

Therefore, it is essential for any skilled indoor grower to be able to control the indoor growing environment. This ensures they can simulate the “best-case scenario” for their plants by providing heat and light with the help of grow lights, while also supplying air and water in the right amounts.

Grow lights, in particular, are extremely important because they essentially simulate the natural light and heat that the sun provides to plants. Plants need light and heat because they use them to produce pigments and energy through processes such as photosynthesis. This helps plants grow stronger and healthier. Moreover, especially for cannabis plants, grow lights have another important role: depending on the type of heat and light you provide at different stages, you can partially influence the plant’s chemical composition, creating stronger or milder flavors in the cannabis you will smoke. Therefore, it is essential to learn about grow lights and understand how they function.

TYPES OF LED GROW LIGHTS

One thing you need to know before starting to grow cannabis with LED lights is that there are many different types of LED grow lights. Below is a closer look at the main types.

Spread-Style LED Grow Lights:
Basically, in this type of grow light, many small LED diodes are spread over a large area. Spread-style LEDs are divided into two smaller categories—quantum lights and spider-style LEDs. Quantum lights use low-wattage, energy-efficient LEDs and are suitable for plants that do not require much heat. The other type, spider-style LEDs, are also low-wattage but distribute light differently. They have a central hub from which multiple “arms” extend, each fitted with LEDs. These lights are somewhat expensive but generally produce better results than most other LED grow lights used for indoor growing.

Traditional Panel LED Grow Lights:
These are the oldest and most reliable type of LED grow lights and have been used for a long time. Their basic characteristic is that they use medium-wattage LEDs and are more compact than spread-style lights. Multiple panels are required if you are growing a moderate to large number of plants indoors.

COB-Style LED Grow Lights:
COB stands for Chip on Board. Instead of having many small diodes, COB LED grow lights typically feature large LED chips. They are known for delivering powerful light and heat and have become increasingly popular among growers in recent years. They are usually sold as panels, where multiple COBs are combined to provide the best possible light and heat output. There is also AutoCOB, which essentially consists of a single LED bulb.

Beelux 1000W Full-Spectrum Indoor LED Grow Light

This light features a bright red color, completely different from the softer-colored lights produced by other manufacturers.

Its light output is stronger than models that use 3W chips, as it utilizes 110 × 5W LEDs. The optical system is made from high-quality glass and focuses the light at a 90-degree angle. In addition, it includes two 15W UV-B tubes to enhance growth during the flowering stage. The light runs cool and quietly thanks to its built-in fans, so you really can’t go wrong with this choice.

See details and prices on Amazon here

TATU 1000W Full-Spectrum Indoor LED Grow Light

This brand has been on the market for quite some time, which is why it makes installation easy for most people (they have been operating for many years and are a well-known name in the industry). This light is definitely one of the more energy-efficient options compared to some of the others we have tested (especially cheaper models). We used this light in a 3×3 grow space, and it performed very well because the light penetrates the entire area effectively.

The light features a switch that allows you to toggle between vegetative and flowering modes, making it one of the top choices for compact spaces. It can also be used in medium-sized areas, making it extremely versatile. It provides a complete spectrum of blue, red, and white light for both the vegetative and flowering stages.

The TATU 1000W LED grow light is truly high quality.

See details and prices on Amazon here

Why Choose Full-Spectrum LED Grow Lights?

Here, let’s take a closer look at what full-spectrum LED grow lights are and why they are such a great option if you plan to grow cannabis indoors. We will also examine some of the advantages of using full-spectrum LED grow lights.

A typical grow light is basically made up of light from two spectrums: red and blue. You can recognize this by looking at these lights, they emit a purplish glow, and although many models blend the two colors quite well, you can still identify the dominant hues if you look closely. Photosynthesis works perfectly within these two light spectrums, which is why most grow lights use red and blue LEDs. However, plants do more than just photosynthesize, and grow lights are not limited to red and blue alone. This is where full-spectrum LED grow lights come into play. Full-spectrum LED grow lights include all wavelengths, including infrared and ultraviolet. Essentially, the final light output appears as white light.

Simply put, using full-spectrum LED grow lights allows you to replicate sunlight as closely as possible, which is beneficial for plant growth. It enables optimal photosynthesis and promotes the formation of all the pigments necessary for healthy plant development. Furthermore, the concentration of light and heat allows you to influence the flavor of your crops—something cannabis growers especially appreciate. Now, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of using full-spectrum LED grow lights compared to standard LED grow lights.

• Compared to LED grow lights that only use a mix of red and blue light, full-spectrum lights tend to produce more photons, which is excellent for plant growth.
• This is the closest way to recreate natural sunlight in a controlled environment, and plants can benefit greatly from the different wavelengths.
• These lights run cooler than traditional lights, and you don’t need to set up additional cooling systems such as fans.
• Red and blue lights are designed for specific growth stages, but full-spectrum grow lights are essentially a one-stop solution for all stages of cannabis growth.
• These lights do not flicker and do not require ballasts, making them an excellent choice for anyone who wants to grow cannabis indoors, as they provide consistent and continuous lighting.

Conclusion

The best budget LED grow lights make it possible to grow plants indoors and in greenhouses year-round. Grow lights simulate natural sunlight and use the correct color spectrum to encourage photosynthesis, helping plants thrive indoors. LED grow lights are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and offer a full spectrum of light, and in this article we have covered some of the best LED grow lights for indoor and greenhouse growing.

See more: How far away do you keep 480W LED grow Light