The Difference Between 9005, 9006, and H11 Headlight Bulbs

When the time comes to change the bulbs in your headlights, you need to understand the different types available. Many people wonder about the key differences between the 9005 vs. 9006 vs. H11 bulbs. Are these the same and can they be used interchangeably?

There are stark differences between the connectors, socket compatibility, and beam type of the 9005, 9006, and H11 bulbs. Additionally, there could be differences in the wattage, lumens, and lifespan, depending on which brand you buy. The 9006 and H11 are low-beam bulbs, while the 9005 is a high-beam bulb. 

In this article, we examine each of the bulbs in-depth, showing you the benefits and disadvantages of each. We also cover which bulbs can be used interchangeably in your vehicle.

1. Beam Type

The car headlight typically contains two types of beams, either the low or high. The 9005 bulbs are designed to be used as high-beam bulbs. 

On the other hand, both the 9006 and H11 bulbs are designed for low-beam headlights. However, some cars use a double-filament bulb that handles both the low and high beams. 

2. Wattage

The wattage rating shows how much power is drawn from the bulb. It’s important that you only use a bulb that’s compatible with the wattage rating for your car.

Both the 9006 and 9005 bulbs contain a single filament, but the wattage can vary. H11 bulbs have a nominal filament. Ideally, you want to choose a bulb that produces plenty of light, but this also means more wattage. 

3. Lumens

Each bulb type will offer its own lumen rating. This number shows the level of performance coming from the bulbs. The higher the rating is, the more light you can expect to come from the bulb. 

4. Lifespan

It’s important that your bulb lasts as long as possible. Otherwise, you are simply throwing away money. The bulb type itself doesn’t affect the lifespan, so you will have to judge by the manufacturer.

5. Connector

If you are planning on swapping out your bulbs, it’s important to know what connectors you are dealing with. Many people assume that the 9005 and 9006 bulbs are the same because they look so similar, but there’s an extra connector on the 9005 bulb compared with the 9006. However, you can use a 9005 bulb with the 9006 connectors with some modifications. 

The H11 and 9005 bulbs have completely different connectors. However, it is possible to use a 9005 bulb attached to an H11 connector. 

Additionally, the H11 and 9006 bulbs are different, but they do look more similar to one another. Just like with the 9005 bulbs, you can use the 9006 bulbs with an H11 connector. 

6. Socket Compatibility

There’s also a difference in the compatibility of the sockets. You can’t use a bulb in a socket where it doesn’t belong. The 9006 has a larger socket base than the 9005. While you can modify the base for a 9006 socket to hold a 9005 bulb, you cannot do it the other way around. 

Additionally, the H11 socket base is larger than the 9005. While you can fit a 9005 in the H11 socket with modifications, the opposite will not work. The 9006 bulb can be put in an H11 socket without any modifications to the space. However, the H11 bulb won’t fit in the 9006 socket. These are only meant to work in H11 sockets. 

Halogen vs. Xenon vs. LED

The halogen light bulb is the most popular of all three. It’s been used as the standard for decades because of the low cost. The filament inside is made from tungsten and halogen gas. Because of the design, these lights can get hotter.

Xenon HID headlights create a whiter beam than the halogen bulb. Inside the bulb, there are electrodes that charge the gas to create a light. These typically have a longer lifespan than halogen bulbs. 

LED bulbs continue to grow in popularity. Of all the bulbs, these can produce the whitest beam. Because there is no filament in the bulb, it can last much longer than the other types. There are some rated for 50,000 hours of service life.