More often than not, it’s very likely for an individual to hear or even say, “Oh, that’ll last forever!” implying that something will last a very long time. When applying this concept to LED lights—yes—it is quite probable for the term “forever” to be associated, especially in comparison to incandescent lights and fluorescents. But how long do LEDs really sustain for? Will they truly last “forever”? Will they burn out or will they outlive you? These are certainly outrageous questions, but in a sense, completely valid if LEDs are coined forever.
So, do LEDs really last forever? Let’s answer the questions asked above to find out.
LEDs have an extremely long lamp life in comparison to incandescent and fluorescent lights. They last 5 times longer than fluorescent lights and 20 times longer than incandescent lights. LEDs also have a rated life of up to 50,000 hours—that’s over 11 years if used 12 hours per day! They also do not burn out. Instead, they slowly fade and dim overtime.
LEDs are extremely reliable. However, there are factors that diminish its lamp life. If an incompatible driver is used, or the LED is overheated, the lamp life can decrease dramatically from 50,000+ hours to 10,000 hours. LEDs using the correct driver can achieve maximum lamp life while also maintaining 70% of its original light output. Below is a list of tips to maximize LED lamp life.
tldr; LEDs don’t necessarily “last forever”, but they do out-last fluorescents and incandescent bulbs. If that doesn’t convince you to make the switch, read more on how you can save money by investing in LEDs.