COB stands for Chips On Board. These lights are mounted on a circuit board and create LED arrays. But not all COB LED grow lights are good for your plants. How can you sift through the hundreds of products on the market to find the right one? Well, you will agree that it would take a lot of time, effort, and you will have to know the factors to look out for. That is why a guide like this is essential. We have done all the heavy lifting for you to create this list of the 10 best COB LED Grow Light on the market right now. All of the models we have listed here will serve your plants well and make them grow as they should, and the Phlizon CREE Cob Series 2000W LED Plant Grow Light deserved to be on the top spot.
What factors did we consider when making this list? Some of the essential features we looked out for include number of lights, wattage, coverage, PAR, light spectrum, lifespan, dimensions, weight, and warranty. In the buying guide section, we will discuss each of these features and show you why they are so important. Without further ado, let’s consider the top picks.
The first model on this roundup is the Phlizon CREE Cob Series 2000W LED Plant Grow Light, and for good reason. The Phlizon brand produces some of the best glow lights on the market, and these lights are the best LED grow lights that they have made so far. First, there are some important things to know. The Phlizon CREE Cob Series 2000W LED Plant Grow Light that I will review here comes as one of the 3 Phlizon lights. The manufacturer also makes a 1000W and 3000W versions. All three are practically identical when it comes to performance and specs. However, the 2000W version is my top choice.
What I liked: These lights are simply amazing and are the best on this roundup. One of the things that makes them stand out from the others is the presence of high grade CREE chip on boards. This feature is something found in more expensive lights.
Additionally, it comes with one of the highest outputs on this roundup. For instance, the PAR reading of the lights is more than 2000 umol/m²/s. This is even better since it lies at a height of 18”. The model can cover a 4 x 4’ area. During my testing, though, it was observed that keeping the area slightly smaller will give even better intensity.
While it gives plenty of output, the impressive thing is that it uses very little power on its own. Thus, if you are looking for a model that will help you to save energy and reduce costs, then this economical model is just right for you. It uses only 451W. In HID lighting terms, this is equal to 800 W od HID light.
With a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, this is a unit that you will thoroughly enjoy using and get plenty of value from.
Performance wise, for your plants, you’ll be hardpressed to find a better set of lights. The Phlizon CREE Cob Series 2000W LED Plant Grow Light has a spectrum that is ideal for all stages of plant growth. For example, the pair of white and cool white COBs combine to give you a complete spectrum in the red and blue range.
Since there is a switch for controlling the spectrum it gives off, you can reduce power costs drastically since the plants will not use the complete output.
You get several useful accessories with these lights. Included are a set of hangars and rope ratchets, a thermometer, humidity monitor, and glasses for grow lights. The model also come with a 2-year warranty.
All of this clearly shows that this is undoubtedly one of the best units you can buy right now.
What could be better: Well, it is slightly more expensive than your average grow light. It also weighs more than most lights on the market.
The next light on this roundup is an eco-friendly model that can help you to grow your plants safely and conveniently without fuss. It is one of the highest rated models on the market and it comes from Growstar, a company focused on making safe and quality LED lights.
What I liked: Although it is just a 300W light, it comes with impressive features that make it one of the best COB LED grow lights available. For example, this light is fitter with CREE LED chips. These chips are industry standard and are found in most of the best lights on the market. Thus, buyers are was more than pleased to find that this UFO LED grow light comes with them. There are 54 pieces of 5W LEDs an A 30W COB light in the lights. Therefore, it is very powerful and will offer you plants a full spectrum required for growth.
The lights offer 360 nm to 760nm and interestingly, UV and IR spectrum. With these features, you have everything you need for your indoor plants.
While several options on the market and even on this roundup run really warm, it is observed that the Growstar 300W Cree COB LED Grow Light runs quite cool. Therefore, it uses a little amount of power. This low temperature is because of the heat sinks of aluminum and a dedicated cooling system. With a coverage area of 3.6 x 3.6’ and hanging distance of 24”, this light will cover plenty of space. It also comes with a 2-year warranty
Another nice feature of the Growstar 300W UFO Led Grow Light is that it comes with a reflector design. This design catches plenty of light and disperses it evenly to all the plants on the farm. The angles are 90 and 120, so there is nowhere that the lights don’t shine on.
