Good lighting is essential in any home, and it all starts with the humble light bulb. The first electric light was developed back in 1802 by Humphry Davy, and different versions of the light bulb were made over the course of that century by a number of inventors until Thomas Edison created the first commercially successful incandescent light bulb in 1879 and got all the credit.
Up until fairly recently, incandescent bulbs were still king, but now, there are tons of options, including LEDs, compact fluorescents (CFLs), and smart bulbs. Modern light bulbs can change colors, turn on and off with voice commands or the movement of your arm, dim to suit your desires, and do so much more than Edison could have dreamed.
There are several types of light bulbs to consider and one may suit the look and feel you're going for better than another. If you'd like to learn more about the types of light bulbs and their characteristics, you'll find an explainer after the last pick in our guide.
After much research and some testing at home, these are our top picks for the best light bulbs. We've included mostly LED bulbs because they represent the best value for your money, but we also highlight the best smart light bulbs and the best vintage filament light bulb you can buy.
Here are our top picks for the best light bulbs:Prices and links are current as of 6/10/20. We updated our pick for the best vintage-style light bulbs due to our previous pick being out of stock. We also added a selection of related buying guides.