LED batten 20W or 36W? How many watt LED light for each room in Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar

For most homes, a 20W LED batten is enough for a normal bedroom or small kitchen (up to about 120 sq ft), and a 36W–40W batten suits a bigger living room, hall or shop. If a room is longer than about 14 ft, two 20W battens spread across the ceiling give more even light than one 36W batten in the middle. This guide is written for homes and shops in Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar, and the same advice works across North Bengal, Bihar and Sikkim.

The wattage numbers below are general trade practice for Indian homes with light-coloured walls and a ceiling of about 9–10 ft. Darker walls, high ceilings or close work (study, stitching, shop counters) need more light.

LED batten 20W or 36W: which one should I buy?

An LED batten (many people still call it an LED tube light) gives out light in lumens. A good branded 20W batten gives roughly 2,000 lumens and a 36W–40W batten roughly 3,600–4,000 lumens. Always read the lumen figure printed on the box, because two battens of the same watt can give different light.

What you are lighting	Usual choice	Why
Bedroom, 10 x 10 to 10 x 12 ft	One 20W batten	Enough light for a resting room
Kids’ room or study, 10 x 12 ft	One 20W batten + a study lamp, or 2 x 20W	Reading needs more light on the table
Living room or hall, 12 x 15 ft and above	One 36W–40W, or 2 x 20W	Bigger floor area
Kitchen, 8 x 10 ft	One 20W batten (cool or neutral white)	Cutting and cooking need clear light
Bathroom	10W–15W batten or a 9W–12W bulb	Small area; keep fittings away from water
Small shop, 10 x 20 ft	2–3 x 36W battens or LED panels	Products must look bright and clear
Verandah, staircase, parking	10W–20W batten or bulb	Movement area, not work area

So the simple answer: 20W for most rooms, 36W for big rooms and shops, and two smaller battens when the room is long.

How many watt LED light for a room? (simple rule)

A quick counter rule many electricians use: for a bedroom, plan about 15–20 lumens per sq ft; for a kitchen, study or shop, about 30–50 lumens per sq ft. Multiply the room area by this number and divide by about 100 to get the LED watts (because good LED fittings give about 100 lumens per watt).

Example: a 10 x 12 ft bedroom = 120 sq ft. 120 x 18 = about 2,160 lumens. That is one 20W batten.

Example: a 12 x 16 ft living room = 192 sq ft. 192 x 20 = about 3,840 lumens. That is one 36W–40W batten, or two 20W battens.

These are rough planning figures, not a lighting design. For an office, school, hospital or factory floor, ask for a proper lux calculation from the brand’s lighting team or your consultant.

Cool white, warm white or natural white: which colour is best for home?

The colour of LED light is written on the box as a number in Kelvin (K):

Colour on box	Kelvin	Looks like	Best for
Cool daylight / cool white	6500K	Bright, slightly bluish	Kitchen, study, shop, office, garage
Natural / neutral white	4000K	Clean white, easy on eyes	Living room, bedroom, dining
Warm white	2700K–3000K	Yellowish, cosy	Bedroom, puja room, decorative corners

In Siliguri and the plains, most families still pick 6500K cool white because it looks brightest. Many people now prefer 4000K in living rooms and bedrooms because it is softer at night. Some battens and panels are colour-changing (CCT), where you switch between the three colours using the wall switch. These cost a little more but solve the “which colour” confusion.

LED batten vs LED panel vs LED bulb: what is the difference?

• LED batten / LED tube light: a long 2 ft or 4 ft fitting fixed on the wall or ceiling. Cheapest way to light a full room. 4 ft battens are usually 18W–40W; 2 ft battens 10W–20W.
• LED panel (surface or recessed): square or round flat light. Recessed panels sit inside a false ceiling. Gives a neater look, usually 6W–24W for homes.
• LED bulb: fits a normal B22 holder. 9W–12W for small rooms, bathrooms and verandahs; higher-watt bulbs for bigger spaces.
• Downlight / COB spotlight: small recessed lights for false ceilings, used in groups.

If you are just replacing an old fluorescent tube light, a 4 ft 20W LED batten fits the same spot and needs no new wiring. If you are doing a false ceiling, plan panels or downlights with your electrician before the ceiling board goes up.

Which LED batten brand is good, and what should I check on the box?

Any established brand that prints full details on the pack is a fair choice. At Shree Shyam Suppliers we deal in Havells, Polycab, Anchor, Legrand, Goldmedal, Crabtree, Roma and other brands, so you can compare side by side. Whatever brand you buy, check these on the box:

1. BIS registration number (R-number) printed on the pack, along with the maker’s name and address.
2. Lumens (light output), not just watts.
3. Colour (K): 6500K, 4000K or 3000K.
4. Voltage range: a wide range (for example 100–300V) helps on long rural lines where voltage drops in the evening.
5. Surge protection in kV, useful in thunder-prone areas.
6. Warranty period and whether the bill is needed for claims.

Very cheap unbranded battens often flicker, fail early in humid weather or give much less light than claimed. Buying from a local authorised dealer means you get genuine stock and a proper bill for warranty.

Why do LED battens fail early in North Bengal, and how do I avoid it?

The common reasons we hear about from homes in Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Siliguri:

• Voltage swings and lightning: Long lines, monsoon storms and frequent tripping send spikes into fittings. Choose battens with surge protection, and make sure your house has proper earthing.
• Damp and insects: In monsoon, damp walls and insects entering the fitting can damage the driver. Fix battens on a dry surface and close any open conduit end.
• Loose connections: A loose wire in the junction box heats up and burns the driver. Get the connection done by a licensed electrician with proper connectors, not twisted tape joints.
• Wrong fitting outdoors: Normal indoor battens are not made for open verandahs facing rain. Use an outdoor-rated (IP65 or similar) fitting there.

If many lights fail together, or the MCB or RCCB trips when lights are switched on, have an electrician check the wiring. Our guide on why an RCCB keeps tripping explains the usual causes.

LED batten price: what decides the rate?

We do not publish rates on this site because they change with brand offers and quantity. The price of an LED batten depends on:

• Watt and size (2 ft or 4 ft)
• Brand and range (basic, premium, CCT colour-changing)
• Lumens per watt (more efficient fittings cost a little more)
• Surge protection and warranty years
• Quantity: a full-house or full-shop order is quoted differently from one piece

WhatsApp us your list for today’s rate. If you are also changing fans, see our BLDC fan vs normal fan guide, and you can browse the full range on our lighting and fans page.

Ordering tip

Send Shree Shyam Suppliers a WhatsApp message with: room list and size (for example “bedroom 10 x 12, hall 12 x 16, kitchen 8 x 10”), the type you want (batten, panel, bulb), the colour (6500K, 4000K, 3000K or CCT), any brand preference, quantity, and your site location. We will suggest the right watt for each room and send an itemised quote. Please get the fittings installed by a licensed electrician.