Cool White vs Daylight – What’s The Differences?

Cool white bulbs generally come with a color temperature of 4000-5000K. The light has a neutral effect on the mood but brings a slightly blue feel. On the other hand, daylight bulbs provide color temperatures between 5000K-6000K and have an exciting effect on us. However, none of the daylight and cool white are considered good for the eyes. 

To learn more about cool white and daylight you should know the applications of lights, which is a vast part. No worries, I’ve covered everything in detail in the article. So, let’s start today’s comparison between cool white and daylight. 

What Is Cool White

Lights that contain a clearer and more modern look are known as cool white LEDs. Another name for cool white is bright white. Cool white bulbs come in a color temperature range from 4000-5000k.

Aside from that, such LEDs come with higher lumen output. If you compare the consumption of cool light LEDs then you’ll find people from sunnier countries prefer it more than people from colder countries. 

If you want to describe the color of this light then it will be difficult. The light is brighter compared to the warm lights and contains a bluish tone. So, it appears in a neutral white color. 

What Is Daylight

If you’re looking for a brighter light with a higher color temperature then daylight is a good choice for you. Daylight LEDs come in a color temperature between 5000-6000k.

You can easily compare the color of daylight LEDs with the sun/moon. Plus. The light brings a definite blue and cool sensation feel to the user. The light appears in a white-blue color. It is Ideal for reading, crafting, and other focus taskings. 

Cool White vs Daylight: Quick Comparison

Before I explain everything in detail a quick overview table is here for you to look at all the facts at a glance. Having an attentive look at the table should clear half of your confusion. 

Comparison Fact	Cool White	Daylight
Color Temperature	4000-5000K	5000-6000K
Appearance	Fresh and clean	Bright sunlight
Eye Protection	No	No
Light Effect	Neutral	Exciting
Appearance (Color)	Neutral white	White-blue

I think you’ve got the general ideas about the 2 types of white lights. Now it’s time to learn them in detail. 

Cool White vs Daylight: Usability

You can call this one, the main segment of today’s topic. Here I’ll be describing when you should purchase cool white or daylight. 

To make things easier for you here is a table given to have a quick understanding. So let’s start with the table.

Application	Cool White	Daylight
Kitchen (With chrome fixture)	More Suitable	Not suitable
Bathroom	More Suitable	Not suitable
Office	More Suitable	Less Suitable
Wide areas	Less suitable	More Suitable
Garage/Parking lots	Less Suitable	More Suitable
Sports field	Less Suitable	More Suitable
Security Light	Not suitable	More Suitable
Treatment Area	More Suitable	Not suitable

Where to Use Cool White

First, let’s learn about the places where cool white bulbs are the perfect suit. 

Bathroom

If you’re a makeup person and often use the bathroom for makeup then cool white LEDs are the most suitable lights for your bathroom. Besides, if you use the bathroom for shaving then again a cool white bulb is the suitable one.

The clearer and brighter light with a bluish hue and white glow make things more visible to human eyes and we see everything more clearly and in detail. So makeup and shaving get easier under a cool white light. 

NB: Cool white is only suitable for the bathroom when you consider using the makeup application. Otherwise, the ideal color temperature for the bathroom is 3000-3200k (Warm white lights).

Offices

The ideal temperature range for an office environment is 3500K to 5000K. That means cool white is the most suitable light for use in the office.  

You might be wondering why? Well, we all know considering the freshness and cleanliness, the color appearance of cool white light is clearly ahead. Plus, cool white lights are also great for holding focus and keeping us attentive.

Treatment Areas

Treatment areas such as the dental clinic, and operation theater uses a color temperature of 5000K which means a cool white bulb is a good suit for such places. In such conditions, bright lights give a clear vision and allow the doctors to complete their surgery more perfectly. 

However, don’t think the overall color temperature required in a hospital/clinic is the same. Different portions of a hospital require color temperature. 

