Metal Halide to LED Conversion Chart

By Editorial Team • Updated March 2, 2026

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Metal Halide (MH) fixtures are workhorses in warehouses, parking lots, gymnasiums, and retail spaces — but they come with serious downsides. They lose 30–40% of their brightness within the first year, take 5–15 minutes to warm up, and the ballasts waste an additional 10–15% of energy. Switching to LED solves all three problems while cutting your lighting electricity bill by roughly 60%.

💡 Lumie's Tip: When comparing MH to LED, don't just match the rated wattage — compare real-world lumens. A "400W Metal Halide" is rated at 36,000 lumens new, but after 6 months of operation it's likely producing closer to 22,000–25,000 lumens. An LED rated at 20,000–25,000 lumens will often feel brighter than your aged MH because it maintains its output over its entire lifespan.

MH to LED — Complete Conversion Chart

Find your Metal Halide wattage on the left. The LED column shows the recommended replacement wattage. Lumen values shown are for new MH lamps — in practice, your fixture is likely producing 30–40% less after 6–12 months of use.

Metal Halide	Initial MH Lumens (New)	LED Replacement	LED Lumens (Maintained)	Energy Savings	Details
70W MH	5,600 lm	30W LED	4,000–5,000 lm	~57%	VIEW
100W MH	8,500 lm	40W LED	5,500–7,000 lm	~60%	VIEW
150W MH	12,000 lm	60W LED	8,000–10,000 lm	~60%	VIEW
175W MH	14,000 lm	70W LED	10,000–12,000 lm	~60%	VIEW
250W MH	20,000 lm	100W LED	14,000–16,000 lm	~60%	VIEW
400W MH	36,000 lm	150–160W LED	20,000–25,000 lm	~60%	VIEW
750W MH	60,000 lm	300W LED	40,000–48,000 lm	~60%	VIEW
1000W MH	100,000 lm	400W LED	55,000–65,000 lm	~60%	VIEW
1500W MH	150,000 lm	600–650W LED	80,000–95,000 lm	~58%	VIEW

LED lumen values represent maintained output over the fixture's lifespan (L70 at 50,000+ hours). MH initial lumens degrade rapidly — typically losing 30–40% within the first 6–12 months of operation.

Why Metal Halide Loses to LED

Metal Halide has been the commercial lighting standard for decades, but it has fundamental limitations that LED technology has now solved:

Lumen depreciation. A 400W MH starts at ~36,000 lumens but drops to ~22,000 lumens within 6–12 months. LED maintains 90%+ of its output over 50,000 hours. When you factor in real-world brightness, the LED "replacement" often feels brighter than the MH it replaces.
Warm-up time. MH lamps take 5–15 minutes to reach full brightness and 10–20 minutes to restrike after a power interruption. LED turns on instantly — critical for parking lots, security areas, and emergency lighting.
Ballast waste. MH ballasts consume 10–15% of the system wattage as heat. A 400W MH fixture actually draws 450–460W from the wall. Direct-wire LED eliminates the ballast entirely.
Maintenance costs. MH lamps typically last 6,000–15,000 hours and require ballast replacements. LED fixtures last 50,000–100,000 hours with zero maintenance. In high-bay environments where lamp replacement requires a lift, the labor savings alone can justify the switch.
Color rendering. Standard MH has a CRI around 65–70 (and it shifts as the lamp ages). LED delivers CRI 70–80+ consistently, with high-CRI options available for retail and showroom applications.

Ballast Bypass: What You Need to Know

Most LED retrofits for MH fixtures work best as direct-wire (Type B) installations. This means removing the old ballast and wiring line voltage directly to the LED driver. Here's the honest truth about ballast bypass:

It eliminates ballast energy waste (10–15% of system wattage) and removes a future failure point.
It requires an electrician for commercial installations — don't DIY this in a warehouse or parking lot. Budget $30–$75 per fixture for labor.
Some LED retrofits are ballast-compatible (Type A) and plug directly into the existing MH socket. These are easier to install but won't eliminate ballast losses, and compatibility varies. Check the LED manufacturer's compatibility list before purchasing.
Type C retrofits use an external LED driver and offer the best performance and longest warranty, but cost more upfront and require more installation time.

💡 Lumie's Tip: For large facilities (50+ fixtures), a Type B direct-wire retrofit almost always provides the best long-term ROI. The upfront electrician cost is offset by eliminating ballast replacements ($50–$150 each) and the extra 10–15% energy savings. Most facilities see payback in 12–18 months from energy savings alone.

Retrofit vs. Full Fixture Replacement

You have two options when switching from MH to LED:

LED Retrofit Kit: Replaces the MH lamp and ballast inside your existing fixture housing. Lower cost ($50–$300 per fixture), faster installation, and you keep your existing fixtures. Best when the housings and reflectors are in good condition.
Full LED Fixture: Replaces the entire unit with a purpose-built LED fixture. Higher cost ($150–$600+ per fixture) but offers better optics, thermal management, and typically a 10-year warranty. Best for aging fixtures that need replacement anyway.

For most facilities, retrofit kits offer the fastest payback. But if your fixtures are 15+ years old or the reflectors are yellowed and degraded, full replacement will deliver better light quality and longer-term reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what wattage LED to replace my Metal Halide?

Use the chart above as a starting point, but here's the real-world approach: check your MH lamp's rated lumens, then reduce that number by 30% to account for depreciation. Match the LED's rated lumens to that reduced number. Example: a 400W MH is rated at 36,000 lumens new, but after depreciation it's closer to 22,000–25,000 lumens. A 150W LED rated at 20,000–25,000 lumens is a good match.

Can I just swap in an LED without touching the ballast?

Some LED retrofit lamps (Type A) are designed to work with existing MH ballasts. However, compatibility is limited and varies by ballast type, age, and brand. If the ballast fails later, you'll need to replace it or switch to a direct-wire setup. For this reason, most commercial installations go straight to ballast bypass.

Will the LED be as bright as my Metal Halide?

In most cases, yes — or brighter. While the LED may have fewer rated lumens than a new MH lamp, the MH loses 30–40% of its output quickly. LED maintains its brightness for 50,000+ hours. Many facility managers report that LED retrofits look brighter than the MH fixtures they replaced, even at lower wattage.

What about the color of the light?

Standard MH produces a cool white light around 4,000K, though it shifts toward greenish or pinkish tones as the lamp ages. LED replacements are available in 4,000K (Neutral White) and 5,000K (Daylight) and maintain consistent color throughout their lifespan. For warehouses and parking lots, 5,000K is the most common choice.

How long does the payback take?

It depends on your electricity rate, hours of operation, and number of fixtures. For a typical warehouse running 400W MH fixtures 12 hours/day at $0.12/kWh, switching to 150W LED saves roughly $110 per fixture per year in energy alone. With fixtures priced at $100–$300 installed, payback is typically 1–2 years. Utility rebates can cut that even further.

💡 Lumie's Tip: Many utility companies offer rebates of $25–$100+ per fixture for MH-to-LED conversions. Check with your local utility or visit the DSIRE database before purchasing — some rebates require pre-approval.