What is the difference between Cool White and Warm White?
If you are new to LED technology, then you’re probably having a bit of trouble understanding everything, but we’re here to help.
The most common question we usually get asked is “what is the difference between cool white and warm white?”.
LED bulbs differ from conventional incandescent or halogen bulbs as they are available in different variations of white – the most common of these being cool white and warm white. LED bulbs are a completely different technology to incandescent or halogen bulbs which makes it possible to choose the colour of the light to match your requirements.
The difference between achieving either a cool white or a warm white is down to colour temperature. The higher the number of Kelvins, the cooler the light will be, often with a blue tone to it. The lower the number of Kelvins, the warmer the light will be, often with a yellow or orange tone to it.
More information about colour temperature and the Kelvin scale can be found here.
To help identify the type of applications where you would find cool white or warm white LED lighting, here are a few examples:
Domestic
The majority of customers looking for domestic lighting buy warm white LED bulbs as they are the closest match to the old incandescent and halogen bulbs due to the softer yellow and orange tones.
Soft, warm white lighting is suitable for homes, offices, clubs and similar smaller places as it serves well as accent lighting and is not harsh on the eyes.
Industrial
Customers looking for modern style or industrial lighting often purchase cool white LED bulbs as they complement surroundings with either bold primary colours, or areas requiring a clean and minimal atmosphere due to their bright white or faint blue tones.
Clean, crisp cool white lighting is suitable for warehouses, hospitals and shopping centres in order to see everything you need to. However, using a cool white in offices and homes would be too harsh and can be uncomfortable on the eye.
When it comes to selecting either cool white or warm white LED bulbs, choosing the wrong one can have an adverse effect. We hope this information helps you to understand the differences between cool white and warm white and which one is best suited to your requirements. If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We hope this information helps you to understand a little more about LED lighting and the different white options. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team on 0118 9823745 or fill out our enquiry form.