List of automotive light bulb types


Light bulbs for automobiles are made in several standardized series. Bulbs used for headlamps, turn signals and brake lamps may be required to comply with international and national regulations governing the types of lamps used. Other automotive lighting applications such as auxiliary lamps or interior lighting may not be regulated, but common types are used by many automotive manufacturers.

International

The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations develops and maintains international-consensus UN Regulations on light sources acceptable for use in lamps on vehicles and trailers type-approved for use in countries that recognise the UN Regulations. These include Regulation 37, which contains specifications for filament lamps, and Regulation 99 and its addenda
which covers light sources for high-intensity discharge headlamps. Some UN-approved bulb types are also permitted by some other regulations, such as those of the United States or of Japan, though Japan has begun supplanting the former Japanese national regulations with the international UN regulations.

Filament lamps

UN Regulation 37 covers motor vehicle filament lamps. These are categorized in three groups: those without general restriction that can be used in any application, those acceptable only for signalling lights, and those no longer allowable as light sources for new type approvals but still permitted for production as replacement parts.

Group 1 (Without general restrictions)

CategoryFilamentsNominal power
Cap
per IEC 60061		Other approvalsRemarksImage
H116 V & 12 V: 55 W
24 V: 70 W		P14.5sUSA, Japan12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 1,550 lm ±15%
H316 V & 12 V: 55 W
24 V: 70 W		PK22sUSA, Japan12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 1,450 lm ±15%
H426 V & 12 V: 60 / 55 W
24 V: 75 / 70 W		P43tJapanSimilar US bulb: HB2
12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 1,650 / 1,000 lm ±15%
H7112 V: 55 W
24 V: 70 W		PX26dUSA, Japan12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 1,500 lm ±10%
H8112 V: 35 WPGJ19-1USA12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 800 lm ±15%
H8B112 V: 35 WPGJY19-1USA
H9112 V: 65 WPGJ19-5USA
H9B112 V: 65 WPGJY19-5USA
H10112 V: 42 WPY20dUSAUS trade # 9145
12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 850 lm ±15%
H11112 V: 55 W
24 V: 70 W		PGJ19-2USA12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 1,350 lm ±10%
H11B112 V: 55 W
24 V: 70 W		PGJY19-2USA
H12112 V: 53 WPZ20dUSAUS trade # 9055
12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 1,050 lm ±15%
H13212 V: 60 / 55 WP26.4tUSAUS trade # 9008
12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 1,700 / 1,100 lm ±15%
H13A212 V: 60 / 55 WPJ26.4tUSA
H14212 V: 60 / 55 WP38tJapan12V: ECE approved Luminous flux: 1,750 / 1,150 lm ±15%
H15212 V: 55 / 15 W
24 V: 60 / 20 W		PGJ23t-1USA, Europe15 / 20 W filament for DRL function
H16112 V: 19 WPGJ19-3similar to PS19W
H16B112 V: 19 WPGJY19-3
H21W112 V & 24 V: 21 WBAY9s
H27W/1112 V: 27WPG13USAUS trade # 880
H27W/2112 V: 27 WPGJ13USAUS trade # 881
HB3112 V: 60 WP20d 90°USA, JapanUS trade # 9005
HB3A112 V: 60 WP20d 180°USAUS trade # 9005XS
HB4112 V: 51 WP22d 90°USA, JapanUS trade # 9006
HB4A112 V: 51 WP22d 180°USAUS trade # 9006XS
HIR1112 V: 60 WPX20dUSA, JapanUS trade # 9011
HIR2112 V: 55 WPX22dUSA, JapanUS trade # 9012
HP24W112 V: 24 WExclusively produced by Valeo for PSA Group
HPY24W112 V: 24 WAmber, Exclusively produced by Valeo for Land Rover?,
HS126 V & 12 V: 35 / 35 WPX43tFor motorcycles
HS216 V & 12 V: 15 WPX13.5sFor motorcycles
HS5212 V: 35 / 30 WP23tFor motorcycles
HS5A212 V: 45 / 40 WPX23tFor motorcycles
HS6212 V: 40 / 35 WPX26.4tFor motorcycles
PX24W112 V: 24 WPGU20-7
PSX24W112 V: 24 WPG20-7similar to H16/PS19W, but has more power
PSX26W112 V: 26 WPG18.5d-3
S226 V & 12 V: 35 / 35 WBA20dFor motorcycles
S326 V & 12 V: 15 WP26sFor mopeds

