Recessed cans with a screw socket usually take a reflector bulb on the standard E26 base: a BR30, 3-3/4" wide, or the larger BR40, 5" wide. Bulb makers disagree on which fits a 5" or 6" can, so measure the opening before you choose.
What base does the can’s old bulb have?
Turn the power off and let the bulb cool before you take it out.
What fits
BR30 or BR40 reflector bulb
BR (bulged reflector) bulbs spread a wide wash of light, which suits recessed cans.
On the package: BR30 E26, or BR40 E26
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GU10 spotlight bulb
Two pins you push in and twist, on household 120 volts, used mostly in spotlights.
On the package: GU10
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MR16 with a GU5.3 base
A 12 volt spotlight with two pins on a small reflector, run through a transformer.
On the package: MR16 GU5.3, 12 V
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Check the built-in LED’s maker
A flat LED panel has no bulb to unscrew. Its maker and model tell you what replaces it.
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Before you change any bulb, turn the power off and let the old bulb cool.
What the can size means
A can’s size, such as 4", 5" or 6", is the width of its opening: Halo’s 6" housing lists a 6" aperture. Bulb codes work the same way in eighths of an inch, so the number tells you the width: BR20 and R20 are 2-1/2", BR30 is 3-3/4", BR40 is 5". Of the BR and R bulbs, GE names BR30 and R20 as the most common.
Where the makers disagree
- One Feit page, its recessed bulb FAQ: BR30 fits standard 5" and 6" cans and BR40 larger 6" and 8" cans, and a BR30 or BR40 fits most 6" cans.
- The other Feit page, on BR40s: a BR40 is too wide for standard 6" housings and won’t seat properly; it’s made for 8" cans.
- LEDVANCE: choose a BR30 for a 4" can. In a 5" can, a BR30 leaves a small gap all round, while a BR40 fits snugly.
Both Feit pages agree on a BR30 for a 6" can and a BR40 for an 8" can. Feit adds that a PAR30 also fits a 6" opening.
Brightness
Under ENERGY STAR’s rules, which ended for bulbs on December 31, 2024, a certified BR30 or BR40 sold as a 65 watt equivalent had to give at least 650 lumens. Bigger bulbs can give more: Feit’s BR40 LEDs typically give 1,100 to 1,600 lumens, a match for 75 to 100 watt floods, on 14 to 18 watts. Compare the bulb’s Energy Used watts with the maximum on the label inside the can.
IC, airtight and the box
- IC-rated cans: Halo’s IC-rated H7ICAT is certified for direct contact with insulation; its non-IC H7TAT isn’t. The label inside your can gives its rating.
- Airtight or enclosed cans hold heat in, and heat shortens an LED’s life: use a bulb rated for enclosed fixtures.
- On the bulb’s box, look for “not for use in recessed fixtures” (or luminaires), and for a line ruling out insulated ceiling air-tight (ICAT) downlights.
LED retrofit kits
A retrofit kit takes the place of both the bulb and the trim with a built-in LED light, so there’s no bulb to change: the LEDs in Feit’s kits are designed to last 50,000 hours. Feit’s 5/6 in. kit plugs into the can through a medium base adapter that screws into the bulb socket, and it’s suitable for both IC and non-IC housings.
Check the can’s depth as well as its width. That Feit kit needs a can at least 7.5" deep, and 5.375" across when it goes in a 5" can; Feit’s 4 in. kit fits most 4" cans.
Fitting a kit like Feit’s calls for knowledge of light fixture wiring and can mean removing the can’s socket bracket. Turn the power off at the breaker first; if you’re not qualified, have an electrician fit it.
Recessed lights on a dimmer
Not every recessed bulb dims: check the package for the dimmable label, and use a dimmer rated for LEDs. An older dimmer made for incandescent bulbs can make LEDs flicker or buzz.
Flicker or buzz on a dimmer?
LEDs on a dimmer