Best Grow Lights for 4x4 Tents (2026): Complete Buyer's Guide
The 4x4 grow tent is the most popular size for indoor growers - big enough for serious harvests, small enough for most spaces. Finding the right light for this 16 square foot area is crucial for maximizing your yield while staying within budget.
Quick Recommendation
Best Overall: Spider Farmer SF-4000 ($400-450) - excellent efficiency (2.7 umol/J), full spectrum with Samsung LM301B diodes, great coverage for the price.
Budget Pick: Mars Hydro TSW 2000 x2 ($300 total) - two 300W lights provide better coverage than a single unit at this price point. See our Spider Farmer vs Mars Hydro comparison.
Premium Pick: HLG 600R Spec ($800) - top-tier efficiency (2.9 umol/J) with adjustable spectrum, for growers wanting the best.
How Much Wattage for a 4x4 Tent?
A 4x4 tent has 16 square feet of grow space. The wattage you need depends on what you're growing:
| Plant Type | Watts/sqft | Total for 4x4 |
|---|---|---|
| Leafy greens, herbs | 20-30W | 320-480W |
| Tomatoes, peppers | 30-40W | 480-640W |
| Cannabis (veg) | 25-35W | 400-560W |
| Cannabis (flower) | 35-50W | 560-800W |
For maximum flowering yields, we recommend 450-600W of quality LED for a 4x4. This provides 28-37W per square foot with efficient diodes. For a deeper dive into wattage requirements, check out our complete watts per square foot guide. Higher wattage (600-800W) is only beneficial with supplemental CO2.
What About "1000W Equivalent" Claims?
Ignore them. Many budget lights claim "1000W equivalent" while only drawing 100-200W. Look at actual wall wattage, not marketing claims. A quality 450W LED outperforms a cheap "1500W equivalent" every time.
The 7 Best Grow Lights for 4x4 Tents
1. Spider Farmer SF-4000
Best Overall- Actual Wattage: 450W
- Diodes: Samsung LM301B
- Efficiency: 2.7 umol/J
- Coverage: 4x4 flower, 5x5 veg
- Spectrum: Full spectrum + IR
- Dimming: Yes (knob)
- Warranty: 5 years
The SF-4000 hits the sweet spot of performance, features, and price. Samsung diodes deliver excellent efficiency, the MeanWell driver ensures reliability, and the dimmer lets you scale intensity for different growth stages.
Pros: Great value, proven reliability, quiet passive cooling
Cons: No UV or far-red, fixed spectrum
2. Mars Hydro FC-E4800
Bar-Style- Actual Wattage: 480W
- Diodes: Samsung LM301B
- Efficiency: 2.8 umol/J
- Coverage: 4x4 flower
- Spectrum: Full spectrum
- Dimming: Yes (daisy-chain capable)
- Warranty: 5 years
The bar-style design provides more even light distribution than traditional quantum boards. Eight light bars spread across the canopy, eliminating hot spots. Excellent for SCROG setups.
Pros: Excellent uniformity, removable driver for heat management, high efficiency
Cons: Higher price point, more complex mounting
3. HLG 600R Spec
Premium- Actual Wattage: 600W
- Diodes: Samsung LM301H + Osram Deep Red
- Efficiency: 2.85 umol/J
- Coverage: 5x5 flower, 6x6 veg
- Spectrum: Full spectrum + enhanced red
- Dimming: Yes
- Warranty: 3 years
Horticulture Lighting Group makes some of the best LEDs available. The 600R uses top-tier Samsung LM301H chips (better binning than LM301B) and Osram deep red diodes for enhanced flowering. Made in USA.
Pros: Industry-leading efficiency, premium components, excellent PPFD uniformity
Cons: Premium price, may be overkill for 4x4 (better for 5x5)
4. Mars Hydro TSW 2000 (x2)
Budget Pick- Actual Wattage: 300W each (600W total)
- Diodes: BridgeLux / Epistar
- Efficiency: 2.2 umol/J
- Coverage: 3x3 each (4x4 combined)
- Spectrum: Full spectrum
- Dimming: Yes
- Warranty: 5 years
Two TSW 2000s provide better coverage than a single large panel at this price. You can adjust height independently for different plant heights, and if one fails, you still have light.