Kitchens with Chrome Fixture

Before we start let’s learn a bit about kitchens with chrome fixtures. Chrome fixture defines a set of tools/applications having a shiny finish which brings a clean feel and reflects lights. A kitchen built with such applications is known as a kitchen with chrome fixtures and it requires a color temperature for lighting between 4000-5000K

So, a cool white bulb is more suitable for such types of kitchen. Plus if the kitchen is mostly painted with white colors or the floor is constructed with white tiles then a cool white is completely a perfect suit for your kitchen. 

Where to Use Daylight

Now it’s time to clear your confusion on where to use daylight LEDs. So let’s dig in.  

Offices

I’ve already mentioned the ideal color temperature for an office is 4000-5000k which covers both daylight and cool white. Though cool white is more suitable in terms of using in the office, very often we find daylight bulbs. It’s because daylight bulbs mimic the sun and many of us think this color is more suitable for working in an office. 

Wide Areas

When you are considering lighting for wide Areas such as for a concert or for a stage then the ideal color temperature is above 5000K. For such places, brighter lights work better as lots of people gather. That means daylight is the most suitable light for wide areas. 

However, according to personal preferences and conditional environment, 3200-5600K lights are considered suitable. 

Garage/Parking lots

When it’s lighting for garages and parking lots then there is a large range of color temperatures; 4000-5000K+. However, most times users prefer using 5000K+ lights for garages and parking lots. That means daylight bulbs are more suitable there. 

Sports Fields

Sports fields require a very high amount of light. The ideal color temperature for such a place is 6000K+, however, you can use 4000-6500k bulbs. 

So whether you compare daylight with warm white or cool white, daylight is always the best-suited light for sports fields.

Security Lights

When you’re choosing a light for security purposes then the rule of thumb is to get a light that mimics sunlight. Lights with a color temperature of 5000K are more suitable for security lights. So, you have already understood why a daylight bulb is more suitable there. 

Light Effect on Mood: Daylight vs Cool White

Another important thing we consider while purchasing a light is the effect of the light on our mood. Different LED light colors have different meanings and different mood effects. So, this segment is on the secondary things of consideration: the mood effect of daylight and cool white. So, continue reading the article. 

Light Effect of Daylight Bulbs

Daylight Bulbs generally bring an exciting effect on the mind compared to other lights. Also, daylight bulbs help us to stay focused and attentive. When you put daylight LEDs in a room it makes you feel a bit colder. Overall the bulbs aren’t suitable for chilling or living but good for working and playing.

Light Effect of Cool White Bulb

Cool white provides a neutral white color and it is known that cool white lights don’t have much effect on our mood. It’s kind of true and I would say cool white has a neutral effect on you. 

However, the fresh, clean bluish hue brings energy to your home spaces. And the white glow of light helps to draw attention and see things more clearly. 

Daylight or Cool White: Which One is Better for Eyes

When you’re looking for a light good for the eyes the recommended bulbs are warmer bulbs. Whiter bulbs that provide more blue light aren’t considered good for the eyes.

First, if you consider cool white then it emits a higher amount of UV radiation which can damage human eyes. So, you can consider cool white good for the eyes.

However, normally working under a cool white isn’t going to be harmful. It’s mainly harmful when you keep staring at the light. Because then the retina’s light-sensing cells become overstimulated and release a huge amount of signaling chemicals which causes damage to the back of the eye.

In the case of daylight bulbs, the effect on the eyes is almost similar to the cool white. So, neither of the bulbs is good for the eyes, but it’s safe to work under the light if you don’t keep staring at the lights. 

Final Verdict

Very often people think daylight and cool white both are the same. But No, they are different and by now you should completely understand whether it’s time to pick a daylight bulb or a cool white bulb. 

To conclude the comparison I’ve covered the usable application and its effect on mood and eyes. Also, I added 2 tables to make it easier for you to understand which one to pick.

That’s everything you should know about cool white vs daylight. I hope you are no more confused.