H11 vs. 9006 Headlights - What's the difference? | LED, HID, Halogen Bulbs

What is the difference between H11 and 9006 headlight bulbs? Are 9006 and H11 the same?

Last updated: August 24, 2023

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H11 and 9006 (HB4) are automotive headlight bulbs used in several cars, trucks, motorcycles, and in some cases, semi-trucks.

H11 is the most popular headlight bulb frequently found in low beams while 9006 is mostly found in fog lights and from time to time in low beams.

If you're in a hurry, let us save you some time - H11 and 9006 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 question 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 9006 headlight bulbs?

Let's get one thing clear - H11 and 9006 are NOT the same, they CANNOT be used interchangeably. Why? Because of a few important differences discussed in the next section.

While 9006 and H11 bulbs look the same, have an 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 9006 bulbs?

The main differences between H11 and 9006 are their locking tabs, their connection points to the vehicle (plug), their size, and their application:

1. Different locking tabs: H11 locking tabs are made of metal and positioned inside the base of the bulb compared to 9006
which are made of plastic and on the outside of the base. The locking tabs are also different sizes and positioned differently
2. Different connectors: H11 plug consists of two narrow prongs separated by a plastic divider compared to 9006 which has a wider set and undivided prongs
3. Different sizes: H11 is smaller than the 9006 in length, height, and width
4. Application: 9006 is most commonly used in fog lights whereas H11 is mostly used in low beams

 

This means that you cannot fit or plug a 9006 bulb in an H11 headlight and you cannot fit or plug an H11 bulb in a 9006 headlamp.

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H11 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 main difference between the two bulbs is that the H11 connector has two narrow set prongs separated by a plastic tab compared to the 9006, which has two wide set prongs.

The H11 connector is also smaller than the 9006 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 9006 connectors is the oval shape of the plug casing, however, this style appears on several other bulbs.

Other differences between H11 and 9006

Aside from the 4 major points discussed in the previous sections, these two bulbs have another difference.

H11 is occasionally used as a high beam or fog light bulb (although mainly as a low beam bulb) compared to the 9006, which is mainly used in fog lights and occasionally as a low beam bulb.

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H11 vs. 9006 Comparison Summary Table

Compare all the differences and similarities between H11 and 9006 side-by-side.

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Upgrading Your H11 & 9006 Bulbs to LED or HID (Popular!)

Looking to upgrade your H11 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 H11 and 9006 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.

9006 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 9006 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 H11 and 9006 Headlight Bulbs

Durability (Lifespan)

There is a lot of misinformation out there on this topic saying that 9006 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 9006 in the fog lights, the 9006 will logically outlast the H11.

This isn't because the 9006 is better or has a longer lifespan, it's because most drivers don't use their fog lights as often as their everyday driving lights (low beams).

A study by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) found that only 63% of vehicles used fog at night and even less so during the day. So, perspective matters!

Technology (Halogen, LED & HID)

Both H11 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. An H11 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, both bulbs will produce the same amount of light as they both have a default wattage of 55 watts.

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 low beams (dims) 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 fog counterpart. You can learn more on this topic here.

Wattage

Standard H11 and 9006 bulbs are both 55 watts.

Voltage

Both H11 and 9006 are rated 12 volts. Most automotive headlights and fog light bulbs are 12V.

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How to make a 9006 fit in an H11 headlight?

If you've been reading along, you will already know the answer to this question. You cannot fit a 9006 into an H11 headlight. You also cannot fit an H11 into a 9006 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. 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 H11 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:

• H11 LED Headlight Bulb Upgrade
• 9006 LED Headlight Bulb Upgrade

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H11 vs. 9006 Xenon HID Headlight Bulbs

Similarly to LED, when upgrading your H11 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:

• H11 Xenon HID Conversion Kit
• 9006 Xenon HID Conversion Kit

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• 9003 vs. H4 Headlight Bulb - What's the difference?
• H11 vs. H11B Headlight Bulb - What's the difference?

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Frequently Asked Questions:

H11 is the same as what bulb? 9006 is the same as what bulb? Which cars use H11? Which cars use 9006? Can I use 9006 instead of H11? Can I use H11 instead of 9006? Is 9006 Brighter than H11? Is H11 Brighter than 9006? Is 9006 Better than H11? Is H11 Better than 9006?

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Sources:

• XenonPro.com Research
• Hella Lighting
• Sylvania Automotive
• Philips Automotive (USA)
• SAE - Fog Lamps: Frequency of Installation and Nature of Use

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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.