What is the difference between a floodlight and an LED floodlight?

An LED floodlight is a floodlight — the distinction is the light source inside: LED floodlights use solid-state LED chips instead of the halogen, metal halide, or HPS lamps that traditional floodlights rely on, which is what makes LED the dominant choice for efficiency and lifespan.

Traditional floodlights produce a wide-angle beam by running current through a gas-filled bulb or filament, converting roughly 60–80% of that energy to heat rather than light. LED floodlights use SMD chip arrays to achieve the same wide-coverage beam pattern at 130–150 lm/W — three to five times the efficiency of halogen and roughly double that of metal halide. The underlying purpose — flooding a large area with broad, even illumination — is identical between both types.

• Traditional halogen floodlights typically produce 15–20 lm/W; LED floodlights deliver 130–150 lm/W.
• LED floodlights carry rated lifespans of 50,000 hours versus 2,000–5,000 hours for halogen floodlights.
• A 150W LED floodlight replaces a 400W metal halide floodlight at equivalent lumen output.
• LED floodlights reach full brightness instantly; metal halide floodlights require a 3–5 minute warm-up period.
• LED floodlights commonly carry IP65 or IP66 ratings for dust and water resistance; halogen equivalents vary widely.