What’s The Difference Between LEDs, HIDs, and Halogen Headlight Bulbs

Upgrading your headlight bulbs and undecided between choosing Halogen or LEDs? There are a plethora of headlight options available for cars, trucks, and SUVs and if you’re the driver looking to stand out from the ordinary on the roadways by enhancing the front end of your vehicle with a fresh new style and brightness for your nighttime commute,  choosing between LED, HID or Halogen headlights can revitalize your vehicle in a way you never thought possible. We go over the main differences between Halogen and LED bulbs in this in-depth headlight review

Which bulbs are better for my car? Halogen, HID or LEDs

A question many drivers ask when considering a bulb replacement for their vehicle’s headlamps. There are a handful of pros and cons for each bulb type, and if you’re curious about enhancing your on-road night time vision, here’s our breakdown of the bulb options available for your car, truck or SUV.

Halogen Headlight Bulbs

Most economic vehicles and standard trim levels on the auto market come equipped with Halogen bulbs. Halogen headlight bulbs are sold everywhere at an affordable cost and remain the go-to headlight for basic brightness when driving through the dawn hours.

Halogen bulbs typically give off more heat while using halogen gas which filters through a tungsten filament creating a chemical reaction that produces yellow or white light at 3200 K. Halogen lights offer a 900- 1,200 Lumens which is ideal for the economical commuter and at this level halogen bulbs do not give off as much glare at night time which may temporarily affect oncoming drivers.

Aside from these headlight bulbs burning hotter, the only downfall for the halogen bulb is it’s a less attractive look compared to the more updated HID Xenon or LED bulbs.

LED Headlight Bulbs

Fed up with the old stock headlights you’ve been driving with for the past few years? Do you ever feel behind the times because your vehicle still sports the regular old amber color headlights? Updating the style of your ride with LED bulbs adds a fresh new appeal to your car while also broadening the visibility of your nighttime commute.

LED bulbs require less power by using electric current like a circuit board, rather than the gaseous chemical reaction that Halogens use for brightness. Most LED lights offer white light with different shades of blue and yellow. With the LED bulb design offering two chips on each side of the bulb itself, keep in mind that depending on which way the light chips are facing upon installation inside a projector headlight, it may cause a faulty beam pattern. However, if your vehicle has reflector headlights, most LED bulbs will offer sufficiency.

With 6000 K brightness, LED headlight bulbs offer pure light performance and some brands offer low and high-beams in a 2-in-1 bulb. LED bulbs range in different brightness levels and do not take any time to warm up upon your vehicle’s ignition.

HID Xenon Headlight Bulbs

HID Xenon bulbs are a game-changer for your vehicle. With a brightness range that goes from 3000 K to 30,000 K which is significantly bright and preferred by many drivers. The HID tubes inside the bulbs vary with an abundance of colors and hues ranging from white, yellow, blue, green, and more. 3500 Lumens make the HID depending on the legality of headlight color and brightness in your state, consider researching regulations before purchasing HID lights for your car.

HID headlight bulbs are the brightest bulbs for your car and are preferred by drivers who have projector headlights but also work great inside reflector headlights. Though HID’s are on the popular side of the headlight spectrum, drivers should know that upon starting the car, HID bulbs take a short amount of time to warm up and may appear dim in the first 15 seconds of cranking over the ignition.

Which headlight bulbs are right for me?

All driving styles and vehicles differ and if you’re looking to enhance the appearance of an older model sports car, pickup truck, or SUV, choosing the right bulbs can transform an ordinary appearance into an expressive new look that can make a vehicle look five years newer.

If you wish to maintain the stock look for your vehicle, Halogen white or yellow bulbs are a great fit. However, if you wish to upgrade to a more sporty look with advanced brightness, HID and LED bulbs are a sure way to take your car’s style and visibility to the next level.

Learn more about the headlight bulbs that fit your vehicle’s year, make, and model here and enhance your car’s style and visibility with a pair of new bulbs that give your vehicle’s front end a facelift that takes your road image to an all-new high.