Another notable thing I noticed about the lights is that they all undergo testing for temperature before they are passed out to sale.
What could be better: Just as in the first product from Growstar that I reviewed above, this model does not have any switch to help you control the LEDS. It also lacks waterproof design.
If you liked the top choice, chances are that you will enjoy these lights as well. Just like the Phlizon lights I reviewed above, these AGLEX COB 2000 Watt LED Grow Light lights come with powerful COBs and smaller diodes to give you the complete spectrum that your plants require for healthy growth. Let’s see all the good and bad things about these lights.
What I liked: Right off the bat, the major thing I liked about these lights is their full spectrum. Because of the powerful COBs and diodes, you have a light that will give all the spectrum, including IR and UV. It also offers you red and blue spectrum. These are all you need to make your plants survive from germination down to harvesting.
The dimmer and buttons are designed to help you to regulate the spectrum of light available to the plants. This saves you money and also protects young plants from being burned due to the light intensity. There is a switch to control the COBs and the diodes.
Light intensity is impressive with this model. Using it, you get 1241 umol/m²/s dead center at 24 inches, which is one of the best one this list. The coverage are of 4 x 4’ is also one of the best available right now.
All these, if you have been paying attention, is very similar to the specs of our top pick. In fact, this model offers better accessories. However, it is from a brand that isn’t as well known or as reliable as our top option.
It comes in a smaller size and is an excellent option for small to medium grow rooms. The Aglex COB LED grow light can be connected through a daisy chain, thus, you can fix multiple lights and run them from one source. Overall, this excellent light will last for up to 50, 000 hours. You also get a 3-year warranty period which is one of the best you will have.
What could be better: There isn’t much to complain about these lights. The only reason it isn’t rated higher is that it isn’t from a well-known brand.
Due to certain reasons, you might find it impossible or impractical to use natural lighting for your plants. LED grow lights come to the rescue in such cases and help your plants get the required lights for normal, healthy growth. One of the best models you can buy is the Growstar 600W Cree COB LED Grow Light. If you check out the ratings of these lights, you’ll observe that it is one of the highest rated options on the market. This is due to several factors which I will uncover in this review.
What I liked: One reason why this model is so highly rated is that it comes from a reputable manufacturer. The company behind these lights is focused on making products of the highest quality and safety. And the Growstar 600W Cree COB LED Grow Light is no exception. It is safe for you, your plants and the environment.
The lights use CREE LED chips, which is something that more expensive lights usually have. Therefor,e finding this feature in a budget light is a good surprise. Inside the package, you have 54 5W LEDs and a 30W COB light. This package thus gives you excellent value for money.
To grow correctly, it is important that your plants have the right combination of spectrum. Just like our top pick above, the Growstar 600W Cree COB LED Grow Light comes with the entire spectrum required for healthy growth of your plants. It offers 380nm up to 760nm and UV and IR spectrum. Thus, your plants will not miss sunlight.
With 90 and 120 degrees angles, these lights give you consistent performance via the reflector design. Due to this construction, all the plants in your grow-room have a uniform light source.
My favorite thing about these lights is the thorough testing they undergo before shipping. All the lights are tested for their temperature before being sold to the public. Therefore, you can rest assured that you are getting the best product possible.
While several options on the market and even on this roundup run really warm, I observed that the Growstar 600W Cree COB LED Grow Light runs quite cool. Therefore, it uses a little amount of power. This low temperature is because of the heat sinks of aluminum and a dedicated cooling system. With a coverage area of 3.6 x 3.6’ and hanging distance of 24”, this light will cover plenty of space. It also comes with a 2-year warranty
What could be better: There are two things that could be better. First, the manufacturer does not include a switch to control the lights. Another disappointment is the lack of water resistance.
