If you’ve ever shopped for lightbulbs, you’ve probably seen a lighting facts label printed on the back of every box. But, what does this label really mean? Well, whether you’re an experienced or a first-time bulb buyer, we’re here to help you become the brightest consumer in the aisle.

Brightness. It may seem self-explanatory to most people that brightness is the most important factor when picking a bulb. So, when choosing how bright you want your bulb, check the lumens, not the wattage. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light.

Estimated yearly energy cost. Saving energy and saving money shouldn't cause you to break the bank. This important number will show you how much money the bulb will cost you, based on an average usage of three hours a day and an average energy cost of 11 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh).

Life. The average lifespan of a bulb is great to know, especially when it comes to how much bang you’ll get for your buck for the bulb. Plus, you can just celebrate that using an LED bulb will save you another trip to the store.

Light appearance. This is for making every room in your home look and feel just right. Color temperature is a vital detail that can help you decide how the bulb in question will fit into your home. Warmer (lower Kelvin) color bulbs are prefect for those rooms you choose to relax in and cooler (higher Kelvin) color bulbs are great for more task-oriented spaces.

Energy used. This shows you, in watts, how much of a power hog the bulb is. The lower the number, the lower the power consumption and less money spent by you.