H8 Vs H11 Headlight Bulbs: Difference, Which One is Best
H8 and H11 are two of the most popular headlight bulbs that are mainly used in a variety of vehicles like cars, buses, and trucks. People are often confused about which one they should buy for their own vehicle.
Both H8 and H11 are exactly the same headlight bulbs and can be interchangeably but their different wattage consumption changes the purpose of using the bulbs.
What is an H8 Bulb?
H8 bulb is a specific type of halogen headlight bulb that is commonly used in automotive for lighting purposes. The “H8” in its name designates the bulb’s size, base configuration, and wattage rating. These bulbs are commonly used as fog lights, some low-beam headlights, and auxiliary lights in the vehicle.
The Bulbs consume around 35W of wattage and produce a brightness of around 9000 lumens which makes it an ideal choice for Fog lights.
What is an H11 Bulb?
H11 is a type of headlight bulb that is 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 which makes it a perfect choice for low beam headlights.
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.
Here’s a detailed comparison about the difference between H8 and H11 headlight bulbs.
| Feature | H8 | H11 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Halogen, LED, HID | Halogen, LED, HID |
| Voltage | 12V | 12V |
| Wattage | 35W | 55W |
| Beam | Fog Light | Low Beam |
| Brightness (Lumens) | Around 712 lumens | Around 1250 lumens |
| Color Temperature (Kelvins) | Around 2800 (Yellow) | Around 3200 (Warm white) |
| Applications | Fog lights, Daytime running lights, Cornering lights | Low beam headlights, Fog lights |
Comparison of H11 Vs H8 Headlight Bulbs
Brightness
The brightness of the bulb totally depends upon the wattage consumption and quality of the bulb. If we go with the standard variants then H11 will produce more brightness as it consumes more energy (55W) while H8 will be a little dimmer than the H11 bulb as it only consumes around 35 W of energy.
Technology Used
Both bulbs are available in a variety of technologies like halogen, LED, and HID. However, if you go market to find these then you won’t be able to do so. Because they are only manufactured in standard halogen variants, both can be easily upgraded to LED and HID using conversion kits.
Lifespan
There is a lot of confusion about the H8 and H11 among people regarding whether both bulbs are the same and the most popular one H8 lasts longer than the H11. All the headlights and fog lights have almost the same lifespan but differences arise in their usage and energy consumption.
The lifespan of a light bulb is measured in lightning hours. If you have a good quality halogen bulb it can last up to 500 hrs and if you’re going with premium LED or HID bulbs that can last up to 10,000 hours. So, it’s purely up to you which one you want to choose.
Another thing to keep in mind is that H11 consumes 55 watts of energy while H8 consumes only around 35 watts of energy which often confuses people that H8 is a better bulb than the H11.
But that’s not the case, most drivers don’t use their fog lights in normal day-to-day drive which is one of the main reasons why the H8 bulb lasts longer as compared to H11 headlight bulbs.
Are H11 and H8 the same?
H11 and H8 are not the same, although they are quite similar when it comes to their usage. Both H11 and H8 are types of halogen bulbs used for lighting purpose in automobiles, but they have different specifications and applications.
Differences between H11 and H8:
- Wattage:
- H11 consumes around 55 watts while the H8 consumes around 35 watts.
- Luminous Flux (Brightness):
- H11 has a higher brightness due to higher wattage which gives around 1350 lumens while the H8 has slightly lower brightness, around 800-1000 lumens.
- Application:
- H11 are commonly used for low-beam headlights and fog lights.
- H8: Often used for fog lights and sometimes in other auxiliary lighting(in car cabin).
- Socket/Bulb Base:
- Both H11 and H8 bulbs share a similar L-shaped socket design, but the exact shape and keying may differ slightly, which could affect their compatibility.
Final Thoughts: H11 Vs H8 Headlight Bulb
In conclusion, H11 and H8 bulbs are physically interchangeable due to their similar base design. However, using an H11 bulb in place of an H8 bulb (or vice versa) may cause differences in performance, in terms of brightness and power consumption, which could potentially cause issues with the vehicle’s electrical system, lead to overheating or maybe a short circuit in rare cases.
It’s always best to use the specific bulb type recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
