Comparing grow lights suitable for a 5 x 5 grow area
I have tested 25 of the best grow lights for a 5ft x 5ft or 1.5m x 1.5m grow tent and compare them for PAR output, efficiency and value for money.
The 5ft x 5ft or 1.5m x 1.5m grow area is one of the most popular grow tent sizes and also a common modular size for commercial grow setups. There are a large number of grow lights on the market for 5 x 5 grow areas including a lot of commercial grade fixtures so there is a lot of competition and great value for money.
Not your size? try here:
12 best grow lights for a 2 x 2 grow space (0.6m x 0.6m)
7 best grow lights for a 3 x 3 grow space (1m x 1m)
10 best grow lights for a 4 x 2 grow space (1.2m x .6m)
16 best grow lights for a 4 x 4 grow space (1.2m x 1.2m)
How many grow light watts for a 5 x 5?
To maximise the potential yield from the space you need LED grow light wattage of about 700 to 800 watts of high efficiency LED lighting to achieve an average of 750 to 850 µmols PAR intensity. Some fixtures are in the 1,000 watt range and designed to delivery very high average PAR intensity of about 1,200 µmols which would require CO2 supplementation to make use of the high light intensity.
Ideally the light fixture will be suitably sized to cover the area evenly i.e. the fixture is square and close to the physical size of the grow tent. The PAR chart is shown below for each model so you can judge the best solution for your grow space.
Comparison of grow light Spectrum
All of the lights have a mixture of mid temperature white LEDs with 660nm reds to improve their electrical and photosynthetic efficiency. Therefore all of the grow lights tested are full spectrum and suitable for growing from seed to harvest.
Grow light comparison method
The comparison chart uses the results from Shanes PAR output and efficiency tests to calculate and compare the total cost of each fixture to deliver an average PAR of 800µmols/m²/second over a 5ft x 5ft grow area over a 3 year period. The 3 year costing includes the cost of the fixture and adds the electricity costs at 16.8c/KW hour over 12 hours per day average.
The best value LED grow light5x5 grow space | 600 - 1,000 watts |
|||||||
| Make | Model | Grow area | Watts | USD $ Price |
Usable PPF*/ Watt |
3 year** elect. cost |
Total cost 3 years |
| MIGRO | ARAY 1000 | 5x5 | 1047 | $750.00 | 2.76 | $1,439.69 | $1,906.86 |
| MIGRO | ARAY 750 | 5x5 | 789 | $599.00 | 2.72 | $1,460.86 | $1,963.26 |
| Hortibloom | Mega Optic 800 | 5x5 | 806 | $625.00 | 2.62 | $1,516.62 | $2,049.36 |
| Spider Farmer | G8600 | 5x5 | 867 | $659.00 | 2.57 | $1,546.12 | $2,078.48 |
| Grow Light Science | Progrow 1800 | 5x5 | 672 | $420.00 | 2.4 | $1,655.64 | $2,124.39 |
| Dimlux | Extreme 800W MkII | 5x5 | 840 | $1,200.00 | 2.87 | $1,384.51 | $2,280.48 |
| HLG | Tomahawk 720W | 5x5 | 727 | $899.00 | 2.79 | $1,424.21 | $2,222.01 |
| Floraflex | 700W | 5x5 | 675 | $420.00 | 2.29 | $1,735.17 | $2,224.25 |
| GML | Tarantula tent ultimate | 5x5 | 1025 | $1,200.00 | 2.72 | $1,460.86 | $2,235.61 |
| Photonican | Aurora 820W pro | 5x5 | 684 | $699.00 | 2.52 | $1,576.80 | $2,306.75 |
| Volt Grow | FL 1 | 5x5 | 625 | $449.00 | 2.23 | $1,781.85 | $2,361.73 |
| Medicgrow | Smart 8 | 5x5 | 774 | $629.00 | 2.28 | $1,742.78 | $2,384.35 |
| Volt Grow | Storm 8 | 5x5 | 746 | $999.00 | 2.65 | $1,499.45 | $2,409.05 |
| MARS Hydro | FC6500 | 5x5 | 730 | $700.00 | 2.36 | $1,683.70 | $2,415.07 |
| Mammoth | Mint Evo | 5x5 | 680 | $799.00 | 2.52 | $1,576.80 | $2,416.09 |
