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H11 vs. H9 vs. H8 Headlights - What's the difference? | LED, HID, Halogen Bulbs

What is the difference between H11, H9, and H8 headlight bulbs? Are H11, H9, and H8 the same?

Last updated: August 23, 2023


H11, H9, and H8 are the most popular automotive headlight bulbs used mainly as low beam, high beam, and fogs, respectively.

They are found in a wide range of vehicles including cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and in some cases, semi-trucks.

If you're in a rush, let us save you some time - H11, H9 and H8 are the same bulb and can be used interchangeably. The only difference between them is their default wattage as a result of their position in the headlight.

H11 vs H9 vs H8 Headlight Bulb Comparison Diagram & Sizes - XenonPro.com

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 question in great detail.


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🚧 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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Are H11, H9 and H8 the same?

Yes, H11, H9, and H8 are the same bulbs they just carry different part numbers, positions, and default wattages for standard halogen bulb replacements.

Aside from these minor differences, all three are identical on every other front from size and shape to locking tabs and connectors.

, H11, H9, and H8 are also the same as H16 (the L-shaped version) as you can see in our Headlight Bulb Cross Reference Guide.


What's the difference between H11 and H9 bulbs?

The only difference between H11, H9, and H8 are their reference (part) number, their position, and their wattage for replacement halogen bulbs.

H11 is the most common of the three, using 55 watts and found in low beams. H9 is found in high beams and uses 65 watts while H8 is used for fog lights and uses 35 watts.

The wattage difference is irrelevant when looking at LED or Xenon HID bulbs as explained in the sections below.

H11 vs H9 vs H8 Headlight Bulb Comparison Diagram & Sizes - XenonPro.com


H9 vs. H11 vs. H8 Connectors (Plugs)

H9, H11, and H8 have the same connector since they are the same bulb with the same plug. As pictured above, it consists of two narrow-set prongs enclosed in a plastic oval casing with a plastic divider at the center and two tabs on either end of the casing.

So, can you plug an H11 into and H9 or H8? Yes. You can also plug an H9 into an H11 or H8 and an H8 into an H11 or H9.


H1 vs. H9 vs. H8 Comparison Summary Table

H11, H9, and H8 are the same bulbs with a few minor differences. Compare them side-by-side using our table below.

H11 H9 H8
Brightness Up to 9,000 lm Up to 9,000 lm Up to 9,000 lm
Lifespan Up to 45,000 hours Up to 45,000 hours Up to 45,000 hours
Wattage 55W 65W 35W
Voltage 12V 12V 12V
Total Height 58 mm 58 mm 58 mm
MOL 43 mm 43 mm 43 mm
LCL 25 mm 25 mm 25 mm
Bulb Diam. 12 mm 12 mm 12 mm
Total Diam. 19 mm 19 mm 19 mm
Plug Width 24 mm 24 mm 24 mm
Plugh Height 15 mm 15 mm 15 mm
Connector 2 prongs 2 prongs 2 prongs
Locking Tabs Metal Metal Metal
Beam(s) Low beam High beam Fogs
Colors Yellow, White, Blue, Purple Yellow, White, Blue, Purple Yellow, White, Blue, Purple
Available in Halogen, HID, LED Halogen, HID, LED Halogen, HID, LED

Upgrading Your H11, H9 or H8 to LED or HID (Popular!)

Looking to upgrade your H11, H9, or H8 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:

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

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Comparing H11, H9 and H8 Headlight Bulbs

Durability (Lifespan)

There is a lot of bad information out there on this topic saying that H8 or H9 lasts longer than H11 - this is simply false. All headlight and fog light bulbs of the same quality will have approximately the same lifespan.

When it comes to bulbs, lifespan is measured in lighting hours. Standard replacement halogen bulbs can last as little as 180 hours while higher quality halogen bulbs can go up to 500 hours or so.

Premium LED or HID bulb upgrades such as ours can last well over 10,000 hours.

Another consideration is the beam in which the bulb is used. For instance, if an H11 is used in the low beams (dims) and H9 in the high beams (brights), the H9 will logically outlast the H11.

