Best Aftermarket Headlights: Enhance Your Night Vision with Quality Headlights

I looked at more than two dozen headlights to find the best value pair, the best performing pair, and a few honorable mentions that are worthy of your consideration. Specifically, I looked at brightness, beam pattern, lifespan, and ease of installation, with cost factoring heavily into our consideration. We also avoided products with subpar bulb lifespan, overly cool color temperature, or overly warm color temperature in the name of performance. Further explanation of the process can be found here.

We chose the Torchbeam LED Headlight Bulb Kit as the best overall aftermarket headlights. They’re a great plug-and-play option to improve visibility. Those on a budget should check out the Sylvania XtraVision High-Performance Halogen Headlight Bulbs, which are a reliable, no-fuss option.

Headlights are one of the most commonly modified and most important parts of a car that allow it to be a 24-hour all-weather machine that you can depend on. There are a few headlights you can consider with three major types: halogen, HID, and LED. All have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to brightness, beam pattern, lifespan, and cost. While the options can be complicated, the end goal is simple: you’re looking for a bright bulb that works well with your vehicle’s lighting system.

Halogen headlights are simple, old technology that uses electric current flowing through a thin filament encased in glass with an inert gas that allows it to shine brightly. That same filament is how halogen lights wear out and eventually break. With good light output and low cost, halogen headlights come standard in most carsand can vary in quality, longevity, and brightness.

HID means high-intensity discharge. They are the brightest headlights you can buy but require extra parts that the LED and halogen lights don’t require. A large, dedicated aftermarket for HIDs exists with specialist websites specifically created to sell HID systems so you can customize them more than any other light style. Their excellent brightness is offset by a high cost of entry, easily double that of LED bulbs, along with the need for a ballast and ignitor module that the other lights don’t need because of the high energy demands of an HID. They also are not recommended to replace halogen bulbs because of their intense glare on the road.

LED means light emitting diode, which is a semiconductor that emits light. Think of a laser or a computer chip specifically designed to shine brightly. LEDs require miniscule amounts of energy to run compared to halogens and HIDs and have the longest life of the three bulbs. Their only disadvantage is that the light source itself is a small chip compared to the entire bulb of the halogen or HID light, which can cause strange issues that can affect the beam pattern. Be aware that adding LED lights to a car not already equipped with them is against the law. Do not purchase LED conversions for your vehicle if it did not come that way from the factory.

Consider inquiring about a headlight’s service life before purchasing it. Lights with a longer service life last much longer without requiring repairs and replacements. Such headlights save you money because you do not need to purchase new headlights so frequently. You will also have some peace of mind when you don’t have to worry about your lights going off unexpectedly.

All three kinds of headlight bulbs have vastly different lifespans that are almost directly related to their cost. Halogens are extremely cheap to replace and have the shortest life, LEDs are moderately costly and have an extremely long life, and HIDs are the most expensive and boast a similarly long life with greater brightness. Headlights only wear with use, so consider how often you use them and determine if the extra cost of the upgraded LED or HID bulbs is worthwhile.

Voltage and wattage affect the quality of light that your headlights will offer you. A higher voltage enables your headlight to provide you with more stable lighting. A headlight with a higher wattage gives you a brighter illumination for a better driving experience. The right headlight is one that gives you the amount and quality of light that you require while consuming less power.

Generally speaking, wattage determines how bright headlight bulbs will be.

For halogen and LED bulbs, this isn’t something that is a huge consideration because wattage is related to the style of bulb socket that car makers design their headlights around. With HIDs, there are two major choices: 35 and 55 watt. The 35-watt option is what most car makers use in their systems, while 55 watt is an aftermarket upgrade that increases light output substantially at the cost of bulb life.

This is a consideration when upgrading your headlights from the stock halogens. LED and HID headlights emit considerable amounts of heat when lit, and this can present issues if there isn't room behind the bulb for LEDs or if the headlight housing itself cannot handle the heat of an HID bulb. Most LEDs have a heat sink or fan at the back of the bulb that keeps things cool, so this isn’t a worry in most applications.

The amount of energy that a headlight consumes should be considered before purchasing a headlight. A headlight with a high energy consumption derives a lot of energy from the car’s battery. When such a headlight is left running for a long time, it may drain your battery. LEDs consume the least amount of energy, while halogens consume the most. HIDs are power hungry when they first fire, but then settle into a lower energy consumption than halogen.

As your car ages, its headlights can dim or burn out completely. Beyond the obvious problem of being cited for driving without a headlight, there are serious safety issues that arise from missing lighting elements. Properly working headlights light up the road at night, but they also help other drivers see you. This is especially important during inclement weather such as fog and heavy rain.

Aftermarket headlights should also be on your radar if you plan on doing any sort of performance or off-road driving. Stock lighting may not be bright enough or have the right beam shape for what you’re trying to do. It’s important that you choose the right bulb for the job and that you pay attention to state and local laws when shopping. Some bulbs are illegal or not recommended for use on the road.

As with anything in life, you get what you pay for with headlights. The good news is that most bulbs are fairly reasonably priced. Expect to pay anywhere from a few dollars for a set of basic halogen bulbs up to over $100 or more for bright Xenon-style or HID headlights. Pricing also depends on your vehicle, as some require purchasing an entire headlight housing along with the actual lighting unit, which costs more. If your car came with LED or similar lighting systems, you may be looking at a trip to a dealer or shop and you’ll likely see a bill for several hundred dollars.

As with anything you do for decades, you pick up a few tips and tricks along the way in terms of selecting the right product, and using it. That’s the case with us and aftermarket headlights. To help you bridge the information gap, here’s a selection of what we’ve learned along the way.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

A: The aftermarket offers many options that include DOT-approved bulbs and non-DOT bulbs, which are recommended for non-headlight use like fog lights or turn signals. Make sure to look at your local laws for guidance if a non-DOT bulb is legal for your local roads.

A: Yes, it is possible to install headlights at home if you are armed with some simple tools. However, there are some headlamps that are difficult to install. In such cases, you need to consult a professional.

A: Not necessarily. It’s important to consider the kind of headlights your car has and what kind of bulbs they were designed for before you purchase bulbs. Often, the halogen works best with the best beam pattern even if it is dimmer than an LED.