10 Best Recessed Lights to Buy for Your Home
Updated: Jun. 24, 2024
Discover the best recessed lights for creating ambiance or accent illumination with this selection of dazzling options.
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Recessed lights provide unobtrusive illumination, lighting up your living space without taking up space themselves. Because they sit outside of the perceived “room” they’re in, they help make ceilings appear taller and keep the focus on the objects they illuminate.
The two main parts of a recessed light are the housing (the part behind the ceiling) and the trim (the visible elements outside the ceiling), which come in a variety of styles. Whether you’re renovating your home or simply looking to upgrade your lighting, finding the best recessed lights can make a significant difference. Read on for the top-rated options on the market, plus insights on how to choose the perfect ones for your home.
Via Homedepot.com
Best Overall Recessed Lights
Canless Adjustable LED Lights
These Commercial Electric LED Recessed Lights are a great balance of features and price. We love the easy-on night light feature (activated by a quick on/off flip of the wall switch) and the ability to select the color warmth before installation. You can choose to change the setting later, but it involves taking the light apart and reassembling it. These lights put out a bright 900 lumens at full power. They’re also wet rated, dimmable and come with a five-year warranty. Bonus: Check out this guide on recessed lighting installation.
Lumens: 900 | Color temperature (K): 2000, 2700, 3000, 3500, 4000, 5000 | Wattage: 15 | IC Rating: Yes
Via Amazon.com
Best Budget Recessed Lights
Halo Airtight Lights
If you’re building new or doing an extensive tear-out remodel, these Halo recessed lights, which come in a six-pack, are hard to beat—especially for the price. Plus, it also includes the white baffle trim for each light.
There’s nothing thin or slim about them, but they’re IC-rated, allowing them to come in contact with insulation, and their Air-Tite design minimizes any air seepage into the ceiling cavity. We also like the amusingly named “Got Nail!” feature, although it’s really just a standard nail ready to be hammered into place.
Lumens: 0 | Color temperature (K): 0Â | Wattage: 75 | IC Rating: Yes
Via Homedepot.com
Best LED Upgrade for Existing Recessed Lights
Feit Smart Canned Recessed Lights
Looking to upgrade an existing incandescent recessed can light to a more energy-efficient LED model? There are a number of upgrade kits, but it can be a struggle to find one that is both dimmable and WiFi-enabled. However, this LED upgrade from Feit ticks all those boxes.
The adapter simply screws into the existing can light socket, then the ultra-thin trim pops onto the front of the light’s opening. It’s compatible with almost all dimmer switches, and you’ll immediately get the energy savings of an LED light along with the ability to custom select the light color temperature. Not to mention the welcome fresh face on your old fixtures.
Lumens: 1000 | Color temperature (K): 1000Â | Wattage: 11.1 | IC Rating: No
Via Lowes.com
Via Lowes.com
Juno Canless Wafer Recessed Downlight
The unique design of recessed lights allows them to be sealed against water penetration, making them a perfect choice for a shower installation. Lights like the Juno LED Recessed Light provide safe lighting in a shower setting. The Juno is IC-rated, and the relatively shallow depth of two-and-a-half inches makes for an easy installation. But it also has the one truly essential item for a shower light: it is “wet-rated.” (Some manufacturers describe their lights as “shower-rated” in an attempt to be extra clear about the intended use.)
Do not confuse “damp-rated” products with “wet-rated” lights. Damp-rated lights are designed for areas like enclosed porches that encounter moisture but no direct wetness. Damp-rated lights are unsafe for shower use.
Lumens: 850 | Color temperature (K): 3000Â | Wattage: 11 | IC Rating: Yes
Via Amazon.com
Best Recessed Lights for the Bathroom
Halo Narrow Beam Downlights
Outside of the shower, recessed lights aren’t a common lighting choice for a bathroom. This is normally because the downward-cast light puts large shadows on your face, hiding details in the mirror and making it difficult to shave or apply makeup. Luckily, gimbal (swiveling) lights like the Halo HLA4 Narrow Beam Downlights can save the day!
Gimbal lights swivel, putting the light exactly where you want it. These Halo lights are built on gimbals that provide a 30-degree tilt, full 360-degree rotation and a 40-degree beam angle. In short, they can direct light on the walls or on your face as you stand in front of the mirror.
