H4 vs H11 vs 9005 — Which LED Headlight Bulb Should You Buy in India?
Three bulbs. Three completely different jobs. Whether your car uses H4, H11, or 9005 — picking the wrong one means it either won't fit, won't work, or delivers poor visibility. This guide settles the comparison for good.
H4 is a dual-beam bulb (high + low in one unit) used in most Indian motorcycles and older cars. H11 is a single-beam low-beam or fog-light bulb used in modern Indian hatchbacks and SUVs. 9005 (HB3) is a single-beam high-beam bulb, paired with H11 in newer cars. They are not interchangeable — different sockets, different connectors, different roles.
- At a Glance — Full Specs Comparison Table
- What Is the H4 Bulb? (Dual-Beam, Bikes & Older Cars)
- What Is the H11 Bulb? (Low Beam & Fog Lights)
- What Is the 9005 / HB3 Bulb? (High Beam)
- H4 vs H11 — Head-to-Head
- H11 vs 9005 — Can They Be Swapped?
- H4 vs 9005 — Are They the Same?
- Indian Vehicle Fitment Guide
- Why Upgrade to LED in 2026?
- Which Bulb Should You Buy?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Section 1 — At a Glance: Full Specs Comparison
Before we go deep, here is the complete side-by-side breakdown so you can spot the difference quickly.
| Feature | H4 (HB2 / 9003) | H11 | 9005 (HB3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beam Type | Dual Beam (Hi + Lo) | Single (Low / Fog) | Single (High only) |
| Base / Socket | P43t (3-pin) | PGJ19-2 (2-pin) | P20d (2-pin) |
| Connector Pins | 3 pins | 2 narrow pins | 2 wide-set pins |
| Halogen Wattage | 60W hi / 55W lo | 55W | 65W |
| Halogen Lumens | ~1,000–1,650 lm | ~1,200–1,350 lm | ~1,700 lm |
| LED Lumens (pair) | 6,000–10,000 lm | 6,000–8,000 lm | 8,000–12,000 lm |
| Ideal LED Colour Temp | 5,500K–6,500K | 5,000K–6,000K | 5,000K–6,500K |
| Halogen Lifespan | ~500–800 hrs | ~270 hrs | ~320 hrs |
| LED Lifespan | 30,000–50,000 hrs | 30,000–50,000 hrs | 30,000–50,000 hrs |
| Also Known As | HB2, 9003 | H8, H9, H16 (compatible) | HB3, H10, H12, 9040, 9055 |
| Interchangeable? | No | No | No |
| Indian Vehicle Examples | RE Bullet, Splendor, Alto, Bolero | Creta, Swift, Seltos, i20 | Fortuner, Innova, XUV500 |
Always verify your vehicle's bulb type via the owner's manual or original bulb before ordering.
Section 2 — What Is the H4 Bulb?
Dual-Beam Bulb One bulb · Both high and low beam · 3-pin P43t connector
The H4 (also called HB2 or 9003) is the most widely used headlight bulb in India, fitted in the majority of motorcycles and millions of older cars. What makes it unique is its dual-beam design — a single H4 unit handles both your high beam and low beam.
Inside the bulb, there are two filaments (halogen) or two separate LED positions (LED version). When you flash between low and high beam, the same bulb switches between them. This is why the H4 uses a 3-pin connector — one pin for low beam, one for high beam, and a shared ground. The H11 and 9005, by contrast, each have only 2 pins because they do only one job.
For Indian riders and older SUV owners, this is a major convenience: one upgrade replaces both beams at once. There is no separate high-beam socket to worry about.
Most Indian Bikes — H4 Fitment
Hero: Splendor, Passion, Glamour, HF Deluxe (most models)
Honda: CB Shine, Activa (older), CB Unicorn, SP125
Bajaj: Pulsar (older variants), Platina, CT100
Royal Enfield: Classic 350, Bullet 350, Meteor 350, Interceptor 650
KTM: Duke 200, Duke 250 (older models)
Indian Cars With H4 Headlight Socket
Maruti Suzuki: Alto (older), WagonR (pre-2019), Zen
Mahindra: Bolero, older Scorpio, older Thar
Force: Gurkha (older versions)
Tata: Sumo, older Safari
Maruti Suzuki Jimny (verify variant — some use H4)
Section 3 — What Is the H11 Bulb?