The Niello COB LED Grow Light is one of the latest models on the market. Therefore, it comes with a number of features that make for the best COB light on the market. It comes from a popular manufacturer and is the latest entry in Niello’s COB D-series of lights. The USP of this line of lights is that they offer an impressive spectrum of light for your plants. In this review, I will show you this and other features that make this an excellent option.
What I liked: The Niello COB LED Grow Light comes as the newest member of Niello’s COB D-light series. It offers a spectrum of 380 nm to 780 nm, which is an essential part of what you plants need to grow properly even though they are indoors.
Due to the COB D-light design, this light is one of the most efficient models on the market. Because of the efficiency and the spectrum, these lights are usable at every stage of your plants growth. Another thing I loved about this light is that it gives a high PAR value. In fact, from my testing and research, it has a higher PAR value than what you would find in the typical LED grow light. Apart from that feature, another notable feature is that it has a unique reflected cup and lens design. The benefit of this type of design is that light is easily and efficiently gathered then delivered to the plants that you are growing. With this reflective design, you’ll observe that up to 98% of light is dissipated to the plants.
I observed that this light comes with an aluminum heat sink and internal fans that help it to remain cool despite working for long. This heat mechanism ensures several things. First of all, it makes the lights last longer. It also contributes to lower energy usage. It is therefore an economical light.
The COB technology that I have often alluded to in this review comes in pretty handy for this model. It has been discovered that COB technology helps to reduce your energy costs. And that proved to be true in the case of these lights. You will enjoy better energy savings.
Among the cool features is a 2-year warranty period. There is also a 2-month return policy. Therefore, if you buy the lamp and are not satisfied with the performance, you can always return it without incurring any cost.
What could be better: While this is an overall impressive light, it is not water resistant. At this price, it is rather expected to come with some level of water resistance.
COB LED lights have become increasingly popular because they can use green lights to boost the growth of plants that are grown indoors. These lights come in different forms and have several designs. While creating this list, I considered the design and aesthetic value of the COB lights, and from my research and testing, it is believed that the Mrhua 600W COB LED Grow Light has the best design of all the lights so far.
What I liked: The Mrhua 600W COB LED Grow Light is an excellent LED grow light that comes with virtually everything that you need to have a great farm. Among the features which are beloved and which will be discussed is the 120 degree optic LED lens. It is also a full spectrum LED grow light that offers an impressive cooling system.
But the design is the most intriguing thing about these lights. While it comes in a small size, you shouldn’t doubt the power. It comes with a nice design that is lightweight and easier to set up than other 600W lights on the market. It weighs just 4.4 pounds, which is one of the lightest on this roundup. It also has a diameter of around 10”. Thus, it is compact and lightweight. Due to the shape and light intensity, this model can easily cover a 3 x 3’ area.
Inside the lamp, there are 3 Integrated COB Bridge lux LEDs 210 watt lights. These lights are systematically positioned in the bulb to make it quite powerful. It thus gives a wide gamut of light spectrum that your leafy friend will find appealing.
The 120 degree optic lens results in an impressive light gathering action that is better than what you’d find in most other options at this price. Additionally, the position of the lens means that it gives you a higher lux and PAR value compared to typical LEDs.
The spectrum of 380 to 780 nm will make plants of all types bloom and grow healthily.
Heat can be a problem in LEDs like this. Considering that this model generates 600W of power, it is only natural to be worried about the heat. Thankfully, the manufacturer has included aluminum heat sinks to sap the heat away. Inside the lights is a trio of high speed fans with the aim of cooling the lights. Hence, heat is safely dissipated. Additionally, it is safe to use because of an in-built safety light.
The warm-light nature imitates natural light to a high degree and makes your plants survive from planting up to harvesting.
What could be better: Although the spectrum is impressive, I observed that there is no IR and UV spectrum. Another thing I noticed is the lack of water resistance.
This unit comes with a full spectrum design and high PPFD value. It offers power of up to 530W and can cover up to 6.2 feet of space. It also offers you a 3-year warranty.
