There is much to consider when choosing LED replacement tubes for fluorescent fixtures. Here is what you need to know before choosing the right LED tubes.

LED tubes are available in a variety of color temperatures. Look for “dimmable” on the LED tube packaging when dimming is required.

Types of LED Tube Lights

There are four basic types of LED tubes:

Type A LED Tube Lights

Replacement (plug and play). Uses the existing fluorescent ballast and light fixture wiring. Just remove the old fluorescent tubes and replace them with the new LED tubes. When compatible, this is the easiest option. Find Type A LED Tube Lights

Type B LED Tube Lights

Direct wire (ballast bypass). Wires are disconnected from the ballast, line and neutral wires are connected directly to the lampholder wires. Find Type B LED Tube Lights

Type A+B LED Tube Lights

This hybrid is type A and type B. These can be used as either plug and play or direct wire. Can be used with existing ballast, or directly wired, bypassing the ballast. Type A+B tubes are usually slightly brighter when “directly wired” vs “plug and play”. Find Type A+B LED Tube Lights

Type C LED Tube Lights

Includes LED tube and driver. An external LED driver (like a ballast) supplies power to the matched LED tube. This is used mostly in a commercial environment. Find Type C LED Tube Lights

Convert Fluorescent Tubes to LED

Replacement LED Tubes (Plug and Play)

LED Ballast Compatibility

Direct Wire (Ballast Bypass) LED Tubes

Caution! Direct wiring will cause the lampholders to be energized with line voltage when the light switch is turned on. Always turn the power off to the light fixture when installing or replacing tubes in direct wired fixtures.

There are two types of direct wire LED tubes.

Double-ended (dual-ended). Line is connected to one end of the LED tube, neutral is connected to the other end. These are preferred over single-ended tubes. Shunted or non-shunted lampholders can be used with this type of tube. Find Double-Ended LED Tubes

Single-ended. Line and neutral are connected only at one end of a tube.

Single-ended LED tubes are only compatible with fixtures that are wired for rapid start ballasts (wired in series). Non-shunted lampholders are used with rapid start ballasts and single-ended LED tubes. Shunted lampholders can’t be used. Find Single-Ended LED Tubes

Direct-Wire Dual-Ended LED Tube Lights 2 Lamps

Direct-Wire Dual-Ended LED Tube Lights 4 Lamp Instant Start

Direct-Wire Dual-Ended LED Tube Lights 4 Lamps Rapid Start

Direct-Wire Single-Ended LED Tube Lights

Ballast compatibility can vary with replacement LEDs and existing ballasts. Check the LED label for compatibility. See ballast compatibility info from Regency Lighting:

Ballast compatibility resources for plug-and-play T8 LED tubes