Low Beam / Fog Single beam · PGJ19-2 base · 2 narrow pins
The H11 is a single-beam bulb used only for low beam headlights or fog lights. It does not and cannot handle high beam. Vehicles that use H11 have a separate 9005 socket for the high beam — these are called dual-bulb headlight systems.
The H11 uses a PGJ19-2 base with two narrowly spaced pins and small plastic tabs on each side of the plug casing. It has an L-shaped body.
Because the H11 is designed for low beam, its beam projects downward and forward without throwing light into the eyes of oncoming drivers. When you upgrade to H11 LED, beam pattern quality matters far more than just raw lumen count.
Who Uses H11 in India?
Hyundai: Creta (low beam), i20 (low beam), Venue
Maruti: Swift (newer models), Baleno, Dzire (verify variant)
Kia: Seltos (low beam socket)
Toyota: Fortuner (fog lights), Innova Crysta (fog lights)
Tata: Nexon (fog lights on some variants)
Note: H11 is also the most common fog light bulb across most Indian cars.
Section 4 — What Is the 9005 / HB3 Bulb?
High Beam Only Single beam · P20d base · 2 wide pins
The 9005 is the counterpart to H11 in dual-bulb headlight systems. It is built exclusively for high beam use — throwing a long, wide, powerful beam down the road ahead when you need maximum distance visibility.
It runs at higher wattage (65W halogen vs 55W for H11) and produces more light. The connector has a P20d base with two wide-set pins — visually similar to H11's L-shape, but physically different. You cannot plug one into the other.
The 9005 has many cross-reference names you may see on product listings: HB3, H10, H12, 9040, 9055, 9140, 9145, 9150, 9155 — all are the same bulb family.
Who Uses 9005 in India?
Toyota: Fortuner (high beam), Innova Crysta (high beam)
Hyundai: Creta (high beam socket in some variants)
Ford: EcoSport (high beam)
Mahindra: XUV500 (high beam)
Maruti: Swift, Vitara Brezza (high beam on some variants)
In these cars, H11 handles low beam and 9005 handles high beam — two separate sockets, two separate bulbs.
Section 5 — H4 vs H11: Head-to-Head
This is the most searched comparison in India, because both bulbs are extremely common and they look vaguely similar in product photos. Here is the clear breakdown.
H4 vs H11
Side-by-SideThe most important difference: H4 is a dual-beam bulb with a 3-pin connector. H11 is a single-beam low-only bulb with a 2-pin connector. These sockets are physically incompatible — an H11 will not fit into an H4 housing, and vice versa.
In a vehicle that uses H4, one bulb controls both beams — you switch between high and low using the same unit. In a vehicle that uses H11, that bulb only handles the low beam. A separate 9005 bulb in a different socket handles the high beam.
On brightness: For high beam, the H4 is brighter because it is running a dedicated high-beam filament. On low beam, the two are comparable — though the H11 typically projects a slightly more focused downward spread, which is why it is also preferred for fog lights.
For LED upgrades: Upgrading an H4 replaces both beams in one step. Upgrading H11 only upgrades the low beam — you must separately upgrade the 9005 for consistent results.
| Feature | H4 | H11 |
|---|---|---|
| Beam | Dual (Hi + Lo) | Single (Lo only) |
| Connector | 3-pin P43t | 2-pin PGJ19-2 |
| Interchangeable? | No | No |
| High Beam Brightness | Brighter | N/A (no high beam) |
| Low Beam Brightness | Comparable | Slightly more focused |
| Used In | Bikes, older cars (single housing) | Modern cars (low beam socket) |
| Upgrade Covers | Both beams at once | Low beam only |
| Also Used For Fog? | Rarely | Yes — common fog fitment |
Section 6 — H11 vs 9005: Can They Be Swapped?
H11 vs 9005
Partners, Not AlternativesShort answer: No. H11 and 9005 cannot be swapped. They look similar on the outside — both have an L-shaped body — but the base and connector designs are completely different. H11 uses a PGJ19-2 base with two closely spaced pins and small plastic side tabs. 9005 uses a P20d base with two wide-set pins. You cannot physically plug one into the other socket.
They are designed to work together, not replace each other. In a dual-bulb headlight system, H11 goes in the low beam socket and 9005 goes in the high beam socket. This combination is standard on many popular Indian cars including the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Toyota Fortuner.