Pros: Best value for 4x4, flexible positioning, redundancy
Cons: Lower efficiency than Samsung diode lights, two units to manage
5. AC Infinity IONBOARD S44
Smart Features- Actual Wattage: 400W
- Diodes: Samsung LM301H
- Efficiency: 2.7 umol/J
- Coverage: 4x4 flower
- Spectrum: Full spectrum
- Dimming: Yes + App Control
- Warranty: 5 years
AC Infinity brings their reputation for quality ventilation to lighting. The IONBOARD integrates with their Controller 69 for automated scheduling and app-based dimming. Great for automated grows - see our timer settings guide for optimal schedules.
Pros: Smart home integration, premium build, excellent customer support
Cons: Full features require additional controller purchase
6. VIPARSPECTRA XS4000
Solid Mid-Range- Actual Wattage: 400W
- Diodes: Samsung LM301B
- Efficiency: 2.6 umol/J
- Coverage: 4x4 flower
- Spectrum: Full spectrum + IR
- Dimming: Yes
- Warranty: 3 years
VIPARSPECTRA has come a long way from their purple LED days. The XS series uses quality Samsung diodes and offers solid performance. Slightly lower price than Spider Farmer for similar specs.
Pros: Competitive pricing, improved brand reputation, reliable performance
Cons: Shorter warranty than competitors, slightly lower efficiency
7. Gavita Pro 1700e LED
Commercial Grade- Actual Wattage: 645W
- Diodes: Proprietary high-output
- Efficiency: 2.6 umol/J
- Coverage: 5x5 flower, 6x6 veg
- Spectrum: Full spectrum
- Dimming: Yes (Gavita Master Controller)
- Warranty: 5 years
Gavita is the gold standard in commercial cultivation. The 1700e is designed for professional environments with daisy-chaining, central control, and proven reliability across thousands of installations.
Pros: Commercial-proven reliability, excellent support, scalable
Cons: Premium price, overkill for hobbyists, best for larger spaces
What to Look for in a 4x4 Grow Light
1. Actual Wattage (Not Advertised)
Always check the actual power draw, not marketing claims. For a 4x4, you want 400-600W of quality LED. Anything advertising "1000W" while drawing 150W is using misleading marketing.
2. Diode Quality
Samsung LM301B and LM301H are the industry standards. Osram and Bridgelux are also quality options. Avoid lights that don't specify their diode brand - they're likely using inferior chips.
3. Efficiency (umol/J)
Efficiency tells you how much light you get per watt of electricity. Higher is better:
- 2.5+ umol/J: Good efficiency
- 2.7+ umol/J: Excellent efficiency
- 2.9+ umol/J: Premium efficiency
4. Driver Quality
The driver powers the LEDs. MeanWell drivers are the gold standard - reliable and efficient. Inventronics is another quality brand. Cheap drivers fail first and can damage your diodes.
5. PPFD Coverage Map
Quality manufacturers publish PPFD maps showing light intensity across their coverage area. Look for even distribution with minimal drop-off at edges. Center should hit 800-1000+ PPFD at recommended height. To understand how PPFD relates to Daily Light Integral, see our complete DLI guide.
Expected Yields in a 4x4
With proper lighting, nutrition, and technique, expect these yields:
Cannabis Yields
- Beginner: 300-500g per cycle
- Intermediate: 500-800g per cycle
- Expert: 800-1200g+ per cycle
~1-1.5g per watt is a good target
Vegetable Yields
- Lettuce: 4-8 heads per week
- Tomatoes: 20-40 lbs per plant per season
- Peppers: 50-100+ peppers per plant
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use one 300W light for a 4x4?
For vegetative growth or low-light plants, maybe. For flowering, no - you'll have weak edges and poor yields. Use at least 400W for flowering a full 4x4.
LED or HPS for a 4x4?
LED. A 450W LED produces similar light to a 600W HPS but uses less electricity, produces less heat, and lasts 5x longer. See our LED vs HPS comparison.
How high should I hang my light?
Varies by light intensity: Seedlings 24-36", vegetative 18-24", flowering 12-18". For a complete breakdown, see our grow light distance and height guide.
Is one big light or multiple smaller lights better?
Multiple lights can provide more even coverage and redundancy. However, a single quality light is simpler to manage. For 4x4, either works - two 200-250W lights or one 400-500W light.
Final Recommendations
Best Value
Spider Farmer SF-4000
Best balance of price, performance, and features for most growers.
Budget Option
Mars Hydro TSW 2000 x2
Two units for better coverage at the lowest total cost.
Premium Choice
HLG 600R
Top-tier efficiency and components for serious growers.
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