| Hydrofarm | Photobio MX | 5x5 | 684 | $680.00 | 2.32 | $1,712.73 | $2,484.06 |
| Parfactworks | ZE700 | 5x5 | 695 | $665.00 | 2.29 | $1,735.17 | $2,487.27 |
| Groplanner | 640W LED | 5x5 | 627 | $549.00 | 2.22 | $1,789.88 | $2,499.83 |
| HLG | Diablo X | 5x5 | 717 | $1,299.00 | 2.89 | $1,374.93 | $2,503.33 |
| Tubu Lightmyleaf | 800W | 5x5 | 702 | $659.00 | 2.24 | $1,773.90 | $2,528.25 |
| Spider Farmer | SE1000 | 5x5 | 995 | $1,029.00 | 2.3 | $1,727.62 | $2,536.98 |
| Lumatek/Photontek | Zeus Pro 3.1 | 5x5 | 656 | $949.00 | 2.54 | $1,564.38 | $2,589.57 |
| HPS 1,000W | DE 400V | 5X5 | 1080 | $200.00 | 1.58 | $2,514.90 | $2,725.87 |
| Hortibloom | Solux 650 | 5x5 | 633 | $699.00 | 2.15 | $1,848.16 | $2,772.66 |
| HLG | 650 Scorpion Diablo | 5x5 | 660 | $1,299.00 | 2.7 | $1,471.68 | $2,783.80 |
| Hortibloom | Mega Eco 720 | 5x5 | 714 | $799.00 | 2.11 | $1,883.19 | $2,837.83 |
| Lumatek/Photontek | XT1000 | 5x5 | 1014 | $1,700.00 | 2.45 | $1,621.85 | $2,853.59 |
| Future of Grow | Airgrow Pro 3 | 5x5 | 621 | $1,530.00 | 2.86 | $1,389.35 | $2,939.97 |
| Sanlight | EVO 5 x 2 | 5x5 | 680 | $1,290.00 | 2.43 | $1,635.20 | $3,040.43 |
| * Usable PPF is the amount of PAR light reaching the plant canopy in a system test with reflective walls | |||||||
| ** 3 year electricity cost to deliver average 800 µmols/m²/sec usable PPF for 12 hours per day at US national average of 16.8c per Kw hour | |||||||
| *** 3 year electricity cost + fixture cost to deliver average 800 µmols/m²/sec | |||||||
MIGRO ARAY 1000
The MIGRO ARAY 1000 is a 1,000 watt LED grow light with remote LED driver as standard which can be located outside of the grow tent. The ARAY 1000 is for expert growers only as it delivers very high average PAR intensity. Using this light at full power requires perfect environment, medium and nutrient management to utilise the high intensity light. For home growers we recommend the ARAY 750 for a 5x5 or 1.5m x 1.5m grow area.
The ARAY 1000 is designed for a 5ft x 5ft (1.5m x 1.5m) grow area with the following features:
- Full spectrum with 3% far red - grow from seed to harvest
- High Efficiency 3.2 - high PAR - low energy consumption
- 3,640 x white LEDs incl. Samsung LM301H EVO, 320 x Osram 660nm red LEDS
- Supersized heatsinks - LEDs run cool for longer life
- Power supply remote mounted - reduce heat for longer life
- Dimming - on board - daisy chain - external controller compatible
The MIGRO ARAY 1000 LED grow light delivers very high PAR and incredibly uniform intensity over a 5ft x 5ft or 1.5m x 1.5m grow space.
Beautifully designed and built to last. The new ARAY design is a culmination of innovation in LED grow lights and at a great price too.
MIGRO ARAY 750
The MIGRO ARAY 750 is a highly efficient 750 watt LED grow light with remote LED driver as standard which can be located outside of the grow tent.
The ARAY 750 is designed for a 5ft x 5ft (1.5m x 1.5m) grow area with the following features:
- Full spectrum with 3% far red - grow from seed to harvest
- High Efficiency 3.2 - high PAR - low energy consumption
- 2,730 x white LEDs incl. Samsung LM301H EVO, 240 x Osram 660nm red LEDS
- Supersized heatsinks - LEDs run cool for longer life
- Power supply remote mounted - reduce heat for longer life
- Dimming - on board - daisy chain - external controller compatible
The MIGRO ARAY 750 LED grow light delivers very high PAR and incredibly uniform intensity over a 5ft x 5ft or 1.5m x 1.5m grow space.
