The main difference is color temperature. Daylight bulbs measure between 5,000K and 6,000K, meaning they produce light that is perceived as bright white. Soft white bulbs measure between 2,700K and 3,000K, casting a warm, yellowish glow.

Soft white light bulbs, which are between 2,000 and 3,000 Kelvins, are slightly lower in temperature and emit a warm and cozy light. Daylight bulbs come in a few notches higher on the scale—between 5,500 and 6,500 Kelvins—and therefore have a cleaner, more pure white tone.