Best HID Kits: Upgrade Your Car Headlights For Better Lighting And Driving Safety
Learn about the best HID kits that improve your visibility and driving safety at night
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›
A new car is usually delivered with headlights that have halogen bulbs. These bulbs are not the brightest or most effective when driving at night or through the fog, which is why more drivers are turning to HID kits. These offer crisp illumination and better visibility to increase safety on the road. HID stands for High-Intensity Discharge, and despite their intense lighting, they tend to consume less power and last longer than halogen and LED bulbs. When you’re looking for the best HID kit, it always pays to do some research beforehand to find the best HID conversion kit brand that suits your car. Luckily, we did the research for you and came up with our list of the best HID kits on the market.
DDM Tuning Plus 35W Premium HID Kit
Lumenon 35W HID Kit
Xentec H11 (H8/H9) GREEN HID Kit
Benefits of an HID Kit
- Brighter light. HID provides better illumination than both LED and halogen bulbs. The high-quality lighting emanating from 35-watt HID bulbs is three times brighter than factory-issued bulbs. The best HID kits to buy provide illumination that cuts through the thick darkness and fog and gives you better visibility.
- Low power consumption. When you turn on your HID headlights, they usually use up 20 amps. That number quickly drops down to just 3 amps as you keep them on. This is far less than the 15 amps halogen bulbs consume on average.
- Longer life. HID bulbs don’t use a filament as a source of light. Filaments in traditional bulbs tend to use more energy and also have a short life. This is why HID bulbs last much longer than halogen lights, even if you do most of your driving at night. HID bulbs are cost-effective since you won’t need to replace them that often.
- Color options. Unlike halogen bulbs that come in one color, or LEDs that offer four colors, many top HID kits offer seven color options to choose from. The change of the light intensity changes the color of the light itself, which gives you different hues of blue, pink, green, and white. Usually, white light is the brightest and produces better illumination than the other colors.
Types of HID Kits
Single Beam
Single beam kits are best suited for cars that need two bulbs: one bulb for high beams and another for low beams. In this case, you’ll need two kits, one for each bulb. The two bulbs can be turned on or off independently from each other.
High/Low Beam
This type of bulb is for vehicles that use one bulb for both high and low beams. When installed, it converts only the low beam into HID while the high beam remains a halogen. The kit usually includes two ballasts and two HID bulbs.
Telescope Kit
This kit switches between low beams and high beams using a single HID. The kit comes with installation clamps and two ballasts as well. Bulb sizes vary and may not fit in every vehicle, which doesn’t make them a popular choice for car owners.
Bi-Xenon Kit
Using a single bulb, bi-xenon bulbs can switch from low to high beams. The kit uses four ballasts and installation clamps. Similar to other kits, they are 12 volts.
Top Brands
OPT7
One guy started this company from his garage in California back in 1998. He used his background in concert stage lighting to create aftermarket lighting kits that are both affordable and much brighter than their halogen counterparts. The company’s products include HID kits as well as products, such as the OPT7 Car Aura 4pc Auto Underglow LED Lighting Kit.
Morimoto
Morimoto was established in the USA in 2008 out of the need to provide aftermarket lighting that worked better in harsh driving conditions The company’s products have a reputation for performance, reliability, and good looks. These include the H8 Morimoto Elite HID Kit and the 9006 Morimoto Elite HID Kit.
Autolizer
Autolizer specializes in auto lighting and has been around for over a decade. The company is the proud maker of Osram automotive lighting, Philips automotive lighting, Xenon kits, LED kits, and others. Other products include the Autolizer XenTec 9006 10000K HID Xenon Bulb and the JLM HID Kit 880.
HID Kit Pricing
- Under $40: You can get a good HID kit at this price range even though you shouldn’t expect it to last long. The warranty will be limited, and the bulbs will not be as durable as more expensive options. Headlights under this category tend to flicker a lot or just die out after a short while.
- $40-$70: HID kits around this price range are of high quality and are more reliable. You’ll get a warranty that covers both ballasts and bulbs as well. The headlights tend to offer a bright light that you can rely on regardless of the weather conditions.
- Over $100: Heavy-duty HID kits come with a hefty price tag. These are a long-term investment where you can drive at night knowing that your headlights won’t let you down.
