Best Headlight Bulbs: Light the Way With These Top Headlight Bulbs

Best Overall: Sylvania H11 XtraVision High Performance Halogen Headlight Bulb

Best Value: Vision X Superwhite Headlight Bulbs

Honorable Mention: Philips H7 CrystalVision Ultra Upgraded Headlight Bulb

Best Premium: PIAA Xtreme White Bulbs

Best Basic Halogen: Sylvania H11 Basic Headlight Bulb

Best OEM Replacement: Philips H11 Standard Halogen Replacement Headlight Bulb

In my search for the best headlight bulbs, I started by looking for bulbs from well-known and reputable manufacturers, like Sylvania and Philips. I honed in on bulbs that were specifically manufactured to fit common headlight sizes, like H11 and H7 bulbs, for a wide range of use cases in different vehicles. In my search, I considered details like longevity, brightness (or lumen count), wattage, and expected lifespan. To get a sense of how easy the installation process was for each bulb and how they performed once installed, I looked to user reviews to understand common issues and positive experiences across use cases.

With the Sylvania H11 XtraVision High Performance Halogen Headlight Bulb, you’ll be able to extend your visibility and the lifespan of your vehicle’s headlight bulbs. These all-around reliable and solidly performing bulbs deliver, and they’re sized to fit a wide range of different makes and models. If you want extra bang for your buck, a pair of Vision X Superwhite Headlight Bulbs will deliver extra brightness in a small, affordable package.

Swapping out your current headlight bulbs for a new set isn’t difficult, but as you start to shop for replacement bulbs, you’ll notice you have a ton of options. Here’s what you need to know in order to find the right type, fit, and brightness level for both your vehicle and your visibility needs on the road. 

Halogen headlight bulbs have long been the standard. These simple, affordable light bulbs light up with a combination of halogen gasses and a heated filament inside the bulb. They’re bright enough, but they typically produce the lowest lumens in comparison to other headlight bulb varieties. Halogen bulbs also tend to have the lowest temperature color, reaching no more than 4,000K in total. 

A brighter, more vibrant choice over halogen bulbs, high-intensity discharge (or HID) bulbs are an upgrade with a slight blue tint to their coloring. They’re not as common as halogen bulbs, or even as common as LED, but they do offer anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 lumens of light and a color temperature of as much as 8,000K, depending on the bulb you pick. HID headlight bulbs can also go by the names ARC or xenon lights; regardless of what they’re called, they use electrodes, xenon gas, and vaporized metals to generate light. However, HID bulbs aren’t as long-lasting or efficient as other picks. 

The most energy-efficient and long-lasting choice, LED headlight bulbs are quickly becoming a new standard. These bulbs can last years beyond your typical halogen or HID bulb, giving you as much as 50,000 hours of life. LED bulbs work with diodes or semiconductors, which produce photons. Typically rated at a color temperature of 6,000K, they’re also nicely bright and can enhance your visibility and sight distance. Just note that in order to use LED bulbs, you’ll need to upgrade to LED-suitable headlight housing; otherwise, your lights may not be street legal. 

Who wants to crouch down in front of their headlights and fuss with housing removal, wiring and fuses, and reassembling everything all to swap out one little lightbulb? Fortunately, most of today’s headlight bulbs are easy to install and are “plug and play” by design. Plug and play is as simple as it sounds: All you have to do is plug in one connection point to your vehicle’s headlight housing, and you’ll be up and running with a new bulb. If you come across bulbs that are not plug and play, you should expect a slightly more complicated installation process. 

Check your owner’s manual before you buy new headlight bulbs — you’re going to want to make sure you’re choosing a pair that features the right level of power and the right brightness. The wattage rating tells you the level of power, or how brightly and strongly the bulb’s light will shine. However, for a true reading on just how illuminating the bulb will be, you should also look at the lumen count. In general, car headlight bulbs won’t go beyond 3,000 lumens or 55 watts. 

Even when you’re not thinking about them, your headlights are exposed to all kinds of outdoor elements, from everyday dirt and dust to harsh rain to snow. And while your headlight housing can protect the bulb and its wiring pretty well, leaks can happen. That’s why it’s important to choose a bulb that’s properly weatherproof and able to perform whether it’s foggy and muggy, dusty, or raining hard when you hit the road. 

No matter what kind of headlight bulbs you’re looking for, pricing is pretty affordable. Bulbs are typically sold individually or in sets of two to four bulbs. For basic single bulbs, you can expect to spend about $4 to $6. For a more high-tech bulb, your cost can run anywhere from $6 to $10. Most premium headlight bulbs can run $10 or more, but these are generally specialized products meant for certain makes or models, or luxury vehicles. 

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

A: It depends on the amount of lumens you choose for your bulbs. The higher the lumen count, the brighter the bulbs will be. Typically, xenon and LED bulbs shine noticeably brighter than halogen ones. 

A: LED headlight bulbs are usually available in higher lumen counts than HID bulbs.

A: Generally, you don’t want to exceed 3,000 lumens for your headlights or taillights. Aiming for a lower lumen count should keep your headlights street legal. 

A: No, you can’t! If you’re planning to switch to LED headlight bulbs, you’ll actually need to upgrade your entire headlight housing so all of its components are LED-friendly and compatible.