What Bulb For

Can I use an LED bulb in an enclosed fixture?

Yes, unless the box says otherwise. Some LEDs are marked “not for use in totally enclosed fixtures”: a closed glass holds in heat, and heat shortens an LED’s life. In a dome, globe or jar fixture, use a bulb without that warning, or one listed as rated for enclosed fixtures.

Why heat matters to an LED

The hotter an LED runs, the faster its light fades and the shorter its life. LEDs use a heat sink to carry heat away and keep from overheating, so a closed glass that holds the heat in works against them.

What to look for on the box

Porch and outdoor fixtures

Outside, check the damp or wet rating too. A roofed, open porch counts as a damp location; a fixture out in the open, exposed to the weather, is a wet location. If you can’t tell which yours is, choose a wet-rated bulb.

Stay within the fixture’s limit

Enclosed fixtures have a maximum wattage like any other. Compare it with the watts under Energy Used on the bulb’s label, and turn the power off and let the old bulb cool before you change it.

Checking the watts?

Fixture limit check

Common questions

What if the box says not for totally enclosed fixtures?

Use that bulb in an open fixture instead.

Is a ceiling fan's glass bowl an enclosed fixture?

If the glass closes all the way around the bulbs, treat it as one: use bulbs without the enclosed-fixture warning, or rated for enclosed fixtures.

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Where we get our information from

The box wording and the heat facts come from ENERGY STAR (EPA), the bulb ratings from the makers’ own pages, the damp and wet definitions from OSHA’s electrical rules, and the wattage advice from the CPSC and the FTC’s label rule. Checked against published data from ENERGY STAR, FTC, Signify, Feit Electric and OSHA (plus 2 more).

See all 8 sources
  • FTC Appliance Labeling Rule, 16 CFR 305.23: the Lighting Facts label (brightness, yearly cost, life, light appearance, energy used, mercury; 3-way levels)
  • ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Lamps, Version 2.1 (2020): equivalence ranges, 3-way and reflector bulbs, packaging wording, color names
  • ENERGY STAR (EPA), “Learn About LED Lighting”: heat and LED life
  • Philips Lighting (Signify), Lamp Specification Guide 2015: shape codes, color rendering, color names, safety notes
  • Feit Electric product pages: E17 microwave bulb (BP40T8N/MW) and GU24 A19 LED (OM60DM/927CA/GU24)
  • 29 CFR 1910.399: damp, dry and wet location definitions (workplace electrical rule)
  • TCP Lighting, “The Difference Between Indoor & Outdoor Light Bulbs”
  • US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Home Electrical Safety Checklist (Pub 513): bulb wattage for the fixture

General guidance from manufacturer and standards data. Products vary, so check the label and the maker's instructions.