Light up large areas or spotlight an object. These bulbs suit recessed cans and outdoor floodlights. Light is brightest at beam center and roughly half as bright at the edges. All are shatterproof plastic.

PAR bulbs throw tighter, farther-reaching spotlight beams, like those in outdoor security systems.

Replace your fluorescent bulbs or upgrade to LED. These light bulbs are the most common tubular bulbs for fixtures inside plants, warehouses, and offices. Select a light appearance to match your existing lighting. If you’re not sure what temperature you need, choose a bulb with more than one light appearance. You can adjust the temperature with a switch.

LED bulbs last longer and are more efficient than fluorescent bulbs. You can choose bulbs that work with or without a ballast—some bulbs can do both. Ballast-compatible bulbs are a quick replacement for fluorescent bulbs, since they work with most instant-start electronic ballasts. Check if your ballast is compatible by selecting a part number and clicking product detail. Ballast-bypass bulbs work with sockets that are wired directly to the power source, which cuts down on maintenance. If your fixture has a ballast, you’ll need to remove it.

Fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. For disposal information, visit www.epa.gov/cfl. Bulbs that cannot be sold to the listed areas do not meet local regulations for mercury content or energy efficiency.

Plastic-coated glass bulbs are shatter resistant. If the glass breaks, the coating keeps shards from falling. Plastic bulbs are shatterproof.