H11 Vs H16 Headlight Bulbs: Difference, Which One is Best
Most people think that both H11 and H16 bulbs are exactly the same but little do they know they are truly not. They do have slight differences which alter the purpose of using the bulbs.
Having years of experience in the automobile sector, we can recommend you the best Bulbs that exactly match your needs.
What is an H11 Bulb?
H11 is a type of halogen headlight bulb that is typically used for low-beam headlights as it provides a good balance of brightness and beam pattern. The H11 bulb consumes around 55 watts of power and is specially designed to be used in place of fog light.
H11 bulb is mainly used for headlight purposes as it’s good for both high and low-beam usage. As the bulb consumes more power it has a shorter lifespan of around 1000 hours.
What is an H16 Bulb?
H16 is also a type of halogen headlight bulb that is commonly used in log lights. Compared to H11, it’s a less powerful bulb but it provides a wider beam pattern that is more effective especially when driving through the dense fog.
H16 bulbs consume around 19 watts of power which is significantly lower than H11 and also come with a lifespan of around 1500 hours.
| Features | H11 Bulb | H16 Bulb |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | Headlights, Fog Lights | Fog Lights |
| Wattage | 55 watts | 19 watts |
| Brightness | Brighter | Dimmer |
| Beam Pattern | Elliptical | Wider |
| Lifespan | 1,000 hours | 1,500 hours (approx.) |
| Compatibility | Not directly interchangeable with H16 bulbs | Not directly interchangeable with H11 bulbs |
Comparison of H11 Vs H16 Bulbs
Power Consumption
H11 and H16 bulbs may seem to be exactly similar in terms of shape and size. However, they consumed different amounts of power, which makes their usage completely different from each other.
H11 builds are commonly used as fog lights which run on high power resulting in shorter lights while the H16 bulbs are designed to be more efficient as they consume less power and provide adequate brightness.
If you’re looking to buy a powerful foglet, then go ahead with the H11 bulb. But if you are looking for an efficient bulb that draws less power then H16 is a good choice for you.
Compatibility
H11 is not interchangeable with the H16 bulbs due to differences in their base type sockets. However, you can still use the conversion kit or adapters that help you accommodate one type of bulb in a socket design for another but such modifications usually don’t last longer and are not best in terms of performance and safety.
Usage
H11 bells are commonly used in fog lights and are usually manufactured by a large number of companies like Ford Honda Toyota and others. While the at 16 bulbs are a bit less common and are only found in limited American variants of car vehicle
You’ll be shocked to know that in the European market, there is a completely different version H16 which is commonly known as 5202 bulbs. They don’t have any relations with the H11 or H16 but still, they are quite popular in the European market.
Lifespan
H11 bulbs consume around 55 watts of energy, which in turn reduces their lifespan to around 1000 hours while the H16 bulbs are designed to be more efficient and consume only 19 watts of energy, having a longer life span of around 1500 hours.
Is H11 the same as H16?
Both H11 and H16 Bulbs have similar physical properties and they can easily fit in sockets of one another. However, one thing to keep in mind is that H16 bulbs normally run on lower power, so they are not that good if you use them in place of H11 which runs on more power. There is a fair chance that the H16 bulb might get damaged earlier if you use it, in the place of H11 Bulb.
Final Thoughts: H16 Vs H11 Bulb
H16 and H11 are two of the most popular halogen headlight bulbs in the automotive market. They are quite similar in terms of shape & size, with a few noticeable differences in power rating and lifespan.
If needed, you can use any of the bulbs in place of each other and they will not cause any problem at all. However, you do need to keep in mind that H11 consumes more power compared to H16, and if you use them in place of each other, then the H16 bulb may get damaged earlier as it will be using more power than required.
All in all, H11 bulbs are best if you are looking to change your fog light, especially for nighttime driving. While the H16 bulbs are more efficient they provide less lumination compared to H11 bulbs.