These Energy Star-rated lights are dimmable, IC-rated and wet-rated. (Most bathroom light fixtures don’t need to be wet-rated if they’re not in the shower, but it’s a nice feature regardless.) They come with a matte white trim kit that will blend in nicely with most ceilings.
Lumens: 650 | Color temperature (K): 2700, 3000, 3500, 4000, 5000Â | Wattage: 10.2 | IC Rating: Yes
Via Homedepot.com
Best Recessed Lights for a Smart Home
Commercial Electric Integrated LED Kit
If you love the convenience of having a smart assistant and infinitely adjustable lighting options, then the Commercial Electric Smart Recessed Light Kit is an excellent choice. Both wet and IC-rated, this light’s main focus is on smart home interactivity.
Part of The Home Depot’s multi-vendor Hubspace platform, these lights can be controlled by the Hubspace App (available on Apple and Android smartphones) or directly through your home’s WiFi and smart speakers. Turn the lights on or change their color with a simple command, or set up timers for convenience or added security when you’re away from home.
One caveat: Although this light can be dimmed with the Hubspace app, it is not compatible with wall dimmers, so you won’t be able to adjust the lights the old-fashioned way.
Lumens: 540 | Color temperature (K): 2700, 3000, 3500, 4000, 5000Â | Wattage: 9 | IC Rating: Yes
Via Homedepot.com
Best Recessed Lights for a Stairwell
Halo Recessed Step Light
Not all recessed lighting is designed to be mounted in a ceiling. In fact, overhead lighting in a stairwell can be inefficient, casting shadows that obscure the stair treads. Instead, consider a wall or stair riser-mounted recessed light like the Halo Step Light to illuminate your steps.
The IC-rated stair light is well-designed, with louvered trim to keep the light on the steps and out of your eyes, making it perfect for a nighttime safety light.
Lumens: 0 | Color temperature (K): 0Â | Wattage: 25 | IC Rating: Yes
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Best Recessed Lights for Outdoors
Hampton Bay Integrated Deck Light
We’ve already mentioned recessed lighting’s strong waterproofing, an essential trait for any electrical fixtures that could be exposed to rain. A great example is recessed lighting designed to illuminate walkways, such as the Hampton Bay Integrated Deck Light Kit.
These recessed deck lights are low-voltage for safe and easy installation, but you’ll need to bundle either a 12-volt or 15-volt transformer with your purchase. The cast aluminum and powder-coat finish can withstand exposure to the elements.
Lumens: 40 | Color temperature (K): 3000Â | Wattage: 10 | IC Rating: No
Via Lowes.com
Best Recessed Lights for a Narrow Clearance
Halo Airtight Canless Recessed Light Kit
The rise of LED lights has allowed manufacturers to create lights that fit in tighter spaces than ever before. A great example is the Halo HLB6 Downlight. This ultra-thin (only a half-inch deep!) light is perfect for remodels or upgrades. It’s dimmable and has a five-option color selector that can be set before installation. It also has the Halo Air-Tite seal to prevent air leakage into your attic. These lights are dimmable down to five percent capacity, and at full brightness shed 1,061 lumens—roughly equivalent to a 75-watt incandescent bulb—all while only consuming 12 watts of power.
Lumens: 1061 | Color temperature (K): 3000Â | Wattage: 13.8 | IC Rating: Yes
Via Homedepot.com
Best Mini-Can Recessed Lights
Commercial Electric Trimless Lighting Kit
A finalist for The Home Depot’s Innovation Award, the 2-in Gimbal Light from Commercial Electric provides adjustable lighting in a tiny package. Its gimbal design is perfect for shedding light on artwork or accent walls without drawing attention to the light fixture itself, plus it’s Energy Star certified. IC-rated, wet-rated and airtight, these lights are an excellent way to push a room’s existing ambient lighting system to the next level.
Lumens: 370 | Color temperature (K): 3000Â | Wattage: 6 | IC Rating: Yes
What to Consider When Buying the Best Recessed Lights
Trim Type
- Baffle: This is one of the most common trim types and features a ribbed surface that helps reduce glare by absorbing excess light, making the fixture less noticeable.
- Reflector: Reflector trims have a shiny, mirrored surface that bounces light back into the room, providing more illumination but making the light fixture more prominent.