Wattage difference: H11 runs at 55W and produces around 1,350 lumens. 9005 runs at 65W and produces around 1,700 lumens. The extra brightness on 9005 is by design — high beams need more throw distance.
| Feature | H11 | 9005 |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Low beam / fog light | High beam |
| Base | PGJ19-2 | P20d |
| Pin Spacing | Narrow | Wide |
| Halogen Wattage | 55W | 65W |
| Halogen Lumens | ~1,350 lm | ~1,700 lm |
| Halogen Lifespan | ~270 hrs | ~320 hrs |
| Interchangeable? | No | No |
| Same as | H8, H9, H16 | HB3, H10, H12, 9055 |
| Ideal Use | City, suburbs, fog | Highway, rural, dark roads |
Section 7 — H4 vs 9005: Are They the Same?
H4 vs 9005
Completely DifferentNo — H4 and 9005 are completely different bulbs. The H4 is a dual-beam bulb with a 3-pin P43t connector that handles both high and low beam in one unit. The 9005 is a single-beam high-only bulb with a 2-pin P20d connector. Different shapes, different sockets, different jobs.
A vehicle that uses H4 does not have a separate high-beam socket — the H4 itself does both. A vehicle that uses 9005 has a separate H11 socket for low beam, and the 9005 only provides the high beam.
Brightness comparison: On high beam, the H4 and 9005 are fairly close in raw output for halogen. But in LED form, the 9005 socket — being high-beam-only — can be paired with a higher-output LED chip specifically optimized for distance throw, giving it an edge at range on dark highways.
Section 8 — Indian Vehicle Fitment Guide
Not sure which bulb your vehicle uses? Here is a quick reference for popular Indian cars and bikes. Always verify with your owner's manual or by checking the existing bulb before ordering.
| Vehicle | Low Beam | High Beam | Fog Light |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet / Meteor | H4 (both beams) | H4 (same unit) | — |
| Hero Splendor / Passion / Glamour | H4 (both beams) | H4 (same unit) | — |
| Honda CB Shine / SP125 | H4 (both beams) | H4 (same unit) | — |
| Mahindra Bolero / older Thar | H4 | H4 | H3 |
| Maruti Suzuki Alto (older) | H4 | H4 | — |
| Hyundai Creta (2020+) | H11 | 9005 | H11 |
| Kia Seltos | H11 | 9005 | H11 |
| Maruti Swift (newer) | H11 | 9005 | H11 |
| Hyundai i20 (2020+) | H11 | 9005 | H11 |
| Toyota Fortuner | H11 | 9005 | H11 |
| Toyota Innova Crysta | H11 | 9005 | H11 |
| Mahindra XUV500 | H11 | 9005 | H11 |
| Maruti Suzuki Jimny (verify) | H4 or H11* | H4 or 9005* | H11 |
*Jimny fitment varies by variant and model year. Always verify. Data is indicative — confirm via owner's manual before purchase.
Section 9 — Why Upgrade to LED in 2026?
Whether your vehicle uses H4, H11, or 9005, the case for switching from halogen to LED is the same across all three.
- Brightness: LED bulbs produce 4–8× more usable road light than halogen for the same or lower wattage. This matters most on unlit village roads and state highways at night.
- Power consumption: A halogen H4 draws 55–60W. A quality LED H4 produces far more light at 25–40W. For bikes and older cars with weaker alternators, this is significant.
- Lifespan: Halogen burns out in 270–800 hours depending on the bulb. LED lasts 30,000–50,000+ hours. You replace it once and forget about it.
- Heat into the housing: Halogen converts most power into infrared heat inside the housing. LED runs cooler inside the housing and uses a separate heat sink, which is better for reflector and projector housings long-term.
- Colour temperature: LED at 5,500K–6,500K gives crisp white light that improves contrast and reduces eye strain on long drives. Halogen's 3,200K yellow beam is noticeably dimmer by comparison.
- Indian road conditions: Dust, fog, rain, and unlit highways all demand better lighting. LED's brighter, whiter beam cuts through these conditions more effectively than halogen's yellow output.
Section 10 — Which Bulb Should You Buy?
Use this decision guide based on your vehicle type and headlight setup.
Buy: H4 LED Bulb
Your headlight housing has one socket that handles both high and low beam. One H4 LED upgrade covers everything. Common for all Royal Enfield models, Hero, Honda, and Bajaj bikes, plus Bolero, older Thar, and older hatchbacks.
Buy: H11 LED Bulb
Your car has two separate headlight sockets. This one is for low beam — it runs most of the time while driving. Fits Creta, Seltos, Swift, i20, Fortuner low beam, and most car fog lights in India.
