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Here at Wholesale LED Lights, we want to make your shopping experience as smooth as possible. In theory, buying GU10 LED light bulbs should be simple.

In practice though, it can be a minefield. That’s why if you aren’t sure about anything – you should follow our advice. You’ll be decking your whole house out in no time.

1. Check The Fittings

Check that it is actually a GU10 base that you need. We’ve seen customers accidentally buying GU10 bulbs instead of MR16’s countless times. The bulbs are really similar, but you definitely won’t be able to use a GU10 in an MR16 fitting (believe me – we’ve tried!).

A GU10 fitting consists of 2 fat prongs that are slightly wider at the tip. The most straightforward way of telling the difference is how the bulb fits into place.

If it pushes straight into place, then you’ve got an MR16. If you need to push and then twist, you’ve got a GU10.

2. Check The Size

This is especially important if you’re replacing recessed spotlights, as there isn’t always a lot of room inside the fitting to accommodate a larger bulb. It’s probably worth knowing that a standard size halogen measures 50 x 53mm.

Most of our GU10 LEDs are the same size – but some are considerably longer. Check how much room you have in your fitting before you buy – you could be saving yourself a lot of hassle.

3. Check The Lumen Rating

Many people will look at the word ‘lumen’ and won’t actually know what it means. We’ve got a more detailed explanation of what lumens are for those who fall into that category.

All our bulbs are given a lumen rating based on how bright they are. Obviously, the higher the lumen rating, the brighter the bulb.

Alternatively, you can refer to the bulb’s ‘equivalent incandescent wattage’, which basically tells you the wattage of the incandescent or halogen the GU10 LED is designed to replace.

This is a really important factor to consider for many, as LEDs typically use around 90% less electricity than their incandescent counterparts.

As a side note, their lower energy consumption is what gives them astounding lifespans – up to 50,000 hours! That’s 2 times longer than fluorescent bulbs and 20 times longer than halogen lights.

4. Choose A Colour Temperature

All our GU10 LED bulbs come in 2 main colours – warm white (3000K) and cool white (6000K).

These are simply 2 points off the colour temperature spectrum – a measure in Kelvins of the perceived warmth of a light.

Each shade has a different effect on the room its used in. Warm white works really well in areas like the living room or bedroom because of the cosy environment it helps create.

Cool white is better suited to bathrooms, kitchens and offices because of the brighter, more penetrative light it emits.

Of course these are only guidelines based on our experience – a lot of it is down to personal preference too.

Having trouble deciding? Make use of our 14 day home trial period. Simply buy one of each colour, compare them and return the one you don’t want for a full refund!

5. Choose A Beam Angle

GU10 LED bulbs with a narrow beam angle – typically between 38^o and 60^o – deliver a focused ‘spot’ of light, which is ideal for feature and accent lighting.

Those with a wide beam angle – normally between 90^o and 120^o – produce more of a ‘flooding’ of light – distributed across a wide area, which makes them much better for general illumination and ambient lighting.

Drop us a comment below if you think we missed anything, or if you have any further questions!