This isn't because the H9 is better or has a longer lifespan. It's because most drivers rarely use their brights and when they do, it's for very short periods when necessary.

A recent study by the IIHS found that only 9-18% of vehicles used high beams. So, perspective matters!

Technology (Halogen, LED & HID)

H11, H9, and H8 are available in a variety of lighting technologies. From the factory, these bulbs always come in standard halogen but they can both be upgraded to LED or HID using what is commonly known as conversion kits.

For more information on halogen to LED conversion kits and halogen to HID conversion kits, check out our popular post Can I Put LED or HID Bulbs in My Stock Headlights?

Brightness

Brightness depends on the quality of the bulb and the wattage. An H11, H9, or H8 bulb will emit the same amount of light if they are the same quality, same technology (halogen, HID, LED), and have the same wattage.

Looking at standard replacements, the H9 will technically produce more light because it has a higher default wattage (65W) compared to H11 (55W) and H8 (35W) but it won't be significant.

Another consideration is the beam in which the bulb is used.

Assuming both bulbs have the same quality, technology, and wattage, a bulb positioned in the high beams (brights) will appear to produce more light.

This is simply because of the angle of the bulb and light, not because the bulb is brighter than its low-beam counterpart. You can learn more on this topic here.

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Wattage

Standard H11 bulbs are 55 watts whereas standard H9 bulbs are 65 watts and H8 are 35 watts. The H9 comes in a higher wattage because they are used in high beams and the H8 comes with a lower wattage because they are only used in the fog lights.

Voltage

All three are rated 12 volts. Most automotive headlights and fog light bulbs are 12V.


H11 vs. H9 vs. H8 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 and where they are commonly found on a vehicle.

When it comes to upgrading your H9 or H11 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 H11, H9, and H8 bulb sizes in 25-, 35-, and 45-watt options and in 4 color options (white, yellow, blue, and purple).

While we showcase all three bulbs individually, they are not different. You can check them out below.

XenonPro - H11/H8/H9 LED Headlight Installation


H11 vs. H9 vs. H8 Xenon HID Headlight Bulbs

Similarly to LED, when upgrading your H9 or H11 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 H11, H9, and H8 in 35-watt and 55-watt in 7 color options ranging from yellow to white to purple.

Although we showcase all three bulbs individually, they are not different. You can check them out below.

XenonPro - H11/H8/H9 HID Headlight Installation


Related Topics


Frequently Asked Questions:

H11 is used on almost all car makes such as:

Popular models such as the:

To see which bulbs you need, use ourĀ Bulb Finder Tool, check your owner manual, or contact your dealership to make sure you're buying the right bulbs and avoid fitment issues.

H9 is used in the high beams of makes such as Chevy, Ford, Jeep, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Volvo, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and more.

To see which bulbs you need, use our Bulb Finder Tool, check your owner manual, or contact your dealership to make sure you're buying the right bulbs and avoid fitment issues.

To see which bulbs you need, use ourĀ Bulb Finder Tool, check your owner manual, or contact your dealership to make sure you're buying the right bulbs and avoid fitment issues.

Yes. They are the same bulb.

Yes. They are the same bulb.

Yes. They are the same bulb.

No. Brightness depends on the quality of the bulb and the wattage. Both will produce the same amount of light if they have the same specifications.

Looking at standard replacement halogen bulbs specifically, H9 is technically slightly more powerful because of its higher wattage.

No. Brightness depends on the quality of the bulb and the wattage. Both will produce the same amount of light if they have the same specifications.

Looking at standard replacement halogen bulbs specifically, H9 is technically slightly more powerful because of its higher wattage.

No. Brightness depends on the quality of the bulb and the wattage. Both will produce the same amount of light if they have the same specifications.

Looking at standard replacement halogen bulbs specifically, H9 is technically slightly more powerful because of its higher wattage.

No. They are the same so they are equally as good.

No. They are the same so they are equally as good.

No. They are the same so they are equally as good.


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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.