What I liked: While it gives plenty of output, the impressive thing is that it uses very little power on its own. Thus, if you are looking for a model that will help you to save energy and reduce costs, then this economical model is just right for you. It uses only 530W. In HID lighting terms, this is equal to 800 W od HID light.
With a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, this is a unit that you will thoroughly enjoy using and get plenty of value from.
Due to the COB D-light design, this light is one of the most efficient models on the market. Because of the efficiency and the spectrum, these lights are usable at every stage of your plants growth. Another thing I loved about this light is that it gives a high PAR value. In fact, from my testing and research, it has a higher PAR value than what you would find in the typical LED grow light.
Performance wise, for your plants, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better set of lights. This LED Plant Grow Light has a spectrum that is ideal for all stages of plant growth. For example, the pair of white and cool white COBs combines to give you a complete spectrum in the red and blue range.
Apart from that feature, another notable feature is that it has a unique reflected cup and lens design. The benefit of this type of design is that light is easily and efficiently gathered then delivered to the plants that you are growing. With this reflective design, you’ll observe that up to 98% of light is dissipated to the plants.
What could be better: Heat is a big issue with growing indoors. I observed that these lights increase the temperature by 17°-20 degrees. It is also heavier than I expected it to be.
The last but not least on this roundup is the FSGTEK 1800 Watt X6 Cob Led Grow Light. It comes with 6 lights and compared with many others on the market, it guarantees efficient lighting that will help your plants grow just the way you want.
What I liked: Just like many of the best options on this roundup, the FSGTEK 1800 Watt X6 Cob Led Grow Light comes with chip on board LEDs. However, on this model, the LEDs do not produce as much power as these other options. Additionally, it comes with supplemental LEDs to ensure that all the plants in your space are cares for.
It is a good brand, with wattage of 300 and a PPFD of 165 umol/m²/s. It is roughly the equivalent of a 300W HID light.
Another thing that I liked about this model is the good spectrum for plants. You can get most of the essential spectrum that would improve the growth of your plants.
Furthermore, due to the design, it is possible to connect multiple models together. All of these features are available at a fraction of the cost of more expensive models. Due to the chip on board LEDs, you get plenty of power.
Incredibly, you get a 3-year warranty as well with this model.
What could be better: The FSGTEK 1800 Watt X6 Cob Led Grow Light comes with good drivers. However, these lack the power and efficiency of the Meanwell drivers found in many of the other options on this roundup.
Right off the bat, the CANAGROW 50W COB LED Chip Grow Lamp is by far the cheapest light on this roundup. With the 50W LED lights, it obviously doesn’t boast of the size or power of the more expensive lights that I review on this roundup. Now, although it isn’t as powerful as you might have thought, it comes in pretty handy for anyone looking at a small farm and doesn’t want to spend through the nose, so to speak.
What I Liked: Although it is a cheap option, it is made with impressive components. It is similar to the more expensive 4000W model from the manufacturer. That model is very expensive and comes with CREE CXB3590 COB LEDs. It also has some impressive Meanwell drivers that increase the power, and invariably the performance. While the CANAGROW 50W COB LED Chip Grow Lamp doesn’t have these components, it still delivers excellent performance for a small farm. It uses LED chip in its 50W light, and that is what is present in the package. The product page I bought from has 2 other models that are much higher priced. That is because one of them uses CREE COBs and the other uses some other brand I do not know about.
There are similar options to these lights, produced by CF Grow. These are the same as the CANAGROW 50W COB LED Chip Grow Lamp lights but are just sold by someone else.
These are my best options due to the price. They are so affordable and give a good PPFD to help your plants grow well even in enclosed spaces. It gives enough coverage for a 2×2’ space.
Due to the lower output, it uses very little amount of power. While the coverage area is not too good, you have to consider the cost and the output.
Although it falters in terms of coverage, one area it excels is in the spectrum of light. For lights of this price, it is surprising that it gives an all-white color spectrum. Therefore, you get almost all the spectrums required for different stages of plant growth. You get a spectrum from 380 nm up to 780 nm. Thus your plants will continue to grow properly.