Beautifully designed and built to last. The new ARAY design is a culmination of innovation in LED grow lights and at a great price too.
Hortibloom Mega Optic 800
The hortibloom Mega Optic 800W is a commercial grade LED grow light for a 4ft x 4ft up to 5ft x 5ft grow area. It has optical lenses on the LED bars to direct the light down onto the plant canopy from a height. The lenses will prevent light overspill and direct more light onto the plant canopy when there are no reflective walls.
The LED driver is a Powerland power supply and has on board dimming and RJ12 connections for remote dimmer control. The LEDs are white Samsung LM281B Pro LEDs with additional Osram 450nm blue, 630nm red, 660nm red and 730 nm Far reds. The overall spectrum is suitable for growing from seed to harvest.
I hung the fixture at the recommended 18" or 45cm height in a 5ft x 5ft or 1.5m x 1.5m test area. I took 100 ePAR measurements and recorded an average PAR intensity of 940 µmols/m²/second. With a consumed power of 806 watts the system efficiency of this fixture is 2.62 usable PPF per watt. An excellent result.
Spider Farmer G8600
This light is from the G Series by Spider Farmer badged as the 'Cost Effective' range of lights. I had low expectations but was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of this light and especially the performance.
I tested it in a 5x5 or 1.5m x 1.5m at a relatively low hanging height of 12" or 30cm and recorded an average PAR of 989 µmols and a system efficiency of 2.57 usable PPFD/watt. This is a very high average PAR and just on the limit of requiring elevated CO2 to utilise the high PAR intensity. You could argue it would be better to hang a little higher for more even PAR distribution and a slightly lower average PAR.
Grow Light Science Progrow 1800
The ProGrow 1800 by Grow Light Science is the best value light for sale in the US I have ever tested.
At $420 for a 680 watt fixture it is incredible value. A well built 8 bar folding bar light with Samsung Whites, Ledestar 660nm reds and a high efficiency LED driver. The fixture is suitable for commercial setups, ETL listed and DLC certified and eligible for energy rebates.
However I was concerned that the fixture runs hot. After warming up the LED bars are almost too hot to touch indicating that long term reliability of the fixture may not be very good. This is of particular concern because the LEDs are housed behind acrylic covers and the LED drivers are built into the hot running frame.
I tested it in a 5x5 area at 18" hanging height and it delivers 716 µmols average to the plant canopy with a uniform spread and a system efficiency of 2.4 usable PPF/watt. An excellent result for a light at this price point.
Dimlux Xtreme 800W
The Dimlux Xtreme is the most advanced grow light I have ever tested.
Spectrum tunable with lensing and even a de-ioniser! The performance is also excellent.
There is an on board controller and you can adjust the spectrum for 'growth' and 'bloom' settings as well as set timer function and connection to external controllers.
Lenses over the LEDs direct the light onto the plant canopy. This is particularly useful in an open area with no reflective walls as the lenses will focus the light onto the plant canopy and improve the system efficiency.
In the bloom setting the Dimlux extreme 800W NIR delivers an average PAR intensity of 1,077 µmols/m²/second in a 5x5 grow area at 16" hanging height.
More expensive than most lights at this wattage but good value when you consider the features and performance.
HLG Tomahawk 720W
Congratulations to HLG for their new Tomahawk 720W LED grow light for a 5f x 5ft grow space.
The new Tomahawk power is 720 watts and is a new LED bar grow light design with folded white reflectors to better direct the light onto the plant canopy delivering very uniform light distribution. The LEDs are Samsung cool whites and Osram 660nm reds The light delivers 2.79 usable PPF per watt. A great result for a fixture at this price point.
Floraflex 700W
One of the biggest brands in the indoor growing market has launched their new flagship LED grow light. The Floraflex 700W is an 8 bar grow light designed to flower a 4ft x 4ft space.
This led bar grow light is suited for a 5ft x 5ft (1.5mx 1.5m) grow space. We tested it at a minimum hanging height of 12" which delivers the highest PAR intensity (photosynthetically active radiation) to the plant canopy.
Photonician Aurora 820W Pro
The Photonican Aurora LED Grow Light (820W) is a high-performance lighting solution designed for serious indoor cultivators seeking maximum yield and efficiency. With its advanced features and robust build, it stands out in the competitive grow light market.
