Best LED Grow Light by Tent Size (2026)
Which LED for your tent — 2×2, 3×3, 4×4 or 5×5? Mars Hydro, Spider Farmer or Vivosun? We compared 5 lights head-to-head on real wattage, PPE and coverage. Here's the practical match per tent size — with the numbers behind it.
Listen to the summary
The Short Version (by tent size)
60×60 cm (2×2 ft): Mars Hydro TS-1000 (~$120) on 50% dim. 70×70 cm (2.3×2.3 ft): TS-1000 at full. 80×80 cm (2.6×2.6 ft): TS-1000 at full, or Spider Farmer SF-2000 as an upgrade. 100×100 cm (3.3×3.3 ft): Mars Hydro TSW-2000 (~$200), or Vivosun LumaLight 200W (~$160). 120×120 cm (4×4 ft): Mars Hydro TS-3000 (~$330), 420W and rated for 4×4 ft in flower by Mars Hydro. The rule that drives all of it: 200–300 real watts per m² (roughly 19–28 watts per square foot).
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Before you buy — watch this
Official Mars Hydro product video
Mars Hydro's own video: “Free Test Mars Hydro TS1000 LED Grow Light Upgraded Version | Grow Tutorial From Seed To Flower”. The TS-1000 and TS-3000 are the entry and large-tent picks in our tent-size recommendations — both quantum boards, and Mars Hydro lists Bridgelux diodes for both.
The rule: 200–300 real watts per m²
For LED lighting in a grow tent there's a simple formula: 200–300 real watts per m² (roughly 19–28 watts per square foot). This is a rule of thumb for choosing a light, not a measurement of ours.
"Real watts" is crucial. Ignore the "1000W equivalent" marketing — look at the power draw at the wall. Mars Hydro rates the TS-1000 at 150W, not 1000W, and the TS-3000 at 420W.
Prefer to calculate it instantly? Our Dutch Watt-per-m² grow-light calculator gives the recommended real wattage + PPFD for any tent size and growth stage.
| Tent size | Area | Watts needed | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60×60 cm (2×2 ft) | 0.36 m² | 72–108W | TS-1000 at 50% dim |
| 70×70 cm (2.3×2.3 ft) | 0.49 m² | 98–147W | TS-1000 (150W) |
| 80×80 cm (2.6×2.6 ft) | 0.64 m² | 128–192W | TS-1000 at full or SF-2000 at 80% |
| 100×100 cm (3.3×3.3 ft) | 1.0 m² | 200–300W | TSW-2000 / SF-2000 |
| 120×120 cm (4×4 ft) | 1.44 m² | 288–432W | TS-3000 (4×4 ft in flower per Mars Hydro) or 2×SF-2000; the TSW3000 has no maker specs |
| 150×150 cm (5×5 ft) | 2.25 m² | 450–675W | 2×TSW-2000, or a TS-3000 (420W, tight for flower at this size) |
The 5 LEDs head-to-head
Mars Hydro TS-1000
150W · PPE 2.3 · flower 2×2 ft, max 2.5×2.5 ft · No UV · Best for: 2×2 / 2.5×2.5 ft tents
Often written the Mars Hydro TS 1000 or TS1000. A 150W full-spectrum quantum board; per Mars Hydro's product page (checked 17 October 2026) it uses Bridgelux diodes, is rated 2.3 µmol/J and covers 2×2 ft in flower (2.5×2.5 ft max). No UV in the listed spectrum. For 3×3 ft and up: undersized. See our full Mars Hydro TS-1000 review for its power draw and running costs.
Check price on Amazon →Vivosun LumaLight 200W
200W · coverage 2×4 ft (Vivosun) · far-red, no UV · Best for: 2×4 ft or 3×3 ft tents
Per Vivosun's product page (checked 19 October 2026): 200W, a light coverage of 2×4 ft, a PPFD of 751 µmol/m²/s at 12 inches, 3000K and 5000K white plus 660 nm red and 750 nm far-red (no UV listed), a dimming knob with 25/50/75/100% steps, and IP65. Vivosun does not publish a PPE (µmol/J). By this page's rule of 200–300 real watts per m², 200W lands at about 270 W/m² over 2×4 ft (0.74 m²), about 240 W/m² over 3×3 ft (0.84 m²) and about 200 W/m² over 100×100 cm, so all three sizes are inside the range. Do not use it as the only light in a 4×4 ft tent: over 1.49 m² it gives about 134 W/m², too little for flower.
Check price on Amazon →Mars Hydro TSW-2000 ★ Our pick for 3×3
300W · PPE 2.6 · flower 3×3 ft, veg 4×4 ft · IR, no UV · Best for: 3×3 ft / 100×100 cm tents
Per Mars Hydro's product page (checked 17 October 2026): 300W, 2.6 µmol/J, Bridgelux diodes, 3×3 ft in flower and 4×4 ft in veg, with a dimming knob on the removable driver. The spectrum lists 730–740 nm IR but no UV. The upgrade from a TS-1000 for a 3×3 ft or 100×100 cm tent.
