Side-by-side data: LED vs Metal Halide vs HPS vs Fluorescent. Real specifications, energy costs, and ROI calculations updated for 2026.
| Specification | LED UFO High Bay | Metal Halide | HPS (High Pressure Sodium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| wattage | 150W | 400W | 400W |
| lumens | 24,000 | 36,000 → 20,000* | 50,000 → 30,000* |
| efficacy | 160 lm/W | 90 lm/W initial | 125 lm/W initial |
| lifespan | 100,000 hrs | 20,000 hrs | 24,000 hrs |
| startup | Instant | 10-15 min | 5-10 min |
| CRI | >80 | 65 | 22 |
| dimmable | Yes (0-10V) | No | Limited |
| Annual Energy Cost | $66 | $175 | $175 |
| maintenance | None | $50-100/yr | $40-80/yr |
* Metal halide and HPS experience 30-50% lumen depreciation over their lifespan. LED maintains >90% output.
| Specification | LED Area Light | Metal Halide | HPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| wattage | 200W | 400W | 400W |
| lumens | 30,000 | 36,000 → 22,000* | 50,000 → 30,000* |
| efficacy | 150 lm/W | 90 lm/W initial | 125 lm/W initial |
| lifespan | 100,000 hrs | 20,000 hrs | 24,000 hrs |
| startup | Instant | 10-15 min | 5-10 min |
| CRI | >70 | 65 | 22 |
| dimmable | Yes | No | Limited |
| Annual Energy Cost | $88 | $175 | $175 |
| maintenance | None | $80-150/yr | $80-150/yr |
* Annual cost based on $0.10/kWh, 12 hrs/day operation. Maintenance includes relamping labor.
| Specification | LED Troffer (2x4) | Fluorescent T8 (3-lamp) | Fluorescent T12 (4-lamp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| wattage | 40W | 96W | 160W |
| lumens | 5,200 | 8,100 → 5,400* | 9,200 → 5,500* |
| efficacy | 130 lm/W | 84 lm/W initial | 58 lm/W initial |
| lifespan | 100,000 hrs | 30,000 hrs | 20,000 hrs |
| startup | Instant | 1-3 sec | 2-5 sec |
| CRI | >80 | 80 | 62 |
| dimmable | Yes (0-10V) | With ballast | No |
| Annual Energy Cost | $18 | $42 | $70 |
| maintenance | None | $15-25/yr | $25-40/yr |
* Fluorescent lumen output decreases 20-40% as tubes age. Ballast replacement adds $30-60 per fixture.
| Scenario | Traditional | LED Replacement | Annual Savings | Payback Period | 10-Year Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 × UFO High Bay (Warehouse) | 400W MH | 150W LED | $5,475 | 1.8 years | $54,750 |
| 100 × Area Light (Parking Lot) | 400W MH | 200W LED | $8,700 | 2.1 years | $87,000 |
| 200 × Troffer (Office) | 96W T8 | 40W LED | $4,800 | 1.2 years | $48,000 |
Based on $0.10/kWh, 12 hrs/day, 365 days/year. Includes maintenance cost elimination.
Use this chart to find the correct LED replacement wattage for your existing fixtures:
| Metal Halide / HPS | LED Equivalent | Energy Savings | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100W MH | 30-40W LED | 60-70% | Wall packs, small area |
| 150W HPS | 40-60W LED | 60-73% | Wall packs, bollards |
| 250W MH | 80-100W LED | 60-68% | Small parking lots, pathways |
| 400W MH/HPS | 150-200W LED | 50-63% | Parking lots, high bays, sports |
| 750W MH | 300-400W LED | 47-60% | Large area, stadium |
| 1000W MH/HPS | 400-600W LED | 40-60% | Stadium, high mast |
| 1500W MH | 600-800W LED | 47-60% | Large stadium, arena |
| 2000W MH | 1000-1200W LED | 40-50% | Professional stadium |
Use our free LightSpec AI tool to get instant fixture recommendations for your space.
LED saves 50-75% energy compared to metal halide. A 150W LED replaces a 400W metal halide (460W with ballast), saving 310W per fixture — about $163/year per fixture at $0.12/kWh running 12 hrs/day.
LED: 100,000+ hours. Metal Halide: 20,000 hours. HPS: 24,000 hours. Fluorescent: 30,000 hours. LED lasts 5× longer than MH.
Retrofit kits exist, but full fixture replacement is recommended for best ROI. LED fixtures are optimized for directional light output; MH retrofit kits lose 20-40% efficiency.
Yes — DLC-listed LED fixtures qualify for rebates of $50-200/fixture from California utilities (SCE, PG&E, LADWP, SDG&E). DLC Premium gets the highest tier.
AI-powered photometric simulation — instant fixture recommendations
IES foot-candle standards by application type + FC↔Lux conversion
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