Overall, these are amazing lights for the price. It even comes with a dimmer, something that you would not find on some more expensive unit.
What could be better: Aside from the relatively small coverage area I touched on earlier, it is disappointing that these lights do not have a light spectrum found in units with COB LEDS. It also does not have UV and IR wavelengths.
As I said in the CANAGROW 50W COB LED Chip Grow Lamp review above, the CANAGROW and CFD lights are completely identical, with the only difference being the seller. This unit is a 100 W model, thus, it offers far more power than the CANAGROW 50W COB LED Chip Grow Lamp reviewed above. With that in mind, it uses more power but covers a larger area and wider spectrum. Despite the impressive features, it comes at a cheap price.
What I liked: The CF Grow brand has been one of the best brands on the market due to the COB LED light included in the lights. That is one reason why this 100W light is one of the more expensive options on this roundup. Nevertheless, it definitely justifies the price. It is made in the United States and has several features that you won’t find in many other options. While it is similar to the budget model reviewed above, it comes with far more features and is an overall excellent buy.
One of the things in liked about these lights is that it comes with an impressive spectrum. The spectrum ranges from 380 nm up to 780nm. This spectrum is what your plants need for sustained and healthy growth. It also comes with a dimmer. This dimmer might seem to be a basic function, but you’ll be surprised at the few number of manufacturers that include it in their product. Therefore, finding it here on this product was a pleasant surprise. With this dimmer, you can change the intensity of output from the lights from 10 W to the maximum of 100 W. It comes in very useful if you have a newly growing set of plants that might be burned by the 100 W intensity.
While the budget model above lacks COB and drivers, that isn’t the case with this model. It comes with CREE COB lights and Meanwell drivers that improve the performance and stability of your lights. Due to these features, you have a lighting system that will last for several seasons.
It should be noted that these lights are similar to the CANAGROW COB LEDs. The difference between them is the brand name.
What could be better: Well, considering the features, it isn’t surprising that this is an expensive model. It costs more than your average unit, which is somewhat an inconvenience. Furthermore, there are some cheaper options that still have similar features.
In the section above, we reviewed 10 of the best COB LED grow lights that you can buy right now. We have narrowed down your options, which will certainly help you with making a choice out of all the models on the market. In this buying guide section, we will review some of the important features to consider if you want to buy lights outside of our list. These features are what we considered when making the list. We have also provided some other useful information that make for excellent reading.
In the past, basic LED lights were the choice whether indoors or outdoors. However, these lights usually came in bigger sizes than what you need. That is why companies decided to create a type of LED light that still retains the power of typical LEDs but come in a smaller size and are great for growing plants indoors.
Well, COB stands for Chips On Board. These lights are mounted on a circuit board and create LED arrays. Due to their design, they use a fewer number of components and allow you to fix a large number of LEDs on a small space. This is just one of the advantages of these types of lights. Let’s see the other advantages and differences.
There are many differences between both types of lights. Both of them come with similar features. Some of the things they have in common include impressive durability, efficient light output, and a wide spectrum. However, the differences are what really matters.
As I said earlier, the COB model has more LEDs cramped on the circuit. The result is that you get more light. The lumen intensity of the COB is higher than that on an SMD or surface mounted device. It also gives you a more even lighting.
Using a reflector design and having a larger number of lights fixed on a circuit board, COBs give more focused light than SMD. It is denser and with a reflector, the light is even brighter and evenly spread, which your plants would love.
COB lights use space more efficiently than your typical LED light. You can arrange a 100 lumen COB array tighter than a 100 lumen SMD array. This results in smaller products, which is what you might need in a small indoor farm.
The more the components in an LED fixture, the more the heat produced. That is why COBs do not produce as much heat as you’d expect. It simply has fewer components that can get hot. They also come with a thermal sink that is directed toward the board.
While COBs are generally less hot, when choosing a COB, check out the type of heat sink it uses. You should also consider the design of the board and the material of the COB substrate.
While there are several advantages, it also comes with its fair share of downsides.
