Investing in a seed starting kit with lights is an easy way to have all you need for this season. Whether this is your first time gardening or just your first time starting seeds ahead, you’ll need a proper setup.
Seed starting kits will give you the essentials. All you’ll have to do is plant your favorite seeds.
In this post, I’ll review the four best seed starting kits with lights. I’ll also give you tips on what to look for when shopping. Let’s dive in!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Hoss Indoor Seed Starting Light Kit
Countertop Option:
Hoss Kitchen Garden Light Kit
Best Overall
Hoss Indoor Seed Starting Light Kit
My top pick comes from Hoss. Their Indoor Seed Starting Light Kit comes with many supplies you’ll need to start seeds successfully.
First off, let’s talk about the lights. It comes with two 18″ LED grow lights with ballasts. They’re easily adjustable up to 18″. The 18-watt lights are bright enough to grow happy seedlings while consuming minimal energy.
The lights also have over 50,000 hours of life in them. That means you’ll be using this kit for a long time.
The included NanoTech T5 reflectors increase the range of light by reflecting outwards. That means you get more light coverage than the literal width of the light.
Underneath the light, you’ll find the self-watering reservoir and capillary wicking mat. This will ensure you avoid overwatering seedlings. And, by watering from the bottom, the entire root base of the seedling will be hydrated.
The kit also has four 12-cell seedling trays that fit perfectly in the metal base.
The only downside of this kit is the price — this seed starting light kit is pricier than any others on this list. But, with Hoss’ durable products and good customer service, I say it’s worth the investment.
Pros:
- Durable
- Long-lasting LED lights
- Comes with seed trays and watering mat
Cons:
- Pricier than other kits
Best Countertop Option
Hoss Kitchen Garden Light Kit
Hoss’ Kitchen Garden Light Kit is similar to their Indoor Seed Starting Light Kit. But this kit is sized to fit easily on your countertop (20″x8″).
The kit has a 12″ LED grow light that can be adjusted up to 18 inches above your seedlings. The light is rated for 50,000 hours, so it’s durable and long-lasting. The light only consumes 12 watts, so it won’t reflect on your utility bill.
Like their other kit, the light is attached to a metal base. The base serves as a self-watering reservoir with a capillary wicking mat.
It also comes with four small seedlings trays with drainage holes. The trays don’t have individual cells, so you’ll need to space out seedlings in the tray to avoid overcrowding.
With this kit, you can grow fresh microgreens right in your kitchen. Try to create your own salad with arugula, sunflower, and radish!
Pros:
- Compact
- Durable and long-lasting lights
- Comes with seed starting trays
- Good for microgreens
Cons:
- Included trays don’t have individual cells.
Best for Germination
Super Sprouter Premium Propagation Kit
Super Sprouter’s Premium Propagation Kit is a good example of a kit with built-in lights. The T5 fluorescent grow light fits into the humidity dome. The dome helps increase humidity, which will aid in higher germination rates.
The top of the humidity dome is 18 inches. So, seedlings have plenty of room to grow before getting too close to the light.
This kit also has a heat mat that perfectly houses the included 10″x20″ tray.
Especially if you start seeds in a garage or basement, the heat mat will warm up the soil. Once the soil reaches around 70 degrees, seedlings will likely experience increased growth.
Even though the kit advertises that it comes with a seed tray, the tray has no individual cells or drainage holes.
So, I recommend purchasing small seed trays to insert into the bottom tray. This will be helpful for watering seedlings from underneath.
Pros:
- Includes heat mat
- Light allows room for growth.
- Humidity dome helps with germination.
Cons:
- Included seed tray doesn’t have drainage.
- Plastic dome can be flimsy.
Best Hydroponic Light Kit
AeroGarden Harvest Herb Seed Pod Kit
Like Hoss’ Kitchen Garden Light Kit, AeroGarden Harvest Herb Seed Pod Kit will give you fresh veggies year round.
What I love about AeroGarden is how user-friendly it is. This seed starting kit with lights has many smart features. It reminds you when to add water, and it will automatically turn the lights off and on.
You can only start six plants at a time, but your seeds sprout using hydroponics and peat moss. And, they grow quickly. As soon as you harvest your first round of lettuce, you’ll have more in just a few weeks.
This kit includes six herb seed pods, but you can also start your own seeds with their refill pods.
This isn’t a traditional seed starting light kit, but it’s made so any skill level can use it. It makes a great gift for budding gardeners.
Pros:
- No seed starting mix needed
- Smart, user-friendly features
- Compact
Pros:
- No seed starting mix needed
- Smart, user-friendly features
- Compact
Buyer’s Guide for Seed Starting Kits With Lights
Seed starting kits with lights aren’t one-size-fits-all. That means every kit is different, and you have to choose which features are important to you.
Type of Light
First, you need to narrow down the type of light you want. There’s a lot of variation here from the type of bulb to its installation.
You can find both LED and fluorescent lights. LED lights will consume less energy and are often brighter than fluorescent. They also stay cooler and tend not to overheat.
Fluorescent bulbs, on the other hand, are usually more cost-friendly. And, they are normally easier to replace since most LED lights are built in.
Built-In v. Light Stand
Next, you will find variations in how the light is installed.
Some kits come with a base and rails that the light attaches to. These are easier to raise and adjust as your seedlings grow, allowing you to grow them for longer. But, these kits can be pricey.
Other kits have the lights directly installed into the humidity dome or cover. That means the light will remain at the same distance from the seedlings. But, these are cost-friendly and work well for seedlings that won’t grow tall.
Materials Used
Several different materials are used on seed starting light kits. While some kits are made almost entirely of plastic, you can also find metal light kits.
As you might imagine, plastic is more affordable, while metal kits are pricier. But, metal will usually last more seasons than plastic.
If you’re an organic or eco-friendly gardener, you might search for seed starting light kits that feature biodegradable trays.
Included Seed Starting Supplies
Not all seed starting light kits come with the same thing. While some kits come with trays, labels, and humidity domes, you might find other kits with seeds, fertilizer, and starter mix.
If you can’t have it all, it’s good to purchase the kit that comes with what you need most. If you already have starter mix and seeds, you might search for kits that come with durable trays and labels.
You’ll inevitably have to purchase some other supplies individually. But, these kits are a great way to knock several things out at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much should I spend on a seed starting light kit?
You can find seed starting kits with lights priced anywhere from $25 to $200. That’s a big price range, so you may wonder how much you really need to spend.
It depends on what quality you want your products to be. Spending $200 may seem like a lot. But if you planned on purchasing expensive, high-quality products individually, you may end up spending more than that anyway.
If you want to try out seed starting for the first time, look for kits priced under $100. This will get you the most bang for your buck.
2. What do I need for seed starting?
You don’t always need everything that’s advertised for seed starting. Although there are some essential seed starting supplies you’ll need.
Grow lights, seed starting trays, seed starting mix, and seeds are necessary for seedling success. Meanwhile, heat mats, humidity domes, and labels are useful and helpful, but not necessarily required.
If you want to learn more about the essentials of seed starting, read our post on Starting Seeds Indoors.
Wrapping Up Seed Starting Kits with Lights
Seed starting kits with lights are a good way to check many necessary supplies off your list in one click.
My top pick overall for the best seed starting light kit is Hoss’ Indoor Seed Starting Light Kit. While pricier than other kits, you’ll have most of what you need. And, you’ll be able to use it for many seasons to come.
For more on seed starting, visit our Seed Starting Page. Here, you’ll learn about how to successfully start vegetables to get a jumpstart on your garden.