Which one fits you better?
When replacing halogen lamps, the meaningful comparison is equal useful light in the same fitting, not equal watts. Check lumens, beam angle, dimming and electrical compatibility before calculating running costs.
LED
You want much lower electricity use, less heat and longer lamp life.
Halogen
You have a specific fitting or dimming requirement and understand the higher energy use.
Comparison at a glance
| Aspect | What you should know | How to decide |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | Produces far more light per watt. | Uses much more power for similar brightness. |
| Heat | Runs cooler, though electronics still need ventilation. | Turns a large share of power into heat. |
| Lifetime | Usually much longer. | Usually shorter. |
| Purchase cost | Often higher per lamp. | Can be cheaper to buy, but costs more to run. |
What matters before you decide
For normal household lighting, LED usually wins on energy and lifetime. Check dimmer compatibility, colour temperature and colour rendering before replacing every lamp.
Do not compare a single number
A high-efficiency LED might save energy but be unsuitable if its beam is too narrow, colour is wrong or the existing transformer or dimmer is incompatible. Check whether an enclosed luminaire imposes temperature restrictions.
Worked example: six lamps over a year
Suppose six 42 W halogen lamps are each replaced by a suitable 6 W LED producing acceptable equivalent light, and each runs three hours daily. The difference is 6 × (42 − 6) W × 3 h × 365 ÷ 1,000 = 236.52 kWh/year. At an illustrative €0.22/kWh this is €52.03/year before buying lamps, dimmer changes or differences in real operating hours.
- Compare beam angle, lumen output, colour temperature and colour rendering under the same viewing conditions.
- Record the actual hours switched on, then use the watt difference and energy tariff; add any replacement transformer costs.
Decision: LED replacement is most attractive for long-running lamps, provided the installation is compatible and the light result is acceptable.
Check equivalent lumens and correct transformer or dimmer support; annual hours and your billed electricity rate will change the estimated payback.
Compare it with your own numbers
Enter lamp wattage, lamp count and real daily use into the lighting-consumption calculator to check your own numbers.
Decision checklist
Match lumens and beam. A 6 W lamp is not automatically the same brightness or distribution as a 42 W halogen.
Check dimmers. Verify compatibility, minimum load and flicker behavior.
Check fitting temperature. Read rules for sealed or hot luminaires and correct driver/transformer.
Calculate payback. Use annual hours, tariff and the complete cost of conversion.
What really changes when halogen lamps are replaced with LED
The useful comparison is light output and operating hours, not electrical watts in isolation.
LED
- Usually provides similar usable light with much lower electrical power.
- Releases less heat into the room.
- Lifetime, dimming and light quality depend on the lamp and driver.
Halogen
- Often offers straightforward dimming and very good colour rendering.
- Converts a much larger share of electricity into heat.
- Typically has shorter life and higher energy use for comparable light output.
When replacing lamps, compare lumens, colour temperature, fitting type, dimmer compatibility and physical size.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: LED or Halogen?
There is no universal winner. The first option may suit you if you want much lower electricity use, less heat and longer lamp life. The alternative may suit you if you have a specific fitting or dimming requirement and understand the higher energy use.
Should I decide only by purchase price?
No. A low purchase price is irrelevant if the lamp flickers, overheats in the fitting or fails to produce the required light. Include compatibility and annual kWh savings.
What should I check before buying?
Compare lumens and colour quality, not just watts. Two lamps with different wattage can produce similar light output.