Group 2 (Only for use in signalling lamps, cornering lamps, reversing lamps and rear registration plate lamps)

Group 3 (For replacement purposes only)

Gas discharge lamps

UN Regulation 99 covers gas discharge light sources for use in vehicle headlamps. All light sources acceptable under Regulation 99 are also acceptable under US regulations.
CategoryCap Nominal powerRemarksImage
D1RPK32d-385 V / 35 WIntegral ignitor
For reflector systems
D1SPK32d-285 V / 35 WIntegral ignitor
For projector systems
D2RP32d-385 V / 35 WFor reflector systems
D2SP32d-285 V / 35 WFor projector systems
D3RPK32d-642 V / 35 WMercury-free
Integral ignitor
For reflector systems
D3SPK32d-542 V / 35 WMercury-free
Integral ignitor
For projector systems
D4RP32d-642 V / 35 WMercury-free
For reflector systems
D4SP32d-542 V / 35 WMercury-free
For projector systems
D5SPK32d-12 V: 25 WBallast output voltage-
D6SP32d-142 V: 25 W-
D7SPK32d-142 V: 25 W-
D8SPK32d-142 V: 25 W-

Germany

There is a German national regulation for vehicle bulbs, now superseded by international ECE regulations. Bulbs according to the old German regulation are still manufactured. The German regulation is contained in §22a, Subsection 1, No. 18 of the Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung. Per the Fahrzeugteileverordnung, such light bulbs must bear an approval mark consisting of a sine wave and the letter 'K'. The technical requirements themselves are established by standards produced by DIN.
CategoryNominal powerFilamentsCap CommentsImage
Form K 6 V, 10 W1SV8.5-811 × 41 mm
Form K 12 V, 10 W1SV8.5-811 × 41 mm
Form K 6 V, 18 W1SV8.5-815 × 41 mm
Form K 12 V, 18 W1SV8.5-815 × 41 mm
Form K 24 V, 18 W1SV8.5-815 × 41 mm
Form R 6 V, 18 W1BA15s
Form R 12 V, 18 W1BA15s
Form R 24 V, 18 W1BA15s
Form S 6 V, 18 / 5 W2BAY15d
Form S 12 V, 18 / 5 W2BAY15d
Form S 24 V, 18 / 5 W2BAY15d

United States and Canada

In the United States, entry 49 CFR 564 in the Code of Federal Regulations requires manufacturers of headlight bulbs, officially known as "replaceable light sources", to furnish the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with product specifications at least 60 days prior to first use. The specifications supplied by the manufacturer, on approval by NHTSA, are entered in Federal docket NHTSA-1998-3397. From then on, any light source made and certified by any manufacturer as conforming to the specifications is legal for use in headlamps certified as conforming to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. Light sources for vehicle lamps other than headlamps are not Federally regulated.
In Canada, vehicle headlamps may use light sources conforming to either the US or the international ECE regulations.
Bulb TypeTrade NumberCap FilamentsNominal power @ 12.8v
CommentsImage
HB19004P29t265 / 45 W
HB29003P43t-38260 / 55 W
European H4 w/stricter geometric tolerances
& lower max output limit
HB39005P20d 165 W
HB3A9005XSP20d 165 WHB3 w/180° straight base
HB49006P22d 155 W
HB4A9006XSP22d 155 WHB4 w/180° straight base
HB59007PX29t265 / 55 W
H139008P26t265 / 55 W

CategoryCap FilamentsNominal powerCommentsImage
PC194T10
or fixed to holder		114 V / 3.78WUsed on circuit boards
for e.g. dash lights, gauge
cluster backlights.
Similar in size to W3W if
with a T10 base.
PC74T1-3/4
or fixed to holder		114 V / 1.4WUsed on circuit boards
for e.g. dash lights, gauge
cluster backlights.

Other countries