Round LED downlights are the cleanest way to light a ceiling: a small round opening, an even beam and, with integrated LEDs, no bulb to change. This category gathers round recessed downlights and pot lights from 2 in to 10 in, from slim models for homes to commercial downlights with selectable wattage and colour. Many of them are dimmable LED downlights that work with TRIAC, ELV or 0-10 V controls, so you can set the mood in a living room or tune the light level of an office.
Homeowners will find slim downlights for kitchens, living rooms, basements and hallways, wet location models for bathrooms and soffits, and colour-changing smart models. Contractors and property managers will find 120-347 V downlights with 0-10 V dimming, fire-rated and airtight models, and the trims and plates that finish the job. Brands include Liteline, Bazz, Canolight, Arani, CSC LED, Speclite, Ortech, Nexleds and Lumenstarled.
Slim downlights, also called wafer lights, are a favourite for renovations because they fit shallow ceilings. The Arani slim panels come in 3, 4 and 6 in (440, 650 and 1100 lumens), each with five selectable colour temperatures and a white, black or brushed nickel finish. The CSC LED SDL 6 in slim downlight gives 950 lumens at 12 W with TRIAC/ELV dimming, and its 4 in version 700 lumens at 9 W. Compare sizes among the 3-4 inch LED downlights and the 5-6 inch LED downlights.
Small-aperture fixtures keep the ceiling discreet. Liteline makes the 2 in and 3.5 in Luna round recessed fixtures with selectable colour, plus the 3 W Micropot, and Nexleds offers 2 in and 3 in architectural downlights. Canolight round downlights of 3 in at 12 W and 4 in at 18 W reach CRI 90 with a 36° beam, ideal for artwork, kitchen islands and displays. The Canolight DL3 frames, from 2 to 4 in, install with a trim or trimless, mudded into the drywall for a seamless ceiling.
Directional downlights tilt to wash a wall or highlight a fireplace: the Bazz 4 in directional model turns 360 degrees, and its 2 in and 3 in directional versions are airtight and wet location rated. Where the ceiling cannot be cut, Canolight surface-mount round downlights range from 12 W and 1080 lumens to 35 W and 3150 lumens. See the surface mount and gimbal lights for more adjustable models, or the square downlights for a square look.
Commercial models let you set wattage and colour on site, so one product covers many rooms. The Arani 4 in selectable downlight switches from 6 to 13 W, up to 1450 lumens, on 120-347 V with 0-10 V dimming. The Ortech 6 in model offers 7, 10 or 18 W, five colour temperatures and an IP54 rating, and Speclite split downlights go from 4 in to 10 in and up to 40 W. For existing commercial cans, Light Efficient Design makes 30 W and 50 W recessed and PAR retrofit lamps. For smart homes, the Lumenstarled 4 in RGBW slim downlight produces 600 lumens, and Bazz Wi-Fi models add RGB colours and tunable white from 2700 K to 4000 K.
Many round downlights here are dimmable, but the dimming method must match the control. Check the product name or specs, then choose the dimmer:
| Dimming | How it works | Typical circuit | Examples in this category |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRIAC (leading edge) | A wall dimmer trims the start of each AC wave | 120 V, homes | CSC LED SDL, Canolight 3 in and 4 in |
| ELV (trailing edge) | Trims the end of the wave, often smoother at low levels | 120 V, homes | CSC LED SDL |
| 0-10 V | Two low-voltage wires send a control signal to the driver | 120-347 V, commercial | Arani 4 in, Ortech, Speclite |
Speclite split downlights accept both TRIAC and 0-10 V, handy on mixed projects: the Speclite 6 in split downlight sets 15, 20 or 25 W and five colour temperatures from 2700 K to 5000 K. With TRIAC or ELV, use a dimmer rated for LED loads and check its compatibility list; on 347 V commercial circuits, 0-10 V control is the usual choice. Find compatible controls among the LED dimmers.
A 4 in downlight suits kitchens, hallways and bathrooms, a 6 in spreads more light in living rooms and basements, and 8 in and 10 in models serve high ceilings and commercial spaces. Compare lumens, not watts: from 440 lumens for a 3 in slim panel to 2250 lumens for a 25 W Arani downlight. 3000 K is the most common colour temperature here, but 5CCT models let you pick 2700, 3000, 3500, 4000 or 5000 K on the fixture. Some add a night light, like the Nexleds 4 in slim panel or the Bazz 4 in downlight with its 2200 K ring. Choose CRI 90 where colours matter.
For bathrooms, showers, soffits and covered porches, choose a wet location rating: the Lumenstarled 4 in 15 W downlight is IP65, dimmable and ETL approved, and many Bazz models are airtight and wet location certified. Under an insulated attic, choose IC-rated, airtight fixtures; between floors, Bazz 2H fire-rated downlights help keep the ceiling's fire rating. Look for cUL, CSA or ETL marks, plus Energy Star or DLC on some models.
Before cutting, use the recessed lighting calculator and the pot light spacing guide to set the number and position of fixtures. In a kitchen, place them over the counters rather than in the middle of the room (see LED kitchen lighting). In new construction, a mounting plate with bars holds the fixture before the drywall goes up. A goof ring hides an oversized hole, and recessed trim rings change the finish, such as the CSC LED SDL trims in black or brushed nickel. Unsure about the terms? Read pot lights vs recessed lights.
Yes, if the downlight is marked dimmable and the dimmer matches its method: TRIAC or ELV for standard 120 V wall dimmers, 0-10 V for commercial controls. A downlight that is not marked dimmable should stay on a regular switch.
TRIAC dimming works through the power wires with a phase-cut wall dimmer, typical in homes. 0-10 V dimming adds two low-voltage wires that send a signal to the driver, typical in commercial buildings and on 347 V circuits.
Yes, in soffits, covered porches and balconies, if they are rated for the location: damp for sheltered spots, wet or IP65 where water can reach the fixture, like the Lumenstarled 4 in and 6 in downlights.
Choose 4 in for a focused, discreet look in kitchens, hallways and bathrooms, and 6 in for wider coverage in living rooms and basements. Keep one size and one colour temperature per room for a uniform ceiling.
It depends on the room size, the ceiling height and the lumens of each fixture. The recessed lighting calculator gives a quick estimate, and the spacing guide explains the layout.
A 5CCT downlight lets you select one of five colour temperatures, from 2700 K to 5000 K, on the fixture itself, so one model suits a warm living room or a bright kitchen.
Ready to plan your ceiling? Compare the round downlights above, or browse all recessed lighting for square, multi-head and linear models.
