HOW MANY LUMENS DECREASE IN LED LIGHTS ANNUALLY?

LED lights gradually lose brightness over time, and this is referred to as lumen depreciation. While LEDs are known for their long lifespan and energy efficiency, they do experience a decrease in lumens as they age.

Typically, LEDs lose about 1-2% of their brightness per year under normal operating conditions. This means that after one year, an LED light might be around 98-99% of its original brightness. Over the span of many years, the brightness degradation adds up, but it happens much slower compared to other lighting technologies like incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.

Lumen Depreciation Over Time:

• After 1 year: 98-99% of initial lumens

• After 5 years: 90-95% of initial lumens

• After 10 years: 80-90% of initial lumens

However, the actual rate of lumen depreciation can vary based on several factors:

1. Operating Conditions: High temperatures, frequent on/off cycles, or improper voltage can cause LEDs to degrade faster.

2. Quality of the LED: Higher-quality LEDs tend to degrade slower than cheaper, lower-quality options.

3. Type of LED: Some LEDs are designed for longer life spans with minimal lumen depreciation (e.g., those built for industrial or high-end consumer use).

LEDs are designed to last for tens of thousands of hours, and even after significant lumen depreciation, they are still operational, though they may not be as bright as when they were first used. Manufacturers often specify a L70 rating, which indicates the number of hours it will take for the LED's light output to decrease to 70% of its original brightness. For many LEDs, this could be around 25,000 to 50,000 hours, depending on the quality and design.