H11 vs. 9005 (HB3) Headlights - What's the difference? | LED, HID, Halogen Bulbs

What is the difference between H11 and 9005 headlight bulbs? Are 9005 and H11 the same?

Last updated: August 24, 2023

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H11 and 9005 (HB3) are two of the most commonly used and popular automotive headlight bulbs. Both are used in a great deal of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and in some cases, semi-trucks.

As a matter of fact, some vehicles use both H11 and 9005 (HB3) in different beams such as the Ford F-150, which uses H11 in its low beams and 9005 in its high beams for 2015 through 2022 models.

If you're in a hurry, let us save you some time - H11 and 9005 (HB3) are not the same bulb, you cannot replace one with the other, and 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 H11 the same as 9005 headlight bulbs?

Let's get one thing clear - H11 and 9005 (HB3) are NOT the same, they CANNOT be used interchangeably. Why? Because of a few important differences discussed in the next section.

While 9005 and H11 bulbs look similar, have the same L-shape, are both used on-road vehicles and can be found on the same or similar vehicles, they each have unique features that ultimately make them very different.

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What is the difference between H11 and 9005 (HB3) bulbs?

The main differences between H11 and 9005 (HB3) are their locking tabs, their connection points to the vehicle (plug), their size, and their application:

1. Different locking tabs: H11 locking tabs are closer to the bulb center and less wide compared to 9005
2. Different plugs/connection point to the vehicle: H11 plug consist of two closely positioned prongs separated by a plastic divider compared to 9005 which has a wider set and undivided prongs
3. Different sizes: H11 is smaller than the 9005 in length, height, and width
4. Application: 9005 is most commonly used in high beams (brights) whereas H11 is mostly used in low beams (dims)

 

This means that you cannot fit or plug a 9005 bulb in an H11 headlight and you cannot fit or plug an H11 bulb in a 9005 headlamp.

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H11 vs 9005 (HB3) 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 main difference between the two bulbs is that the H11 connector has two narrow set prongs separated by a plastic tab compared to the 9005 (HB3), which has two wide set prongs.

The H11 connector is also smaller than the 9005 and has tiny plastic tabs on each side of the plug casing. These differences can be observed in the image above looking at the bottom right quadrant of each bulb.

The only similarity between the H11 and 9005 (HB3) connectors is the oval shape of the plug casing, however, this style appears on several other bulbs.

Other differences between H11 and 9005 (HB3)

Aside from the 4 major 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). Note, however, that this is only for specific vehicles.

If your vehicle uses separate bulbs for each beam, you cannot use 9005 as both the low and high beams. H11s are never used as dual-beam bulbs.

Another difference is that standard halogen 9005 bulbs come with a " default wattage" of 65 watts while H11 comes with 55 watts.

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9005 (HB3) vs. H11 Comparison Summary Table

Compare all the differences and similarities between H11 and 9005 side-by-side.

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Upgrading Your H11 & 9005 Bulbs to LED or HID (Popular!)

Looking to upgrade your H11 or 9005 (HB3) 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 H11 bulb

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 H11 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 H11 bulbs in a 9005 slot (or vice versa) will not work. The bulb will not fit inside the assembly, it won't lock into place, and because of the different plugs, you will not be able to connect it to your vehicle's harness.

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Comparing 9005 (HB3) and H11 Headlight Bulbs

Durability (Lifespan)

There is a lot of misinformation out there on this topic saying that 9005 lasts longer than H11 - 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 an H11 is used in the low beams (dims) and 9005 in the high beams (brights), the 9005 will logically outlast the H11.

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 H11 and 9005 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. An H11 and a 9005 (HB3) 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 (HB3) will technically produce more light because it has a higher default wattage (65W) compared to H11 (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 H11 bulbs are 55 watts whereas standard 9005 (HB3) 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 H11 and 9005 (HB3) are rated 12 volts. Most automotive headlights and fog light bulbs are 12V.

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How to make a 9005 (HB3) fit in an H11 headlight?

If you've been reading along, you will already know the answer to this question. You cannot fit a 9005 (HB3) into an H11 headlight. You also cannot fit an H11 into a 9005 (HB3) headlight.

As explained in previous sections, each bulb has its unique locking tabs, plugs, and size which make them incompatible and not interchangeable.

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H11 vs. 9005 (HB3) 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 H11 and/or 9005 (HB3) 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:

• H11 LED Headlight Bulb Upgrade
• 9005 LED Headlight Bulb Upgrade

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H11 vs. 9005 (HB3) Xenon HID Headlight Bulbs

Similarly to LED, when upgrading your H11 and/or 9005 (HB3) 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:

• H11 Xenon HID Conversion Kit
• 9005 Xenon HID Conversion Kit

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Frequently Asked Questions:

H11 is the same as what bulb? 9005 is the same as what bulb? Which cars use H11? Which cars use 9005 (HB3)? Can I use 9005 (HB3) instead of H11? Can I use H11 instead of 9005 (HB3)? Is 9005 (HB3) Brighter than H11? Is H11 Brighter than 9005 (HB3)? Is 9005 (HB3) Better than H11? Is H11 Better than 9005 (HB3)?

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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.