The new Photonican 820W Pro introduces a new spectrum which offers increases in yields and harvest quality. This light has added 640nm red diodes alongside 660nm red diodes to widen the red peak. The latest research (link below) shows increases in dry yield, terpenes and cannabinoids mainly due to increases in photosynthetic efficiency.
The Photonican 820w pro also includes far red diodes adding 730nm far red to the spectrum output.
This led bar grow light is suited for a 5ft x 5ft (1.5mx 1.5m) grow space. We tested it at a minimum hanging height of 12" which delivers the highest PAR intensity (photosynthetically active radiation) to the plant canopy.
However if you prefer to deliver the most uniform light spread over the plant canopy we recommend 18" hanging height. There is a 4% reduction in average PAR intensity but the light spread is more even.
The Photonican Aurora 820 watt system efficiency is excellent delivering 2.52 usable PPF per watt to the grow area. This is at the higher end of the market and excellent for a grow light at this price point.
Volt Grow FL1
This is a new grow light from Volt Lighting called the Volt Grow FL-1 The light is of solid construction and has onboard dimming and multiple units can be controlled simultaneously.
The system efficiency is impressive at 2.24 µmols/watt at 18" or 45cm hanging height in a 5ftx 5ft or 1.5m x 1.5m grow space with reflective walls, a very good result for a fixture so competitively priced.
MARS Hydro FC6500
Mars Hydro FC6500 Smart LED Grow Light comes equipped with advanced features for remote control and data transfer, enabling easy mobile access to your grow light via the Mars Hydro app on your phone or tablet.
This convenient feature allows for effortless control of the grow light and scheduling of grow plans, all at your fingertips, from wherever you may be. All data and settings are stored and transferred using OTA (Over The Air) technology, ensuring seamless and efficient data transfer between devices.
MARS HYDRO FC6500 features:
-Samsung LM301B diodes
-Wifi/Bluetooth Remote Control On The Cellphone (by Mars Hydro APP)
-Dimmable and dimming daisy chain
The fixture delivers high and uniform PAR intensity over a 5ft x 5ft space and a system efficiency of 2.51 usable PPF per watt.
Volt Grow Storm 8
The Voltgrow Storm 8 is a 750 Watt LED Grow Light designed for a 5 x 5 area delivering a high efficiency and PAR intensity.
Easily assembled and high quality construction with a range of Volt Grow controller options for commercial and home setup. It is a full spectrum grow light with a high proportion of red in the spectrum for high photosynthetic efficiency.
The Storm 8 was tested in its specified 5ft x 5ft area at the recommended hanging height or 18" or 45cm and delivers an excellent system efficiency.
This fixture has a relatively high price but is highly efficient and is therefore cheaper to run over time.
Mammoth Mint Evo
The new Mammoth Lighting Mint White series 6 bar 680 watt LED grow light for a 5x5 grow space.
Mammoth have combined cool and warm white Samsung LM301Bs with 660nm deep reds, 730nm far reds and the new Samsung LM301H Mint Evo LEDs. The Mint Evos shift the blue peak from 450m to 437nm which Samsung report delivers higher photosynthetic efficiency, stimulates production of secondary metabolites and the spectrum inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi.
This is not a cheap fixture but it is high efficiency. The fixture was tested in a 5ft x 5ft space at its recommended hanging height of 18" or 45cm and delivers an excellent system efficiency of 2.52 usable PPF per watt
Hydrofarm Photobio MX
Hydrofarm is a big player in indoor growing equipment in the US and their LED lighting brand Photobio has released a flagship LED grow light, the 680W Phantom MX.
It is a commercial grade fixture which is DLC listed and IP 65 rated for a wet area. The driver has long 10ft or 3.5m power cable, can be hung remotely and is fully controllable with iLOC Integrated Light Output Control and also has an onboard manual dimmer.
The light output is full spectrum and the system efficiency result in our test was 2.32 µmols/watt (usable PPF/watt) when hung at 20" or 50cm over a 5x5 (1.5m x 1.5m) test area with silver mylar walls.
Parfactworks ZE700
The PARFACTWORKS ZE700 is a large grow light for a 5ft x 5ft or 1.5m x 1.5m space.
It features three spectrum channel output:
Channel 1: VEG, 5000K cool white LEDs (330W) Samsung LM301H
Channel 2: Bloom, 3000K warm white LEDs Samsung LM301H, 660nm Reds and Far red diodes (330W)
Channel 3: UVA LEDs (30W)
