9005 vs. 9006 Headlights - What's the difference? | LED, HID, Halogen Bulbs

What is the difference between 9005 and 9006 headlight bulbs? Are 9006 and 9005 the same?

Last updated: August 24, 2023

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9005 is one of the most popular automotive headlight bulbs while 9006 is used relatively rarely on American and Japanese cars. Both are used across a variety of vehicles including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and in some cases, semi-trucks.

If you're in a hurry, let us save you some time - 9005 and 9006 are almost identical, you can technically replace one with the other if modifications are made to the locking tabs. Neither is better than the other, they simply have different designs and fit on different vehicles and/or different beams.

If you've landed on this article, you are most likely trying to figure out which of the two you need, if they are the same, if you could use either, or if they are different. In the following sections, we get to the bottom of this debate in great detail.

🚧 IMPORTANT: Automotive light bulbs are vehicle-specific! If you're not sure which bulb size you need, use our Bulb Finder Tool, check your owner's manual, or contact your dealership to make sure you're buying the right bulbs to avoid fitment issues.

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Is 9005 the same as 9006?

Let's get one thing clear - 9005 and 9006 are NOT the same. Why? Because of a few important differences discussed in the next section. However, you can use them interchangeably if you modify the locking tabs, although we do not recommend it.

While 9005 and 9006 bulbs look similar, have the same L-shape, and three locking tabs, are both used on-road vehicles and can be found on the same or similar vehicles, they each have unique locking tabs and wattage that ultimately make them different.

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What is the difference between 9005 and 9006 bulbs?

The main differences between 9005 and 9006 are their locking tabs, wattage, and their application:

1. Different locking tabs: 9005 has 3 tabs angled at 10, 2, and 7 o'clock whereas 9006 are angled at 10, 2, and 5 o'clock
2. Wattage: 9005 comes in 65 watts while 9006 comes in 55 watts
3. Application: 9005 is most commonly used in high beams (brights) whereas 9006 is used in fog lights and low beams (dims)

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9005 vs 9006 Connectors (Plugs)

The most important part of any electrical product is its connector (plug). If the connector doesn't fit, you can't connect the power, rendering your electrical product useless. Headlight bulbs are no different.

The 9005 and 9006 connectors are practically identical and fit into the same harness. Both have the same two prongs in an oval casing with the same spacing and dimensions, respectively.

The only difference is the tiny tabs inside the plug casing - the 9005 has two tiny tabs whereas the 9006 only has one as can be seen in the image above looking at the bottom right quadrant of each bulb.

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Other differences between 9005 and 9006

Aside from the 3 points discussed in the previous section, these two bulbs have some other notable differences.

9005 is occasionally used as a dual-beam bulb (for both the low and high beams in one bulb) while the 9006 is primarily used in fog lights and occasionally in low beams.

Note, however, that if your vehicle uses separate bulbs for each beam, you cannot use 9005 as both the low and high beams. 9006 is never used as a dual-beam bulb.

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9005 vs. 9006 Comparison Summary Table

Compare all the differences and similarities between 9005 and 9006 side-by-side.

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Upgrading Your 9005 & 9006 Bulbs to LED or HID (Popular!)

Looking to upgrade your 9005 or 9006 bulbs with better, brighter, and more durable lighting?

At XenonPro.com, we developed LED and HID bulbs that fit right into your vehicle. With the same design and plugs, our bulbs are incredibly easy to install and will improve your light output by up to 300%.

Check out our award-winning products backed by our industry-best Lifetime Warranty:

• LED Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit
• HID Headlight Bulbs Conversion Kit

Need help choosing? Learn about the difference between LED and HID headlight bulbs.

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Understanding the difference between 9005 and 9006 bulbs

To further illustrate the difference between the two, let's use the analogy of a TV remote and household batteries. The most common batteries are AA and AAA batteries.

Unless you've been living on a different planet, you've come across these at some point in your life.

9005 and 9006 are both automotive bulb sizes just like AA and AAA are both battery sizes. Now, if your TV remote uses AAA batteries (the smaller ones), you know that you cannot use AA batteries. AA batteries are bigger and they simply won't fit in the TV remote's battery slot.

By that same token, inserting 9006 bulbs in a 9005 slot (or vice versa) will not work unless modifications are made to the locking tabs.

The bulb may not fit inside the assembly or lock into place but the plugs will be able to connect it to your vehicle's harness since they are the same.

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Comparing 9005 and 9006 Headlight Bulbs

Durability (Lifespan)

There is a lot of misinformation out there on this topic saying that 9005 lasts longer than 9006 - this is simply false. All headlight and fog light bulbs of the same quality will have approximately the same lifespan.