- Eyeball: This adjustable design allows you to direct the light wherever you need it most. It’s ideal for accent lighting or highlighting specific features in a room.
- Wall Wash: These are designed to spread light evenly across a wall surface. Wall washers are useful for illuminating artwork or highlighting architectural features.
- Pinhole: Pinole trims create a narrow light beam from a very small aperture, which is useful for creating dramatic accent lighting effects.
- Open: This affordable option sits nearly flush with the ceiling and exposes the bulb. It provides maximum light output but little glare control.
Illumination
Because they are recessed, they don’t illuminate as broad of an area, meaning you might need more recessed lights than ceiling lights to cover the same area.
Power Source
Most recessed lights are either hard-wired off standard 120-volt circuitry or low-voltage, which means they utilize a transformer to reduce the voltage, usually to 12 volts. There are also battery-operated designs.
IC vs Non-IC
For recessed lights in top-floor ceilings, choose insulation contact (IC)-rated lights to allow them to touch insulation safely. Non-IC-rated lights can pose a fire hazard if covered with insulation, so either leave a 3-inch gap or opt for IC-rated lights.
Location and Placement
Recessed lights can be installed almost anywhere, but it’s crucial to choose the right type for each area. For example, wet-rated lights are essential for bathrooms and outdoor areas, insulated ceilings require IC-rated housing, while damp-rated lights are suitable for kitchens and basements. Proper placement is key to achieving the desired lighting effect. Ensure the lights are spaced evenly to create a balanced light distribution and avoid shadows, taking into account ceiling height and room dimensions.
Brightness and Wattage
Brightness, measured in lumens and wattage, is an important consideration when selecting recessed lights. The right brightness level depends on the lighting’s purpose. Higher lumens are necessary for general illumination, while lower lumens can create a cozy ambiance. Additionally, consider energy-efficient options like LED bulbs, which offer high brightness with lower wattage, reducing energy consumption and costs.
New Build or Remodel
Remodel lights, with their smaller housings, are typically the preferred choice unless the installation is part of a new construction.
Color Temperature
Recessed lights come in various color temperatures, measured in Kelvin (K), impacting the mood and ambiance. Warm white light (2700K-3000K) creates an inviting atmosphere ideal for living rooms and bedrooms. Cool white light (3500K-4100K) offers bright, clear illumination and is more suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Daylight (5000K-6500K) mimics natural sunlight and is perfect for workspaces or areas that need very bright light.
Special Features
Some models offer advanced features such as adjustable brightness and light color, while others can be controlled via a remote or smart speaker.
Why You Should Trust Us
I’m an Ohio-based freelance writer and author with extensive hands-on experience in the building and DIY space. As a former residential remodeler, commercial site supervisor and maintenance manager, I’ve worked on nearly all aspects of construction—from project planning and permitting to plumbing, carpentry and electrical work. My practical expertise and deep understanding of home improvement make me well-equipped to provide insightful recommendations on the best recessed lights.
How We Found the Best Recessed Lights
To find the best recessed lights, we evaluated various options, focusing on brightness, energy efficiency and ease of installation. We also considered different styles and finishes to match different interior design preferences. Additionally, we analyzed customer reviews to gauge real-world performance and satisfaction.
FAQ
Is there a difference between can lights and recessed lights?
Recessed lighting is a broad term that refers to any fixture installed into a hollow opening in the ceiling. Can lights be a specific type of recessed light with cylindrical housing that resembles a can, giving them their name. So, while all can lights are recessed lights, not all recessed lights are can lights.
How much does it cost to have a recessed light installed?
Installing a recessed light typically costs between $100 and $300 per fixture, depending on the job’s complexity, the type of housing and trim used and local labor rates. Homeowners can install recessed lighting themselves, but it requires a certain level of electrical knowledge. If you’re uncomfortable working with electricity or the installation involves complex wiring or cutting into the ceiling, hiring a professional electrician is best to ensure the job is done safely and correctly.
Can you put recessed lights on a dimmer?
Yes, but only if both the dimmer and the bulbs are compatible. Incandescent and halogen bulbs are generally compatible with most dimmers. If you’re using LED bulbs, you’ll need an LED-compatible dimmer switch. The bulbs themselves also need to be dimmable (not all LED are), so be sure to check that before buying.
