6000K vs 8000K : What’s the Difference?

When investigating the differences between the white light colors of 6000K and 8000K, it is usually regarding automotive headlights, as these are commonly manufactured HID and LED choices.

We’ll show you what these definitions mean and make some comparisons.

Color Temperature

For an informed choice, it’s worth knowing that the range of white light is classified as a color temperature scale, measured in degrees of kelvin (K).

The Kelvin scale ranges from 1000K to 10,000K, with the lower kelvin numbers resulting in amber to yellowish light while the higher the Kelvin rating, the whiter the light color.

All white light is created from a specific mix of red green and blue light. Whether from LED, Xenon, or HID, it is chosen at a specific kelvin scale and will contain more blue light in the mix the colder the light is from the higher kelvin amounts.

Both 6000K and 8000K can be regarded as a ‘daylight‘ colors of white.

The Differences Between 6000K and 8000K

6000K typically emits a bright cold white-blue light, while 8000K is saturated with even more blue in the color mix, making it a crisper white that contains a noticeable blueish tinge.

The two light sources do appear different if you compared them side-by-side, especially when viewing the LEDs directly. However, despite their 2000K difference, seen without comparison they could be mistaken as very similar cold whites.

When to Use 6000K or 8000K

Automotive headlights are commonly manufactured with 6000K light sources, with 8000K available as a more specialist option.

6000K is a more popular choice of LED headlights as it emits bright white light with a hint of blue, while 8000K LED headlight bulbs produce light that does not feel as bright due to it’s deeply blue tint. 

It’s worth noting that popular LED street lighting is commonly 4000K, a purer cool white that gives a more natural look than the higher kelvin 8000K colder whites.

By contrast, many individuals favor 6000K over 8000K for its purer white light and for its excellent visibility, which is why it’s more commonly used in car LED headlights.

6000K helps us to see better at night and reduces eye fatigue when driving in the dark, creating a crisp and clear view and now adopted as a popular choice within modern electric vehicles.

Which is Brighter 6000K or 8000K?

Luminosity, or brightness, is judged by how many lumens a light emits. Only the amount of light matters for quantifiable brightness.

So 6000K is only actually brighter in output than 8000K when more light is being created, likewise 8000K is only brighter than 6000K when it has a higher lumen output.

However, the appearance of brightness your eyes perceive is influenced by the color temperature. Even though both 6000K and 8000K emit a bright white light, 6000k will appear slightly brighter because its appearance is a colder white as it contains enough blue light to create a crisp white light but not too blue as is seen within the 8000K option.

Interior Applications

The use of LED strips and LED ceiling panels, which emit a bright white light with a color temperature of 6000K can help to create an energetic atmosphere as they replicate a daylight tone of white.

8000K is not a useful color adopted within interior and exterior lighting products other than car headlights.

So unless you intend to use approximately 6000K daylight white colors in spaces like a more functional laundry room, both of these color options will appear cold and harsh in settings like homes or businesses.

Andrew Orange, the owner of Orange Lighting qualified and worked as an interior designer in 1993 before specialising in lighting working on high profile projects based in London. Since starting Orange Lighting Ltd in 2003 he has been sharing his knowledge and unique teaching style mostly to his designer clients, offering practical real life advice born from running a busy consultancy and lighting supply business. Launching in 2020, his blog has evolved into Quick & Easy Lighting, curating some 25 years design experience into making the lighting choice and design process achievable and easy to understand for all.