7 Of The Best MR16 Light Bulbs
Introduction
Hi there. In this article I am looking at the best MR16 light bulbs you can buy today. So lets begin by defining what MR!6s are and where they are used.
Firstly MR16 stands for multifaceted reflector, and the 16 means they have a maximum diameter of 16 / 8th of and inch. Which, if my math is correct, is 2 inches. In general these bulbs are used in track lighting or recessed ceiling lighting.
If you are interested in knowing more about track lighting then see our article on what light bulbs are used in track lighting here.
MR16 and GU10 bulbs often get confused. So you need to be careful when replacing these bulbs. In fact the bulbs run off different voltages. As such, they are not interchangeable.
Check carefully that you are buying the right one. Our post on GU10 vs M16 bulbs goes into further detail.
To clarify, in this article I look for the best MR16 bulb that have the GU5.3 pin connector and run of 12 volts.
If you are looking for GU10 bulbs which have the little round feet connectors and run off 120 volts then see our other article on the best GU10 bulbs here,
Our selections for the best MR16 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
All Rounder – Bioluz 50W Equivalent LED
Biluz are a startup company who sells LED light bulbs. You can buy there bulbs directly from bioluzled.com. Also they are available for major suppliers such as Amazon and Walmart. The companies offices are in Woodland Hills, California.
In brief, these light bulbs are rated for 25,000 hours and come with a 2 year manufacturer warranty. Also they produce 500 lumens of warm white light with a 40 degree beam angle. Finally, at only $3.80 they are very well priced. Overall a lot to recommend them.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $3.80 a bulb if bought in a 6-pack
- Wattage: 50 watt equivalent / 7 watts actual
- Lumens: 500
- Light Range: Warm White (3000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 25,000 hour (23 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 2 years
- Dimmable: No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor and outdoor
Long Life – Feit 50W Equivalent LED
Feit are a family owned and operated company based in Los Angeles, California. So as to reduce order waiting time they keep a stock of over 100,000,000 bulbs on-hand.
In brief there is a lot to like about this light bulb. Firstly their 25,000 rating and 5 year warranty. Next that they have an excellent color definition with a Color Rendering Index of 90+. They do not produce utraviolet light so are safe for artworks. Can be used outdoors and are California Title 20 compliant. Plus they come in 20 and 35 watt equivalents and have a 38 degree beam angle. In summary this is a lot of light bulb for just under $6.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $5.70 a bulb if bought in a 3-pack
- Wattage: 50 watt equivalent / 6.6 watts actual
- Lumens: 500
- Light Range: Soft White (2700k) or Daylight (5000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 25,000 hour (22 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 5 years
- Dimmable: Yes
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor and outdoor
Long Life – Kichler 50W Equivalent LED
Kichler started in the lighting business in 1938. their head office office in Independence, Ohio and they are part of the Masco group.
Like the other long-life bulbs this one is rated to last 25,000 hours and has a 5 year warranty. However, it also has a wider 60 degree flood angle. While the price is high this is a quality bulb that will last for several years. It also comes in a 35 watt equivalent.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $10 a bulb if bought individually
- Wattage: 50 watt equivalent / 7 watts actual
- Lumens: 528
- Light Range: Warm White (3000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 20,000 hour (18 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 5-Year limited lifetime
- Dimmable: No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor or enclosed outdoor use
Basic – GE 35W Equivalent LED
Not only have GE been in business since 1892 they are also the most popular brand here in the U.S.
The first thing to note is that this bulb is from their Basic range. Therefore it has a lower lifetime and warranty. However, for its price of $6 it is a reasonable choice. And GE are reliable manufacturer. I was looking to put one of the better GE range bulbs on the list but they have worse online ratings. To conclude, it produces 350 lumens in warm white with a 40 degree beam angle.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $6 a bulb if bought in a 3-pack
- Wattage: 35 watt equivalent / 5.5 watts actual
- Lumens: 350
- Light Range: Warm White (3000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 7,500 hour (6 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 2 years
- Dimmable: Yes
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor or enclosed outdoor use only
Budget – MikeWin 50W Equivalent LED
In general, on almost all of our best-of lists there is a manufacturer I have never heard of before. In this case it is MikeWin. Initially I assumed it was a company belonging to a guy called Mike. But I cannot find anything to confirm or deny this.
Anyway they appear here on the best MR16 bulbs list because this bulb has great reviews and costs $2.60. That is actually cheaper that the old halogen we review at the end of the list.
In summary they produce 450 lumens of soft white light with a 40 degree beam angle, should last 15,000 hours and have a three year warranty. That said, it is not always easy to claim against these warranty from companies that are not based in the United States. Still for $2.60 a bulb you may be willing to overlook this.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $2.60 a bulb if bought in a 10-pack
- Wattage: 50 watt equivalent / 5 watts actual
- Lumens: 450
- Light Range: Soft White (2700k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 15,000 hour (13 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 3 years
- Dimmable: Yes/No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only
Landscape – Feit 20W
Another light bulb on our list from Feit. This time a specialist landscape bulbs. In particular these bulbs are for landscape lighting and accent. So a few points to note.
Firstly, they produce a low 250 lumens of warm white light at a 40 degree beam angle. Next they should last 25,000 hours, have a 2 year warranty and are Energy Star compliant. Finally, when I was pricing these bulbs I found them much cheaper on Lowes if you bought a 2-pack. So shop around.
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $8.70 a bulb if bought individually or a $5.50 if bought in a 2-pack
- Wattage: 20 watt equivalent / 2.9 watts actual
- Lumens: 250
- Light Range: Warm White (3000k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 25,000 hour (22 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 2 years
- Dimmable: No
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor and outdoor
Halogen – GE 60 Watt
For all our recommendation of LED bulbs we understand that sometime you want a like-for-like replacement. For this reason I have include a halogen option in my list. In this case another light bulb from GE. As can be seen the bulb has a short lifetime of only 2,000 hours. Also it is quite high power at 60 watts. Consequently it provides a bright 725 lumens. Finally the bulb has a 40 degree beam angle and produces a warm white light unusual for a halogen. This rounds off our best MR16 light bulbs list.
Beam spread 40 degrees
Fact sheet
- Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
- Price: Around $3.70 a bulb if bought in a 3-pack
- Wattage: 60 watt actual
- Lumens: 725
- Light Range: Warm White (2900k)
- Lifetime: Rated to last 2,000 hour (2 years based on 3 hours per day use)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Dimmable: Yes and works with most dimmer switches
- Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor use only