Buy: 9005 LED Bulb
This is the high beam socket in dual-bulb cars. Only used when you flash or hold high beam. Fits Fortuner, Innova, Creta, XUV500 high beam sockets. Upgrade this alongside H11 for matched colour and brightness.
Buy: H11 LED Bulb
Most Indian cars use H11 in fog light sockets. A small number use H3. Check the existing bulb's markings before ordering. Upgrading fog lights to LED makes a noticeable difference in rain and dust visibility.
Section 11 — Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are H4 and H11 the same bulb?
No. H4 is a dual-beam 3-pin bulb that handles both high and low beam in a single unit. H11 is a single-beam 2-pin bulb used only for low beam or fog lights. Their base types, connector shapes, and functions are entirely different — they cannot be swapped.
Q: Can I replace an H11 with a 9005 bulb for more brightness?
No. H11 uses a PGJ19-2 base and 9005 uses a P20d base. The pin spacing is completely different and they cannot be plugged into each other's socket. Even if forced, the beam pattern would be wrong and wiring damage is likely. For more brightness on low beam, upgrade your H11 to a higher-lumen LED — not a 9005.
Q: Which headlight bulb does my Royal Enfield use?
Most Royal Enfield motorcycles — Classic 350, Bullet 350, Meteor 350, Interceptor 650 — use H4 bulbs. The H4 handles both high and low beam in one unit, which is why it is the standard fitment for most Indian motorcycles. Always confirm by checking the existing bulb's markings or your owner's manual.
Q: What vehicles in India use H11 and 9005 together?
Cars like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Swift (newer models), Hyundai i20, Toyota Fortuner, and Toyota Innova Crysta use a dual-bulb headlight system where H11 handles the low beam and 9005 handles the high beam. These must be upgraded separately.
Q: Is 9005 the same as HB3?
Yes. 9005 and HB3 refer to the same bulb. Other cross-references for the same fitment include: H10, H12, 9040, 9055, 9140, 9145, 9150, and 9155. If you see any of these on a product listing, they are compatible with a 9005 socket.
Q: What colour temperature LED is best for Indian roads at night?
5,500K to 6,500K works best for most Indian driving conditions — crisp white light that improves contrast and visibility on dark highways, cuts through dust, and reduces eye strain. Below 4,300K is too yellow and limits visibility. Above 7,000K is too blue and actually reduces contrast in fog, rain, and overcast night conditions.
Q: My car shows a bulb error after fitting LED headlights. What should I do?
Modern Indian cars (Creta, Seltos, Nexon, Baleno) use CAN Bus systems that monitor bulb resistance. Standard LED bulbs draw less current than halogen, which triggers a dashboard warning. You need a CAN Bus compatible LED bulb with a built-in smart IC decoder. Auxbeam India LED bulbs for H11 and 9005 include this — they are compatible with 99% of Indian vehicles without any additional wiring.
Q: Are aftermarket LED headlight bulbs legal in India?
Factory-fitted LED headlights are fully legal. Aftermarket LED retrofit bulbs are widely used across India but the Motor Vehicles Act has not issued specific LED retrofit standards as of 2026. The practical advice: use LED bulbs with a proper, focused beam pattern that does not create glare for oncoming traffic, stay within the white colour temperature range (not blue-white), and avoid extremely high wattage claims that overload original wiring. Off-road use LED bulbs like Auxbeam's high-wattage H4 series are strictly for off-road only.
🏁 Final Verdict
H4, H11, and 9005 are three different bulbs for three different jobs. Buying the wrong one is not just a fitment problem — it affects your beam pattern, your visibility, and your safety on Indian roads at night.
H4
One bulb does both beams. The standard for Indian motorcycles and older cars. Three pins, dual filament, one socket upgrade covers everything.
H11
Low beam and fog light only. Found in most modern Indian hatchbacks and SUVs. Pairs with 9005 in dual-bulb headlight systems.
9005
High beam only. The paired high-beam socket in cars that also use H11. Brighter throw for highways and dark roads.
The upgrade to LED makes sense for all three — better brightness, longer life, and less strain on your vehicle's electrical system. Auxbeam India builds its H4, H11, and 9005 LED bulbs for Indian conditions: IP67/IP68 waterproofing for monsoon roads, CAN Bus compatibility for modern cars, and heat management designed for Indian summer temperatures.
Find your bulb fitment, verify with your manual, and choose a quality LED. Night driving in India is significantly safer with the right lighting — and it starts with getting the correct bulb type.
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