It has been observed that COBs have less versatility than SMDs. While COBs have plenty of lights on a small surface, the SMD design lets you install more than a contact. One chip can have a trio of diodes, and each of these will have its circuit. A SMD design allows the chips to come in different colors. It also allows you to mix the colors.
While the COB can have several diodes as well, it can only have a maximum of two contacts and a circuit. Thus, they cannot create more than one wavelength simultaneously and it cannot be adjusted. Phlizon CREE Cob Series 2000W LED Plant Grow Light is a versatile option.
With SMDs, you enjoy better light distribution and less intensity. The SMD LED will cover a larger area of space and penetrate through a wider range of plant canopy. Thus, it makes SMDs feasible for open areas.
While COB lights might be more expensive than other types, it holds the lead in other areas. Let’s see some of the reasons why you should look to buying a COB LED grow light for your farm.
When growing indoors, it is important that your plants have the right level of light intensity. And this is where COB LED grow lights win over the sceptics. The light intensity is simply unmatched. As a matter of fact, only HPS offers more light intensity than COBs.
Another important feature that your plants need to grow is the light spectrum. The best LED grow lights, including all those that we have reviewed above come with wide spectrum wavelengths. Some models even offer IR and UR spectrums. This is something that you’ll not find in other LED types except COB LED grow lights.
Another notable reason why many people prefer COB LED grow lights is the heat ventilation. LEDs traditionally do not produce plenty of heat, but COBs take this up a notch. While they give you plenty of light intensity, they offer the most control over the heat that is emitted. This usually depends on the heat sink, fans and material of construction.
This is dependent on the material of construction of the COB, but most of the best options, including those I reviewed have at least 30,000 hours of runtime.
Before buying the COB LED grow lights never forget to consider the following features:
When choosing COB LED Grow lights, one of the most important features that will affect your buying choice is the type of plant. It is essential that the COB light you buy will not harm the plant. It should also be able to care for the plant at different stages of its growth. Some COB lights are made for young plants while others have a spectrum that is suited to older plants.
The best thing to do when in doubt is to choose a model that is versatile.
You must consider how big or small the garden is. The size of the COB light you buy should be compatible with the size of the garden. Using a small light in a big garden will not give you the best results while using a large light in a small space will waste energy and isn’t economical. The Mrhua 600W COB LED Grow Light is a large unit while the CANAGROW 50W COB LED Chip Grow Lamp is a smaller option.
As with many other products on the market, COB LED lights come at different prices. Thus, you should consider your budget and buy a unit that falls in your budget. There are several brands on the market, so it is important to take your time to compare the different models available and the prices that they are available at. There are several affordable models here, for example, the CFGROW LED Grow Light.
There are several types of COB lights on the market. Some come in the form of panels while others hang overhead or are screwed into a normal light fixture.
When buying COB lights, you should consider the type of plants you will be taking care of. You should also consider where the lights would be located and the amount of natural light you already have in the room.
This refers to several important things. First, it is important to buy a model that is easy to install. This is especially important if you will be setting the lights up on your own. It is also essential to consider maintenance. Some models require plenty of maintenance while others do not. Related to this feature is the noise level of the lights. If it is going to be placed in a place that requires peace and quiet, then you should ensure that it doesn’t make plenty of noise. The Niello COB LED Grow Light is quiet and easy to use.
This scale is very important to the healthy growth of your plants. It ranges from 1000 to 10000 and it is a measure of the LED’s color temperature. If it is high, the light would look closely like natural lighting.
If you are growing vegetables, you should look for models with around 6500K ratings. If on the other hand you seek to grow fruits and flowers, you need something lower, approximately around the 3000K mark.
Choosing the best COB LED grow light can be a challenge if you do not know what you are looking for. That is why articles like these come in very useful. In this post, we have reviewed ten of the best models. We love the Phlizon CREE Cob Series 2000W LED Plant Grow Light because it is an amazing light that comes with high quality CREE chip on boards. It comes with an impressive output while using a little power.
We hope this list will help you in your quest to choose the best COB LED grow lights.
