Are H11 and H4 headlight bulbs the same? What are the differences between them? These questions have been bothering many car owners and DIY enthusiasts. If you have questions in this regard, please stay. Next, we will comprehensively analyze the differences between H11 and H4 in appearance structure, lighting function, application scenarios and key parameters from a professional perspective, and take you to deeply understand their respective advantages and scope of application, so as to help you easily make the most suitable lighting upgrade choice.

Understanding H4 and H11 headlight bulbs

If you want to understand H4 vs H11 bulbs, then we must first figure out what they are. Only by understanding their respective structural design, functional positioning, and application roles in the vehicle can we further determine which bulb is more suitable for our own car needs. In other words, figuring out "who they are" is the first step to making a wise choice.

	H4	H11
Wattage	55/60 Watts	55Watts
Brightness	1000/1650Luman	1350Luman
Lifespan	600Hours	300Hours
Beam Type	Low Beam/High Beam	Low Beam/Fog Light
Base Type	P43t	PGJ19-2

H4 bulb

H4 headlight bulb, also known as a 9003 bulb. It is a bulb with two filaments, which means it has two light types, that is, two light types of low beam and high beam are integrated in one H4 bulb, and it can be easily switched, suitable for applications in various scenarios.

H11 bulb

Unlike H4, H11 bulb is a single-filament halogen bulb with an L-shaped appearance, commonly used in low beam and fog lamps. The light it produces is not very strong, and it can project the light to the front and lower part of the vehicle, which can effectively avoid interference with passing vehicles. Therefore, it is very suitable for urban road driving.

The main difference between H4 vs H11 headlight bulbs

Base:

H11 bulbs use PGJ19-2 base, while H4 bulbs use P43t base, which is also the most obvious difference between them. Due to the different bases, H4 and H11 cannot be used interchangeably. Only when the bulb and base match each other can they be used normally.

Plug

H11 plug has two narrow pins enclosed in an oval shell. The H4 plug has three pins, which are not enclosed in the bulb shell like H11, but are directly exposed outside, similar to our household plugs.

Size

Generally speaking, H11 bulbs are smaller in size and have narrower bases. In contrast, H4 headlamp bulbs are larger and have wider bases. This is also an important difference between H4 and H11.

In general, there are still huge differences in the appearance of H4 and H11, so it is relatively easy to distinguish H11 and H4 bulbs directly from their appearance. However, in addition to the difference in appearance, are there also significant differences in the key parameters between the two? Next, we will analyze from multiple dimensions to give you a more comprehensive understanding of these two bulbs.

In-depth comparison of H11 vs H4 headlight bulbs

Application

When introducing H4 headlamp earlier, we said that H4 has two filaments, so there are two beam modes, that is, it can be used for low beam and high beam. H11 is a single filament, used for fog lights or low beams.

Power

For H4, when used as a high beam, the power is 60W; when used as a low beam, the power is 55W, and its power will change due to changes in the light type. In contrast, the power of H11 will not change and has always been 55W.

Brightness

The brightness of the H4 headlight can reach 1000 lumens in low beam mode and 1650 lumens in high beam mode. H11 is usually 1350 lumens for both low beam and high beam, which is slightly lower than H4 in high beam mode.

Lifespan

The lifespan of H4 halogen bulbs is generally around 600 hours, while that of H11 halogen bulbs is generally around 300 hours. However, this data does not mean anything, nor can it be said that H4 is better than H11. In fact, the lifespan of bulbs is affected by many factors, such as frequency of use, heat dissipation conditions, voltage, etc.

Seeing this, I believe you have a deep understanding of the H4 and H11 headlight. If you want to replace or upgrade bulbs recently, then you might as well take a little time to look at our suggestions. I believe it will be helpful to you.

Choose the right H4 and H11 bulbs

Correct choice

First, let's determine the type of bulbs used in our vehicle. This question is relatively simple. Generally, we can look up our owner's manual, which will record the model of the corresponding bulb. This method is the most accurate. Of course, you can also check directly from the old bulb base, because most bulb bases on the market will have model identification. Finally, you can also search online. Just enter your vehicle brand, year, and model on the RIMTHIN bulb finder to find the corresponding bulb.

Upgrading bulbs to H4 or H11 LED bulbs

Upgrading bulbs to LED is the choice of many car owners, and they generally think it is a worthwhile thing to do. The brightness of H4 and H11 LED bulbs on the market is much higher than that of halogen bulbs, which means that driving at night will be safer. In addition, the life of an LED is as long as 30,000-50,000 hours. After upgrading to LED bulbs, we can go several years without changing the bulbs. If you are interested, you can visit the RIMTHIN official website. We specialize in providing high-quality LED bulbs for car users to help users solve various bulb problems.

FAQ

Q: Are H11 and H4 the same?

A: H11 and H4 are completely different, with differences in structure, purpose, interface, brightness, etc. When choosing, you need to judge according to the original lamp type of the vehicle, and you cannot mix them.

Q: Can I replace H4 with H11?

A: No, the bases and plugs of H11 and H4 headlamp bulbs are different, so H11 cannot replace H4.

Q: H4 vs H11 headlights, which one is better?

A: There is no difference between H11 and H4; the bulb that matches your vehicle is the best.

Q: H11 vs H4 bulbs, which one is brighter?

A: If you compare the brightness of high beam, H4 is brighter; but in low beam mode, the brightness of the two is not much different, and H11 is slightly more stable. Therefore, which one is brighter depends on the usage mode.

Read more

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