List of automotive light bulb types

Last updated April 04, 2024

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 (ECE 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,^[1] which contains specifications for filament lamps, and Regulation 99 and its addenda^[2]^[3] which covers light sources for high-intensity discharge headlamps. Some UN-approved bulb types^[4] 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 (not for road illumination lamps), and those no longer allowable as light sources for new type approvals but still permitted for production as replacement parts.

Group 1

**Group 1 (Without general restrictions)**
Category	Filaments	Nominal power (major/minor filament where applicable)	Cap (base) per IEC 60061	Other approvals	Remarks
H1	1	6 V & 12 V: 55 W 24 V: 70 W	P14.5s	USA, Japan	12V: ECE nominal luminous flux: 1,550 lm ±15%
H3	1	6 V & 12 V: 55 W 24 V: 70 W	PK22s	USA, Japan	12V: ECE nominal luminous flux: 1,450 lm ±15%
H4	2	6 V & 12 V: 60 / 55 W 24 V: 75 / 70 W	P43t	Japan	Similar US bulb: HB2 (9003) 12V: ECE nominal luminous flux: 1,650 / 1,000 lm ±15% Available with P45t base to upgrade old headlamps designed for R2 bulb
H7	1	12 V: 55 W 24 V: 70 W	PX26d	USA, Japan	12V: ECE nominal luminous flux: 1,500 lm ±10%
H8	1	12 V: 35 W	PGJ19-1	USA	ECE nominal luminous flux: 800 lm ±15%
H8B	1	12 V: 35 W	PGJY19-1	USA
H9	1	12 V: 65 W	PGJ19-5	USA
H9B	1	12 V: 65 W	PGJY19-5	USA
H10	1	12 V: 42 W	PY20d	USA	ANSI № 9145 ECE nominal luminous flux: 850 lm ±15%
H11	1	12 V: 55 W 24 V: 70 W	PGJ19-2	USA	ECE nominal luminous flux: 1,350 lm ±10%
H11B	1	12 V: 55 W 24 V: 70 W	PGJY19-2	USA
H12	1	12 V: 53 W	PZ20d	USA	ANSI № 9055 ECE nominal luminous flux: 1,050 lm ±15%
H13	2	12 V: 60 / 55 W	P26.4t	USA	ANSI № 9008 ECE nominal luminous flux: 1,700 / 1,100 lm ±15%
H13A	2	12 V: 60 / 55 W	PJ26.4t	USA
H15	2	12 V: 55 / 15 W 24 V: 60 / 20 W	PGJ23t-1	USA	ECE nominal luminous flux: 26/1350 ±10% Low-wattage filament for DRL function
H16	1	12 V: 19 W	PGJ19-3
H16B	1	12 V: 19 W	PGJY19-3
H21W	1	12 V & 24 V: 21 W	BAY9s
H27W/1	1	12 V: 27W	PG13	USA	ANSI № 880
H27W/2	1	12 V: 27 W	PGJ13	USA	ANSI № 881
HB3	1	12 V: 60 W	P20d 90°	USA, Japan	ANSI № 9005 ECE nominal luminous flux: 1700 lm ±15%
HB3A	1	12 V: 60 W	P20d 180°	USA	ANSI № 9005XS
HB4	1	12 V: 51 W	P22d 90°	USA, Japan	ECE nominal luminous flux:1000 ± 15% ANSI № 9006
HB4A	1	12 V: 51 W	P22d 180°	USA	ANSI № 9006XS
HIR1	1	12 V: 60 W	PX20d	USA, Japan	ANSI № 9011
HIR2	1	12 V: 55 W	PX22d	USA, Japan	ANSI № 9012
HP24W	1	12 V: 24 W			Exclusively produced by Valeo
HPY24W	1	12 V: 24 W			Amber, Exclusively produced by Valeo
HS1	2	6 V & 12 V: 35 / 35 W	PX43t		For motorcycles
HS2	1	6 V & 12 V: 15 W	PX13.5s		For motorcycles
HS5	2	12 V: 35 / 30 W	P23t		For motorcycles
HS5A	2	12 V: 45 / 40 W	PX23t		For motorcycles
HS6	2	12 V: 40 / 35 W	PX26.4t		For motorcycles
PX24W	1	12 V: 24 W	PGU20-7
PSX24W	1	12 V: 24 W	PG20-7		ANSI № 2504
PSX26W	1	12 V: 26 W	PG18.5d-3		ANSI № 6851
S1	2	6 V & 12 V: 45 / 40 W	BA20d		For car headlights
S2	2	6 V & 12 V: 35 / 35 W	BA20d		For motorcycles
S3	2	6 V & 12 V: 15 W	P26s		For mopeds

Group 2

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

Group 3

**Group 3 (For replacement purposes only)**
Category	Cap (Base)	Filaments	Nominal power	Comments
C21W	SV8.5	1	12 V: 21 W	Old designation: C15, for reversing lamp only
H2	X511	1	12 V / 55 W	ECE nominal luminous flux: 1800lm ±15% Deleted from Reg 37
H14	2	12 V: 60 / 55 W	P38t	Japan ECE nominal luminous flux: 1,750 / 1,150 lm ±15%
P19W	PGU20-1	1	12 V: 19 W
PC16W	PU20d-1	1	12 V: 16 W
PCR16W	PU20d-7	1	12 V: 16 W	Red
PCY16W	PU20d-2	1	12 V: 16 W	Amber
PR19W	PGU20-5	1	12 V: 19 W	Red
PY19W	PGU20-2	1	12 V: 19 W	Amber
PSR19W	PG20-5	1	12 V: 19 W	Red
PSR24W	PG20-6	1	12 V: 24 W	Red
PR24W	PGU20-6	1	12 V: 24 W	Red
R2	P45t	2	6 V & 12 V: 45 / 40 W 24 V: 55 / 50 W	Standard and higher-wattage versions available with halogen burner
S1	BA20d	2	6 V & 12 V: 25 / 25 W	for motorcycles

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.

