Understanding Differences Between PAR and BR Light Bulbs

PAR and BR LED bulbs have certain similarities since they're both popular in recessed lighting. PAR and BR LED bulbs are also green solutions to outdoor and indoor lighting. However, they have some key differences too. BR LED bulbs emit a wide range of light, so they are considered floodlights. By contrast, PAR LED bulbs produce a much narrower beam of light, making them spotlights.

Please read this blog and understand their differences. It will help you make better decisions about which works best for your needs.

The major difference in light produced by these LED bulbs:

PAR LED bulbs produce a spotlight (a narrow beam)，such as 24 beam angle or 36 beam angle etc.

BR bulbs are considered to be a flood light (wide beam angle).

1、PAR bulb – narrow beam angle for directional light

PAR stands for "Parabolic Aluminum Reflector". These bulbs have a lamp, a reflector and a pressed lens inside the lamp to provide directional illumination. PAR bulb has a much narrower beam angle than BR bulb. PAR bulb has a smaller diameter, and they can spread light at lower angles of 24 degrees, 36 degrees, or 45 degrees. The PAR30 that YUJILEDS is currently selling is 36 degrees. We can also provide customized products with a lower angle of 24 degrees. (If you have any requirements, please contact our webstore team directly.)

These PAR30 products work well in applications requiring directional light, such as spotlights or retail displays, and are sometimes used to illuminate exterior landscapes. Their bodies are shorter than the bowl-shaped BR bulbs. PAR bulbs have a softer light but have a more defined edge than BR bulbs, which means they may create more shadows, depending on the application.

2、BR light bulb – wider beam angle

BR stands for "bulged reflector". BR bulbs traditionally have a bulged reflector inside the housing to increase the amount of light they emit, giving them a slightly bulging shape. This also produces softer light for viewing wide areas without harsh edges or shadows.

BR lights have a larger diameter, which means they also have a larger diameter beam angle. BR lights may have a beam angle of 90 degrees or more. Now, YUJILEDS provides the BR30 lights with 180 degrees. This makes them a popular choice when you need to light a wide area with one bulb. They are ideal for recessed lighting, often found in rooms with high ceilings or on staircases. Wide coverage helps reduce shadows in areas of use.

3、BR vs. PAR size comparison

BR and PAR bulbs are relatively close in diameter. PAR20 bulbs are approximately 2.48 inches in diameter, while a BR20 is approximately 2.5 inches. The PAR30 from YUJILEDS has a diameter of 3.74 inches, the same 3.74 inches as the BR30. The PAR38 and BR40 are also the same diameter at 4.72 inches. BR lights tend to be taller due to the bulged reflector. For example, the height of YUJILEDS PAR30 is 5 inches, and the height of BR30 is 5.31 inches. However, both should be able to easily mount your recessed lighting without affecting your use.

4、Color difference

There are no fundamental color differences between BR and PAR lights. Both types of lights can produce the same color of light, but you must check the color temperature of each bulb to make sure it provides the color you want. Different light bulbs have different color temperatures. You can choose warm light or cool light.

At present, YUJILEDS PAR30 and BR30 have two series of products, CRI-MAX and SunWave series (to know more, please click the link to the series page). The PAR30 of the CRI-MAX series currently has two color temperatures of 3000K (warm white) and 5000K (neutral white), and the PAR30 of the SunWave series has a color temperature of 4000K (neutral white); the BR30 of the CRI-MAX series has 3000K (warm white) and 5000K (neutral white), and the BR30 of the SunWave series has three color temperatures of 3000K (warm white), 4000K (neutral white) and 6500K (cool white).

5、Applications

BR LED bulbs can be used for general ambient lighting in a home or office. They work well in recessed cans (that accept E26/E27 mounts) in kitchens, hallways, stairwells, and family rooms. Their wide beam angle makes them ideal for general interior lighting within ceiling fixtures or downlights.

In contrast, PAR lights with narrow beams are used for security lighting, accent lighting, and task-based lighting. They also work well in restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums and in showroom or retail store lighting to emphasize or highlight specific artwork or retail products.

Both BR and PAR LED bulbs are ideal replacements for incandescent or halogen bulbs because they are more energy efficient. With this article, you should have a better understanding of the difference between BR bulbs and PAR lights, and presumably you can already choose the right bulb for your lighting project. If you are still not sure what is right for you, please contact our customer service team.