ES & SES Bulbs

Two screw caps, one home

Screw-cap bulbs come in two sizes, and knowing which you need saves a wasted trip to the shop. ES is the larger E27 fitting found in many pendants, lamps and overhead fittings, while SES is the smaller E14 used in candle fittings, wall lights and compact shades. Both screw in by hand, so swapping a tired old bulb for an LED version is quick work once you have matched the cap to the holder it sits in.

Shapes for each fitting

Shape matters as much as the cap. GLS is the familiar rounded bulb that sits well in open fittings and reading lamps, the candle shape suits chandeliers and wall lights where the tapered tip is on show, and the golf ball is a smaller round option for tighter shades and pendants. Pick the outline that fills the fitting properly without crowding it or poking out beyond the shade.

Warm white to daylight

Colour temperature sets the whole mood of a room. Warm white at 2700K gives a soft, relaxing glow that suits living rooms and bedrooms, while daylight at 6500K is crisper and cooler, better for kitchens, studies and task areas where you want to see clearly. The range runs across this span, so you can match the light to how each space is actually used rather than settling for one tone throughout the house.

Dimmable and filament options

Some bulbs in the range are dimmable and others are not, so check the option before pairing one with a dimmer switch to avoid flicker. Filament styling adds visible bars of light inside the clear glass, which works well in fittings where the bulb itself is meant to be seen rather than hidden away behind a shade.

Matching the old wattage

LED versions draw far less power than older bulbs while giving comparable light, so they cost less to run. These LED versions give comparable light to the older bulbs they replace, which means you can step down to LED without the room feeling any darker than before. Free UK delivery over £99, worldwide shipping.