9003 vs. H4 Headlights - What's the difference? | LED, HID, Halogen Bulbs

What is the difference between 9003 and H4 headlight bulbs? Are H4 and 9003 the same?

Last updated: September 7, 2023

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9003 (also known as H4 or HB2) is a popular dual-beam automotive headlight bulbs found on many motorcycles, snowmobiles, and a few vehicles.

If you're in a rush, let us save you some time - 9003 and H4 are the same bulb and can be used interchangeably. Neither is better than the other, they simply have different reference/part numbers.

If you've landed on this article, you are most likely trying to figure out which of the two you need, if they are the same, if you could use either, or if they are different. In the following sections, we get to the bottom of this debate in great detail.

🚧 IMPORTANT: Automotive light bulbs are vehicle-specific! If you're not sure which bulb size you need, use our Bulb Finder Tool, check your owner's manual, or contact your dealership to make sure you're buying the right bulbs to avoid fitment issues.

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Is 9003 the same as H4?

Yes, 9003 and H4 are the same bulb they just carry different part numbers the same way a shoe size 10 (US) is the same as a shoe size 43.5 (Europe).

This bulb is most commonly referred to as H4 but you will also see it called 9003 or HB2 in stores. All 3 are interchangeable as you can see in our Headlight Bulb Cross Reference Guide.

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What's the difference between 9003 and H4 bulbs?

There is no difference. 9003 and H4 are the same bulb, the only difference is their part (reference) number.

This bulb is most commonly used as a high and low beam bulb on many motorsport vehicles such as Arctic Cat, Ducati, Harley Davidson, Honda Motorcycles, Kawasaki, Polaris, Ski-Doo, Yamaha.

You can also find them on a few car makes such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

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9003 vs H4 Connectors (Socket)

Since 9003 and H4 are the same bulb they naturally have the same plug. As pictured above, it has an exposed three-prong design.

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H4 vs. 9003 Comparison Summary Table

H4 and 9003 are the same bulb. Compare them side-by-side using our table below.

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Upgrading Your H4 (9003/HB2) to LED or HID (Popular!)

Looking to upgrade your H4 bulbs with better, brighter, and more durable lighting?

At XenonPro.com, we developed LED and HID bulbs that fit right into your vehicle. With the same design and plugs, our bulbs are incredibly easy to install and will improve your light output by up to 300%.

Check out our award-winning products backed by our industry-best Lifetime Warranty:

• LED Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit
• HID Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit

Need help choosing? Learn about the difference between LED and HID headlight bulbs.

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H4 vs. 9003 LED Headlight Bulbs

If you've been reading along, you already know that the only difference between the two is the way the bulb is named.

When it comes to upgrading your H4 (9003) bulbs from halogen to LED there is also no difference. The bulb is available in the same range of wattages and colors, and the installation processes are identical.

For example, here at XenonPro, we offer the H4 (9003) bulb size in 25-, 35-, and 45-watt options and in 4 color options (white, yellow, blue, and purple). You can check it out below:

• H4 LED Headlight Bulb Upgrade

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H4 vs. 9003 Xenon HID Headlight Bulbs

Similarly to LED, when upgrading your 9003 (H4) bulb from halogen to HID there is no difference. Each bulb size is available in the same range of wattages and colors, and the installation processes are the same.

At XenonPro, we offer 9003 (H4) in 35-watt and 55-watt in 7 color options ranging from yellow to white to purple. You can check them out below:

• H4 Xenon HID Conversion Kit

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Which vehicles use H4? Which vehicles use 9003? Can I use 9003 instead of H4? Can I use H4 instead of 9003? Is 9003 Brighter than H4? Is H4 Brighter than 9003? Is 9003 Better than H4? Is H4 Better than 9003?

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Sources:

• XenonPro.com Research
• Sylvania Automotive
• Philips Automotive (USA)

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Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is provided free of charge to our visitors. It was prepared to the best of our abilities and with all the information available to us at the time of writing. We reserve the right to change, remove or update any information contained on this page at any time and without notice to improve its accuracy. The most reliable method to determine the bulb size is by pulling your actual bulb(s) and reading the part number indicated directly on the bulb. The information compiled on this page comes with no guarantees or warranties.