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Can Vs Canless Recessed Lighting – What Are The Differences?

When it comes to lighting up your home, recessed lighting is a fantastic option! It doesn’t take up space and offers a variety of styles. One of the big choices you’ll face is deciding between can and canless fixtures. We’ve done the research to help you pick the best fit for your home.

An ultra modern and luxurious apartment with a huge gray sectional sofa, bright colored throw pillows, and recessed lighting, Can Vs Canless Recessed Lighting - What Are The Differences?

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As the name suggests, can fixtures involve a light inside a can-shaped housing that gets tucked into your ceiling, wall, or floor. These fixtures typically come with hangers and rods for easy mounting. The can shape not only protects the light bulb but often houses an electrical box too.

On the flip side, canless lights ditch the can altogether. These sleek, single units feature thin housing that connects directly to your electrical wires. Usually, they’re thin LED disks that don’t need an electrical box, thanks to their direct wiring.

Each type has its own unique perks and drawbacks. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the pros and cons of both to help you make the best choice for your space.

All About Cans Lights

Can lights are usually 3 to 6 inches in size. If you have low ceilings, can lights are probably the best option because they blend with the ceiling. Plus, can lights have a lot more trim options than canless lights.

When you install can lights, the installation tends to be largely standardized between units. This means that all can lights are installed in a very similar way.

As a result, once you’ve learned how to install them, you can install most of the can lights.

An up close photo of a recessed lighting can on the ceiling

Can lights require complete access to your ceiling. However, they are much easier to install while building a home because they are easier to install before the drywall has been placed.

One of the biggest downsides to a can light is that it lowers your house’s insulation value. It also has limits to where it can be placed, determined by the orientation of joists and trusses in your home.

Can lights allow you to easily replace a light bulb if it is burnt out. However, because can lights take light bulbs instead of LEDs, they tend not to be as bright.

On the other hand, because can lights have a can-shaped fixture, they direct the light better than canless ones do.

Canless Lights

Spot ceiling led light

Most canless lights have built-in LED lights. This means that when they quit working, you have to replace the whole fixture. Unlike light bulbs, LEDs don’t burn out.

They dim until they get too dim to work. An LED bulb can last up to 50,000 hours, which is about 50 times longer than an incandescent bulb.

Also, LEDs tend to be brighter than incandescent light bulbs but require more of them to light a room.

Since most canless lights utilize LEDs, they tend to be more energy-efficient than can lights.

This is because the lack of a fixture means there aren’t holes for heat and air conditioning to escape through, and LED lights are more energy-efficient than other bulbs.

There isn’t an installation standard for canless lights, so each one might have its own special way to install it. They tend to take less time and are easier to install than can lights.

Unlike their counterparts, canless lights can be installed without worrying about the joists. Their installation allows them to be positioned across trusses and joists.

Because the housing on canless lights is smaller, there are fewer trim options available for it. They tend to be slightly cheaper than can lights because they don’t have as much of a fixture.

They range from about $40 to $160, while can lights cost about $60 to $240.

What Is The Most Common Size For Recessed Lights?

A luxurious interior of a modern rustic house with recessed lighting, a huge carpeted flooring, and contrasting colors of furniture's

In residential homes, the most common recessed light sizes are 4 to 7 inches, with 6 inches being the most popular. This makes it easy to find a variety of styles for 6-inch fixtures​.

When choosing a size, consider the area and how far the ceiling is from the space you want to light. Recessed lighting may not be as bright as standard lighting.

For example, with an 8-foot ceiling, a 4-inch light is great for illuminating countertops. For lighting a kitchen table at the same height, a 6-inch fixture works better.

For a 10-foot ceiling, multiple 4-inch fixtures can spread the light evenly.​

Where Should I Put Recessed Lighting?

Recessed lighting isn’t as bright as a traditional light fixture. For that reason, there is a formula for figuring out exactly where to place your lights. It is calculated based on what you are aiming to light.

This formula is that the distance between lights should always be double what it is at the ends. You will also need to know the number of lights, the layout, and the room or surface dimensions.

If you are using recessed lighting as an accent light, you will want the light to be at 30 degrees from the ceiling to reduce glare. There is also a formula for calculating this.

What Size Bulb For Can Lights?

Horizontal photo of burned out flood light in recessed ceiling mount

There are several different sizes for can lights. The most common sizes are BR30 and BR40 LED lights.

The “BR” part of the bulb’s name refers to its shape. It stands for a bulged reflector. The number of parts refers to the size of the bulb, which is 1/8 inch. For instance, BR30s are 30/8 of an inch, or just under 4 inches, across.

BR30s will be sufficient for low ceilings. However, if you want more light, BR40s tend to have higher wattages, making them brighter.

Most cans are between 4 and 6 inches. If you have a 4-inch can, BR40 will be too big, but if you have a 6-inch can, BR30 will be too small.

Are Recessed Lights A Fire Hazard?

Recessed halogen lamp

If you have IC-rated lights, they are less likely to pose a fire hazard. However, non-IC-rated lights or improperly installed fixtures can increase the risk of fire.

This is because any form of lighting can overheat. If temperatures exceed 194 degrees Fahrenheit, there is a significant fire risk.

Faulty wiring and improper installation can cause fires. To mitigate this risk, ensure non-IC-rated units do not contact insulation.

Do Recessed Lights Wear Out?

Recessed halogen lamp

Yes, recessed lights can wear out over time, just like any other type of lighting. This can happen due to a burnt-out bulb, old age, sagging trim, over-insulation, or a blown light socket.

In contrast, incandescent bulbs typically last around 1,000 hours, and fluorescent bulbs offer about 10,000 hours of use before needing to be changed.​

The lifespan of your recessed lights depends on the type of bulb you use. LED bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours, or about 5.5 years of continuous use.

In Closing

So, now you know the main differences between can and canless recessed lighting. You also know some of the advantages and disadvantages of both and how to calculate where to place your lights.

Armed with this knowledge, you are more than ready to go pick out your lights!

Before you go, check out the links below to read more interesting articles on this blog.

Should Recessed Lighting Be Symmetrical?

8 Of The Best Lighting Options For A Sloped Ceiling

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2 Comments

  1. You missed an important point. When a canless light fixture burns out (in my case it was several months after install), the replacement fixture may not be a perfect match to the other fixtures. I purchased the same exact model and brightness description however it was noticeably different! I happened to have one extra fixture and used it. When another burns out I may have to replace all of my fixtures.

    buying a replacement fixture

  2. I’ve never had an LED last longer than an incandescent light so the problem of replacing the entire fixture will occur more frequently than suggested (5 years).

    You don’t have to use an incandescent bulb in canned lighting fixtures. There are plenty of options for using LED that replace incandescent bulbs in canned fixtures which I’ve done in my home and it works great.

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