When it comes to bulbs, lifespan is measured in lighting hours. Standard replacement halogen bulbs can last as little as 180 hours while higher quality halogen bulbs can go up to 500 hours or so. Premium LED or HID bulb upgrades such as ours can last well over 10,000 hours.

Another consideration is the beam in which the bulb is used. For instance, if a 9006 is used in the low beams (or fogs) and 9005 in the high beams (brights), the 9005 will logically outlast the 9006.

This isn't because the 9005 is better or has a longer lifespan, it's because most drivers never use their brights, and those who do seldom use them for very short periods when necessary. A recent study by the IIHS found that only 9-18% of vehicles used high beams. So, perspective matters!

Technology (Halogen, LED & HID)

Both 9005 and 9006 are available in a variety of lighting technologies. From the factory, these bulbs always come in standard halogen but they can both be upgraded to LED or HID using what is commonly known as conversion kits.

For more information on halogen to LED conversion kits and halogen to HID conversion kits, check out our popular post Can I Put LED or HID Bulbs in My Stock Headlights?

Brightness

Brightness depends on the quality of the bulb and the wattage. A 9005 and a 9006 bulb will emit the same amount of light if they are the same quality, same technology (halogen, HID, LED), and have the same wattage.

Looking at standard replacements, the 9005 will technically produce more light because it has a higher default wattage (65W) compared to the 9006 (55W) but it won't be significant.

Another consideration is the beam in which the bulb is used. Assuming both bulbs have the same quality, technology, and wattage, a bulb positioned in the high beams (brights) will appear to produce more light. This is simply because of the angle of the bulb and light, not because the bulb is brighter than its low-beam counterpart. You can learn more on this topic here.

Wattage

Standard 9006 bulbs are 55 watts whereas standard 9005 bulbs are 65 watts. The 9005 comes in a higher wattage because they are often used in high beams and some cases as dual-beam bulbs, which require more output.

Voltage

Both 9006 and 9005 are rated 12 volts. Most automotive headlights and fog light bulbs are 12V.

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How to make a 9005 fit in a 9006 headlight?

If you've been reading along, you will already know the answer to this question. You can technically fit a 9005 into a 9006 headlight by making modifications to the locking tabs. You can also fit a 9006 into a 9005 headlight by making modifications to the locking tabs.

As explained in previous sections, each bulb has its unique locking tabs, wattage, and application so although they can theoretically be used interchangeably with some modifications, we do not recommend it.

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9005 vs. 9006 LED Headlight Bulbs

If you've been reading along, you already know that the only difference between the two will be the locking tabs, the plugs, and the dimensions of the bulb.

When it comes to upgrading your 9005 and/or 9006 bulbs from halogen to LED there is not much of a difference. Each bulb size is available in the same range of wattages and colors, and the installation processes are identical.

For example, here at XenonPro, we offer both bulb sizes in 25-, 35-, and 45-watt options and in 4 color options (white, yellow, blue, and purple). You can check them out below:

• 9005 LED Headlight Bulb Upgrade
• 9006 LED Headlight Bulb Upgrade

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9005 vs. 9006 Xenon HID Headlight Bulbs

Similarly to LED, when upgrading your 9005 and/or 9006 bulbs from halogen to HID there is not much of a difference. Each bulb size is available in the same range of wattages and colors, and the installation processes are the same.

At XenonPro, we offer both bulb sizes in 35-watt and 55-watt in 7 color options ranging from yellow to white to purple. You can check them out below:

• 9005 Xenon HID Conversion Kit
• 9006 Xenon HID Conversion Kit

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Frequently Asked Questions:

9005 is the same as what bulb? 9006 is the same as what bulb? Which cars use 9005? Which cars use 9006? Can I use 9005 instead of 9006? Can I use 9006 instead of 9005? Is 9005 Brighter than 9006? Is 9006 Brighter than 9005? Is 9005 Better than 9006? Is 9006 Better than 9005?

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Sources:

• XenonPro.com Research
• Hella Lighting
• Sylvania Automotive
• Philips Automotive (USA)
• IIHS - High beam headlamp use rates: effects of rurality, proximity of other traffic, and roadway curvature

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Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is provided free of charge to our visitors. It was prepared to the best of our abilities and with all the information available to us at the time of writing. We reserve the right to change, remove, or update any information contained on this page at any time and without notice to improve its accuracy. The most reliable method to determine the bulb size is by pulling your actual bulb(s) and reading the part number indicated directly on the bulb. The information compiled on this page comes with no guarantees or warranties.