LED, HID, or Halogen: A Guide to Headlight Bulbs

You need your headlights at night to see the road and any potential hazards or dangers that might be on it. Headlights and daytime running lights can also help you in foggy conditions and bad weather, so you still need functional headlights even if you don't plan on driving at night.

What's more, while having bad headlights may impact your driving, it's bad for other drivers as well because they'll have a harder time seeing your vehicle at night, which increases the risk of an accident.

In short, you need headlights, and to have the safest driving experience you need the best possible headlights for your situation. To help you find the right headlights, this article compares LED, HID, and halogen headlight bulbs.

Halogen Headlights

Halogen headlights are the most common headlights, and you'll find them on your average Ford, Toyota, and many other car brands. They've been around for decades but the technology around them continues to improve. Halogen bulbs use a tungsten element that's encased in quartz that contains iodine and bromine gases (halogen gases). Essentially, they're a subset of incandescent lamps but with a few key modifications that help them last longer and shine brighter, perfect for most basic automotive applications.

Benefits of Halogen Headlights

The biggest benefit of going with a set of halogen bulbs is their cost. They're more affordable than HID and LED bulbs, so replacing your headlights with halogen bulbs will help you keep your maintenance bill low. Still, you'll have to replace the bulbs more often, so you may not save money in the long run. Another benefit of halogen bulbs is that any DIYer can replace them. Just pop off the headlight case and swap out the bulbs. Halogen bulbs are also more widely available due to their low cost.

Drawbacks of Halogen Headlights

Halogen headlights may be affordable and easy to work with, but they have some drawbacks, specifically in the longevity and brightness departments. On average, halogen bulbs only last for 500 to 1,500 hours, and if you’re lucky, 2,000 is the upper limit. Halogen lights also need to be handled with care as the lamps are sensitive to fingerprints and the gases within the housing are combustible. The risk of being harmed is low, but make sure you're careful when handling these bulbs.

LED Headlights

LED headlights are another common option, but less so than halogen and HID bulbs. Also known as light-emitting diode headlights, hence the LED abbreviation, these lights work by passing an electric current through a semiconductor that emits photons of light. Since there's no filament, LED bulbs tend to last longer and run cooler than halogen and other bulbs. While LEDs used to be more expensive and harder to manufacture, the cost continues to come down as manufacturers get better at making them. In fact, you'll find LEDs in many modern vehicles, especially higher trim level versions of vehicles.

Benefits of LED Headlights

LED headlights are great because they last longer and shine brighter than your average halogen bulbs. In fact, you can expect them to last for up to 100,000 hours, which is a lot more than their halogen or HID counterparts. While you may have to pay a little more upfront, their longevity is often worth the price if you plan on keeping the vehicle forever. We also love how bright LED lights are as they can produce more than 4,000 lumens with ease, perfect for off-roading or driving through the snow. LED bulbs are also small and flexible, which is why you tend to find them in light bars and other off-road lighting applications. Lumens aside, LEDs offer a lot of creativity and color options as well.

Drawbacks of LED Headlights

LED headlights are awesome, but that doesn't mean they're perfect, especially if your vehicle didn't come with them from the factory. Unlike halogen and HID bulbs, you'll have to install a specific housing to install LED bulbs, and this is an expensive process. Unfortunately, it's also a more complicated one than your average bulb replacement, so if you're inexperienced going the DIY route might not be right for you.

HID Headlights

HID headlights are another common option, and you'll find them on many cars, trucks, and even SUVs. Typically, they're more efficient than halogen bulbs but they do work similarly. Most HID bulbs consist of two electrodes that are encased in glass. This enclosure contains xenon gas and some metal salts and HIDs are like LEDs in that they don't have filaments. The lack of filament paired with the xenon gas results in bulbs that produce a long-lasting white light.

Benefits of HID Headlights

HID headlights are a great upgrade compared to halogen bulbs. They tend to last for around 5,000 hours and you'll find that they shine brighter than halogen bulbs. Due to their lack of a filament, they're also easier to handle and more efficient. Another benefit of HID headlights is that the white light they produce is easier for other drivers on the road to see, which improves safety for everyone. These bulbs are also more affordable upgrades and easier to install when compared to HIDs.

Drawbacks of HID Headlights

HID headlights are great, but there are some shortcomings compared to LED headlights. You'll find that HIDs beat halogens in almost every category, but they fall short compared to LEDs. Most LED lights will shine brighter and last longer than HIDs, so if you’re looking for the best headlights you may need to consider upgrading to LED headlights. Another issue with HIDs is that they can take longer than LED and halogen bulbs to reach their full brightness. This isn't much of an immediate issue, but it can get aggravating when you’re switching between your low and high beams. HID lights also lose their brightness over time and produce a lot of glare, and that can be dangerous for other drivers.

Get the Right Headlights Today

Whether you need a simple replacement set of halogen headlights, or you want to upgrade to the best LED headlights, plenty of options are available. You can even get creative with products like the RedRock Full Winch Front Bumper with Halogen Dog Lights, which is perfect for taking your Jeep’s appearance and utility to the next level. While halogen lights will do their job, if you need replacement lights, we always recommend considering an upgrade to HID bulbs if you don't want to go all-out. That said, you really can't beat the look of headlights from Raxiom that come in a wide range of styles, colors, and brightness options. If you’re worried about getting the right fit, contact our helpful sales techs for more information.