Key Features
Wattage
Since HID bulbs come in two wattage varieties—35 or 55 watts—you’ll need to pay attention to the product you’re purchasing. The industry doesn’t have standards. Sometimes, 55 watts refers to the ballast, not the bulb itself. This requires you to read the product description carefully to make sure the bulb is not 35 watts or even 40 watts when you’re paying for a 55-watt HID kit.
Lumens
When you ask yourself what is the best HID kit, you’re really asking about its lumens. Lumens refer to the light particles (AKA photons) that the bulb emits. It has nothing to do with the intensity of the light itself. A bulb that produces more lumens tends to illuminate the road much better than a bulb with more intense light or glare.
Color
The color of the HID light produced by the bulb is an important issue to consider when buying the HID kit. It’s not just because different colors, such as shades of blue, might impact your own visibility; it turns out certain colors are not street legal. Generally speaking, only white light is street legal in the USA, so you need to make sure your headlights don’t get you in trouble with the law.
Other Considerations
- Durability: Whether it’s quality HID kits you’re after or it’s the brightest HID kit, durability should be something you factor in. While 35-watt bulbs have a good lifespan, 55-watt kits are known for their durability-related issues. They don’t last long since the wiring is not heavy-duty and can melt under the strain of the extra energy. If you’re using a 55-watt HID bulb, you might need a projection kit to handle the excessive heat and energy it produces.
- AC/DC: Whether you choose a kit that has an AC or DC power supply should come down to your budget. An AC power supply doesn’t cause the wiring to melt, but you only get it with more expensive kits. At the same time, DC kits deliver more power directly to the bulbs and are cheaper.
Best HID Kit Reviews & Recommendations 2020
Any car owner looking for a bright headlight kit will not be disappointed by this unit. The lighting system is unlike regular headlights on the market as it has been designed to perform optimally without consuming too much power or emitting too much heat. The kit includes a 35W bulb and offers plug-and-play installation.
While the HID kit looks similar to others you may have used in the past, its warm-up time is shorter, the bulb sockets fit more snugly, and the color temperature is an excellent match. The beam pattern is superb and the color temperature and luminosity make it safer to drive at night. The HID bulbs are three times brighter than most halogen bulbs.
This HID kit has many great features, but the manufacturer could make it better. The ballast is uncovered and can easily get damaged by water. The color temperature is also not accurate, as the bulbs emit light that is almost blue in color.
One thing you'll love about this HID kit is that it is easy to install. It uses a 35-watt standard size digital ballast and comes with two bulbs and a car harness. The kit produces powerful, bright light that does not flicker as the light beam is directed straight to the road. The manufacturer has designed the HID kit to be compatible with a variety of car models.
When buying this HID kit, you can choose from eight different color temperatures. You may have to assemble the components prior to installation. Its amp connector works with most HID bulbs. It features zinc alloy casing and heat sinks for advanced heat dissipation.
But just like other lighting systems, it is not perfect. It will put more strain on your vehicle's battery and limit the wiring. Also, the color temperature the manufacturer gives is not accurate and is closer to blue than white. The bulbs also take some time to warm up and do not achieve full brightness immediately.
Tips
- Always check that the product has a warranty and that the warranty covers the important parts of the light such as the ballast and the bulbs.
- When replacing old HID bulbs, you don’t need to get separate ballasts for them. Upgrading from halogen to HID, however, would require a full HID light conversion kit.
- Plug-and-play installation is a sign of a quality kit. If the kit requires a lot of work to get it into the headlight, you should look for another option.
- Durability is key to a good purchase choice. Make sure you’re investing in a kit that will give you good service for years to come without letting you down.
FAQs
Q: Does the HID kit make the low beams brighter?
A: Yes. The goal of installing an HID kit is to get brighter light out of your headlights. This includes both the low and high beams.
Q: Do the HID low beams stay on at all times, even when the high beams are on?
A: Yes, if the car has a dual beam system where there are two bulbs for the beams. When the high beam is on, the low beam stays on as well.
Q: What is the best HID color?
A: Diamond-white is by far the best color, as it offers better visibility to the driver in most driving conditions.
Final Thoughts
For our top overall pick, we chose the DDM Tuning Plus Premium HID Kit, as it’s easy to install and produces more powerful light than LED and halogen headlights.
For the best value, we chose the Lumenon 35w HID Kit, which comes packed with a lot of features for an inexpensive kit.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
Learn more