Check price on Amazon →Spider Farmer SF-2000
200W · PPE 2.7 · core 2×4 ft, max 3×3 ft · Bridgelux (2026 version) · Best for: 2×4 ft or 3×3 ft tents
Per Spider Farmer's product page (checked 17 October 2026): 200W, 2.7 µmol/J, Bridgelux diodes in the 2026 version (Spider Farmer says output matches the earlier Samsung-based version), a core coverage of 2×4 ft and 3×3 ft max, and a 5-year warranty. Higher rated efficiency than the TSW-2000, but a third less power.
Check price on Amazon →Mars Hydro TS-3000 ★ Our pick for 4×4
420W · PPE 2.7 · flower 4×4 ft, max 5×5 ft · Daisy-chain (up to 15) · Best for: 4×4 ft tents
Per Mars Hydro's product page (checked 17 October 2026): 420W, 2.7 µmol/J, Bridgelux diodes, 4×4 ft in flower and 5×5 ft max, a dimmer on the removable driver, and up to 15 lights dimmed together. Over a true 4×4 ft (1.49 m²) that is about 280 W/m²; over 5×5 ft it drops to about 180 W/m², which is tight for flower.
Check price on Amazon →Head-to-head comparison
| Light | Real watts | PPE | UV-IR | Coverage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Hydro TS-1000 | 150W | 2.3 µmol/J | No (IR only) | 2×2 ft flower | Check Amazon |
| Vivosun LumaLight 200W | 200W | Not published by Vivosun | No UV (far-red 750 nm) | 2×4 ft (Vivosun) | Check Amazon |
| Mars Hydro TSW-2000 ★ | 300W | 2.6 µmol/J | No (IR only) | 3×3 ft flower | Check Amazon |
| Spider Farmer SF-2000 | 200W | 2.7 µmol/J | No (IR only) | 2×4 ft core, 3×3 ft max | See Amazon |
| Mars Hydro TS-3000 ★ | 420W | 2.7 µmol/J | No (IR only) | 4×4 ft flower | Check Amazon |
PPE — why it matters
PPE (photosynthetic photon efficacy) measures how much photosynthetic light you get per watt of electricity. Higher PPE = more light for the same power bill.
- Mars Hydro: TS-1000 2.3, TSW-2000 2.6, TS-3000 2.7 and FC-E3000 2.8 µmol/J, per Mars Hydro's product pages.
- Spider Farmer SF-2000: 2.7 µmol/J, per Spider Farmer.
- HLG 350 Diablo: 2.80 µmol/J, per HLG.
All figures checked on the makers' pages on 17 October 2026. Same wattage, higher PPE: more light for the same power bill.
UV-IR — yes or no?
UV (ultraviolet) and IR (infrared, 730–740 nm) are often linked to terpene development and flowering, but we have no sourced figure for how much either adds, so we don't quote one.
What the makers list: none of the Mars Hydro TS-1000, TSW-2000 or TS-3000 has UV in its listed spectrum, and all three list 730–740 nm IR. The Spider Farmer SF-2000 also lists IR and no UV. On a tight budget, spend on enough real watts for your tent first.
The matched-pair principle
LEDs don't work alone — they need a matched fan + carbon filter to move heat out. Rule of thumb:
- 150W LED (TS-1000): a 4-inch inline fan, e.g. AC Infinity Cloudline A4 (4″)
- 200–300W LED (LumaLight, TSW-2000, SF-2000): a 4-inch at full or a 6-inch at 50%
- 420W LED (TS-3000): a 6-inch inline fan, e.g. AC Infinity Cloudline A6 (6″)
Plus a matching AC Infinity 4-inch carbon filter (or 6-inch version) for odor control.
FAQ
Are LED grow lights better than HPS? We have not compared LED and HPS ourselves, so we quote no figures for power use, heat, lifespan or yield. For any light, compare the rated power draw and efficiency (µmol/J) its maker publishes; the LEDs on this page are rated 2.3–2.7 µmol/J by their makers.
How many real watts of LED do I need? 200–300 actual draw watts per m² (roughly 19–28 per square foot). A true 4×4 ft tent is 122×122 cm — 1.49 m², not 1 m² — so it needs about 300–450 actual watts. A single TS-3000 (420W per Mars Hydro, rated for 4×4 ft in flower) lands at about 280 W/m² there; a TSW-2000 (3×3 ft in flower per Mars Hydro) or SF-2000 (3×3 ft max per Spider Farmer) is undersized for a full 4×4. Ignore the "1000W equivalent" marketing on the box and look for the rated power draw.
Is a cheap "1000W LED" worth it? No. The printed wattage is usually not the power draw: a light sold as "1000W" may draw a fraction of that. Without a rated power draw, PPE and coverage published by the maker, you cannot work out what you are buying. Spend enough to get a light whose maker publishes those figures, such as the Mars Hydro and Spider Farmer lights above.
Mars Hydro vs Spider Farmer — which brand is better? Compare the specific lights, not the brands. Per their makers' pages (checked 17 October 2026), both now use Bridgelux diodes in these models: the Spider Farmer SF-2000 is 200W at 2.7 µmol/J, the Mars Hydro TSW-2000 300W at 2.6 µmol/J, and both carry a 5-year warranty. The SF-2000 has the higher rated efficiency, the TSW-2000 more power. Pick on your tent size first.
Should I run my LED at 100% or dimmed? It depends on the light, the hanging height and the growth stage; follow the maker's guidance for your model. Seedlings need less light than flowering plants. If the tops of the plants closest to the light turn pale or white (bleaching), raise the light or dim it.
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