H11 vs. H11B Headlights - What's the difference? | LED, HID, Halogen Bulbs

What is the difference between H11 and H11B headlight bulbs? Are H11B and H11 the same?

Last updated: September 7, 2023

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H11 and H11B are the two bulbs that confuse drivers the most because their part numbers are almost the same but they are two completely different bulbs.

To make matters worse, H11 is the most popular bulb size in the automotive world so when people Google "H11-B", they frequently find and buy H11, which they eventually find out don't fit - oops.

If you're in a hurry, let us save you some time - H11 and H11B 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.

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 H11B headlight bulbs?

H11 and H11-B are NOT the same and they cannot be used interchangeably.

The only similarity between the two bulbs is their name, which is indeed quite confusing, and the fact that they are both low beam bulbs. We break down all the differences in the next sections.

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What is the difference between H11 and H11B bulbs?

The main differences between H11 and H11B are their their plugs and their size.

The H11 plug consists of two verticle prongs inclosed in a plastic casing while H11B has two horizontal prongs that are exposed.

Although the locking tabs seem similar, H11 has a rubber and plastic base while that of H11B is entirely metal and much larger.

Finally, H11B is used on a very limited range of Korean vehicles (Hyundai, Kia), while H11 is used in almost every car make.

As such, you cannot fit or plug a H11 bulb in an H11-B headlight and you cannot fit or plug an H11-B bulb in an H11 headlamp.

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H11 vs H11B 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.

Looking at the bottom right quadrant of each bulb pictured above, you will immediately notice the difference in plugs.

The H11 plug encloses two vertical prongs while H11B has two exposed horizonal prongs.

The only similarity between the H11 and H11-B connectors is that they have two prongs.

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H11 vs. H11-B Comparison Summary Table

Compare all the differences and similarities between H11 and H11B side-by-side.

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Upgrading Your H11 & H11B Bulbs to LED or HID (Popular!)

Looking to upgrade your H11 or H11B 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 H11B 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.

H11 and H11B 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 H11B 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 H11B Headlight Bulbs

Durability (Lifespan)

There is a lot of misinformation out there on this topic saying that H11 lasts longer than H11B - 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.

Technology (Halogen, LED & HID)

H11 is available in a variety of lighting technologies. From the factory, these bulbs always come in standard halogen but they can be upgraded to LED or HID using what is commonly known as conversion kits.

H11-B, on the other hand, is only available in halogen because it's such a rare bulb. If this bulb becomes more popular, we may see it become available in LED or HID technology.

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 H11-B 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 operate at the same wattage and will produce the same amount of light.

Wattage

Standard H11 and H11-B bulbs are both 55 watts.

Voltage

Both H11 and H11B are rated 12 volts. Most automotive headlights and fog light bulbs are 12V.

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How to make a H11 fit in an H11B headlight?

If you've been reading along, you will already know the answer to this question. You cannot fit a H11 into an H11B headlight. You also cannot fit an H11B into a H11 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. H11B LED Headlight Bulbs

When it comes to upgrading your bulbs, if you have H11-B you will be stuck with halogen replacements.

You can, however, upgrade H11 to LEDfor better and brighter bulbs.

For example, here at XenonPro, we offer H11 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

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H11 vs. H11B Xenon HID Headlight Bulbs

Similarly to LED, H11-B cannot be upgraded but H11 can from halogen to HID

At XenonPro, we offer H1s bulbs 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

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Frequently Asked Questions:

H11 is the same as what bulb? H11B is the same as what bulb? Which cars use H11? Which cars use H11B? Can I use H11 instead of H11B? Can I use H11B instead of H11? Is H11 Brighter than H11B? Is H11B Brighter than H11? Is H11 Better than H11B? Is H11B Better than H11?

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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.