Category	Cap (Base)	Nominal power	Remarks
D1R	PK32d-3	85 V / 35 W	Integral ignitor For reflector systems
D1S	PK32d-2	85 V / 35 W	Integral ignitor For projector systems
D2R	P32d-3	85 V / 35 W	For reflector systems
D2S	P32d-2	85 V / 35 W	For projector systems
D3R	PK32d-6	42 V / 35 W	Mercury-free Integral ignitor For reflector systems
D3S	PK32d-5	42 V / 35 W	Mercury-free Integral ignitor For projector systems
D4R	P32d-6	42 V / 35 W	Mercury-free For reflector systems
D4S	P32d-5	42 V / 35 W	Mercury-free For projector systems
D5S	PK32d-[7]	12 V: 25 W	Ballast output voltage
D6S	P32d-1	42 V: 25 W
D7S	PK32d-1	42 V: 25 W
D8S	PK32d-1	42 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 (StVZO, Road Traffic Approval Regulation). Per the Fahrzeugteileverordnung (FzTV, Vehicle Parts Regulation), 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.

**German vehicle bulbs per DIN**
Category	Nominal power	Filaments	Cap (Base)	Comments
Form K (DIN 72601, Part 4)	6 V, 10 W	1	SV8.5-8	11 × 41 mm
Form K (DIN 72601, Part 4)	12 V, 10 W	1	SV8.5-8	11 × 41 mm
Form K (DIN 72601, Part 6)	6 V, 18 W	1	SV8.5-8	15 × 41 mm
Form K (DIN 72601, Part 6)	12 V, 18 W	1	SV8.5-8	15 × 41 mm
Form K (DIN 72601, Part 6)	24 V, 18 W	1	SV8.5-8	15 × 41 mm
Form R (DIN 72601, Part 6)	6 V, 18 W	1	BA15s
Form R (DIN 72601, Part 6)	12 V, 18 W	1	BA15s
Form R (DIN 72601, Part 6)	24 V, 18 W	1	BA15s
Form S (DIN 72601, Part 7)	6 V, 18 / 5 W	2	BAY15d
Form S (DIN 72601, Part 7)	12 V, 18 / 5 W	2	BAY15d
Form S (DIN 72601, Part 7)	24 V, 18 / 5 W	2	BAY15d

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 (NHTSA) with product specifications at least 60 days prior to first use.^[6] The specifications supplied by the manufacturer, on approval by NHTSA, are entered in Federal docket NHTSA-1998-3397.^[7] 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 (bulbs) conforming to either the US or the international ECE regulations.^[8]^{: 108(5)(a)}

**Replaceable Light Sources for Vehicle Headlamps**
Bulb Type	Trade Number	Cap (Base)	Filaments	Nominal power @ 12.8v (High/Low beam where applicable)	Comments
HB1	9004	P29t	2	65 / 45 W
HB2	9003	P43t-38	2	60 / 55 W	H4 with stricter geometric tolerances
HB3	9005	P20d (90°)	1	65 W
HB3A	9005XS	P20d (straight)	1	65 W	HB3 w/180° straight base
HB4	9006	P22d (90°)	1	55 W
HB4A	9006XS	P22d (180° straight)	1	55 W	HB4 w/180° straight base
HB5	9007	PX29t	2	65 / 55 W
H13	9008	P26t	2	65 / 55 W

**Others**
Category	Cap (Base)	Filaments	Nominal power	Comments	Image
PC194	T10 (if removable) or fixed to holder	1	14 V / 3.78W	Used on circuit boards for e.g. dash lights, gauge cluster backlights. Similar in size to W3W if with a T10 base.
PC74	T1-3/4 (if removable) or fixed to holder^[9]	1	14 V / 1.4W	Used on circuit boards for e.g. dash lights, gauge cluster backlights.

Other countries

**Others**
Category	Cap (Base)	Filaments	Electrical Characteristics	Comments	Image
H3C		1	6 V / 55W, 12 V / 55W, 24 V / 70W	Japan (USA for unregulated auxiliary lamps only)

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References

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[R37r7-1] ECE Regulation No. 37: Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Filament Lamps for Use in Approved Lamp Units on Power-Driven Vehicles and of their Trailers, Revision 7

[R99r2-2] ECE Regulation No. 99: Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Light Sources for Use in Approved Gas-Discharge Lamp Units of Power-Driven Vehicles

[3] ECE Regulation 99 Amendment 3

[CRCL22-4] Types of bulbs and socles

[5] Consolidated Resolution on the common specification of light source categories (R.E.5), 1 March 2018, p. 14

[6] "49 CFR 564 - Replaceable Light Source Information" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.

[7] NHTSA Docket 1998-3397: Replaceable Light Source Information

[CMVSS108-8] Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 Archived 2013-06-21 at the Wayback Machine

[9] "PHILIPS PC74 | Bulb 14 VOLTS $0.89". www.interlight.biz. Retrieved 2016-07-30.

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