Which Type Of Ceiling Fan Light Bulb To Buy? Let’s Find Out

Ceiling fan lights have always interested me. Whenever I visit somebody’s house, these lights are often the first ones to grab my attention. I have wanted to install ceiling lights in my home for a long time. But being a smart lighting expert, I cannot have taken this step without thorough research. To my luck, in the last few months, I read a lot about different types of ceiling light bulbs due to my current project. As a result, I finally installed ceiling fan lights in my home. And I am loving it!

Sometimes, figuring out the best and the most appropriate way to light your home can be tricky. It can be frustrating if you want to install ceiling lights in your home but are unsure what to look for. Well, that was my ordeal at once, but my thorough research made this task much easier for me. Hence, I decided to write this article.

The two significant factors to consider while purchasing a ceiling fan light bulb are the light bulb size and the light bulb wattage. While the size of a light bulb or a ceiling fan depends on the fixture installed by the manufacturer, the required wattage for ceiling fans of 36 to 56 inches is usually 55W to 100 W. 

In this article, we will learn about ceiling fans’ types of light bulbs. We will also have a look at how to know what size of light bulb will fit in your ceiling fan fixture and what should be the wattage of your ceiling fan light bulb.

Factors To Consider While Installing Ceiling Fan Light Bulbs

Buying a light bulb for a ceiling fan is not as straightforward as going to the superstore and picking up a light bulb. It is important to note that you can install not all light bulbs on a ceiling fan. My article about light bulb types gives a piece of detailed information about the sizes and shapes of light bulbs. But if you are looking to install or replace the light bulb on your ceiling fan, there are a few factors that you should definitely consider.

Ceiling Fan Light Bulb Size

Ceiling Fan Light Bulb Size Chart

For those who are looking for a ceiling fan light bulb or are having trouble finding the correct replacement light bulb for their ceiling fan, it is important to know that not all ceiling fan bulbs are the same. Light bulb sizing is determined by the diameter of the bulb base and the maximum overall diameter of the bulb’s shell depending upon the design of your ceiling fan light fixture. Hence, your replacement should be the same shape and size as your ceiling fan fixture.

Basically, there are four main types of light bulbs used in ceiling fans- candelabra, immediate, mini candelabra, and medium. The ceiling fan light bulb size chart given above depicts the dimensions of each of them. While candelabra and intermediate light bulbs are commonly used in ceiling fans these days, many new ceiling fans use mini candelabra light fitting. Medium-light bulb fitting is often seen in older ceiling fans. 

Let us learn a little more about the types of ceiling fan light bulbs in this section of the article.

1. Candelabra

Candelabra

E12 bulb base, as the name suggests, is an Edison screw bulb base with a base diameter of 12 millimeters. E12 light bulb bases are commonly called Candelabra bulbs as these bases are most widely used with the candelabra bulbs whose shape resembles the flame of a candle. Since they are pretty popular for their decorative and retro look, these bulbs are very commonly used in chandeliers and ceiling fans.

2. Intermediate

Intermediate

Like candelabra bulbs are the bulbs with E12 bases, intermediate bulbs are the bulbs with E17 bases. That means Intermediate bulbs are light bulbs with an Edison screw and a base diameter of 17 inches. These light bulbs are larger in size than the E12 bulbs and are commonly used in ceiling fans, microwave lights, refrigerator lights, etc.  

3. Mini Candelabra

Mini Candelabra

Mini Candelabra bulbs are the E11 bulbs with Edison Screw and a base diameter of 11 millimeters. Mini Candelabra are slightly smaller in size as compared to Candelabra bulbs. These light bulbs are found in the newer models of ceiling fans and are an excellent choice for their smaller size.

4. Medium

Medium

The most standard light bulb, i.e., E26 light bulbs or the Edison screw light bulb with a base diameter of 26 millimeters, has also been the standard light bulb for ceiling fans for a long time. Hence, most old ceiling fans would have an E26 fixture on them.

Ceiling Fan Light Bulb Wattage

The wattage rating of a bulb helps us understand not only its performance but also whether it is suitable for your ceiling fan or not.  In general, light bulbs with too high wattage won’t work in your ceiling. If your light bulb wattage is too high, your fan or lights may burn out upon turning on. One must ensure selecting the light bulb wattage that suits your ceiling fan, along with your purpose.

The required wattage for ceiling fans of 36 to 56 inches is usually 55W to 100 W. For example, a 48-inch ceiling fan light bulb wattage should be around 75W. Yet ensure checking the manual to get a clear idea of the wattage rating.

Since LEDs don’t produce much heat, they are unlikely to burn out if the wattage is a little high. So if you use a bulb with 10-15 watts more power than recommended, you may not face an issue. However, I won’t recommend going much higher in terms of wattage than the recommended value.  

How To Choose The Right Bulb Size For Ceiling Fan?

Once you know you cannot screw any bulb in your ceiling fan fixture, the next question is how to know which light bulb is suitable for your ceiling fan. Buying a light bulb for your brand new fan or buying a replacement, the task may seem difficult since there is more than one option available. 

Following are a few ways you can check the bulb size for ceiling fan fixtures so that you buy an appropriate light bulb.

  • Look for the size of the light bulb fixture in the user manual of the ceiling fan, as the user manual contains all the necessary information related to the ceiling fan.
  • Check your ceiling fan fixture to see if you can identify the size of the base to figure out the light bulb required. Mostly, the medium base is easy to identify as it is also the standard bulb base, and most users are familiar with it.
  • Measure the size of the installed bulb as that is the exact size of the light bulb that you need to buy. Some light bulbs have their size printed at the neck.

FAQs

Q1. Can You Put Dimmable Bulbs In A Ceiling Fan?

Answer – Installing dimmable bulbs in a ceiling fan is usually not a great idea, as dimmable lights may make your fan louder. Moreover, having dimmable lights in a ceiling fan can cause the fan capacitor to wear off. In-fact I did a full blown article on the same.

Q2. Are E11 and E12 light bulbs interchangeable?

Answer – Unfortunately, E11 and E12 bulbs are not interchangeable.

Q3. Is it safe to use incandescent light bulbs in ceiling fan light fixtures? Can they burn out due to excess heat?

Answer – It is safe to use incandescent light bulbs in your ceiling fan light fixtures as long as you are adhering to the recommended wattage of the bulb. If your incandescent light bulb is overheating due to some reason, it may burn out. 

Conclusion

Ceiling fan light bulbs are a modern way of illuminating your light. More than being a primary source of lighting in most homes, these are statement lights that can take your home lighting and home decor to another level. But you would not want to wonder which light bulb to install on your fan as I wondered. Well, this article will ensure that you don’t!

I hope that you will find all the relevant information related to the ceiling fan light bulbs in this article and will find it helpful too. If you have any more questions related to the ceiling fan light bulbs, write to me in the comment section.

Leave a Comment