Best LED Headlights

Using LED headlights can improve your visibility while night driving and make the road safer to navigate in tumultuous weather. LED headlights can be installed at home, but the first step is finding the right light for your car and budget.

In this buyers guide, we discuss the best LED headlights based on brightness, longevity, and customer reviews. We also provide an overview of what makes LED headlights stand out from other car headlights and why the investment can be worthwhile.

1. Durable Design: Fahren LED Headlight Bulbs
2. Bright Light: Hikari VisionPlus
3. Long Lifespan: Sealight X1 Series
4. Energy-Efficient: Beamtech S1 Series LED Bulb
5. Best Hybrid LED Lights: Morimoto XB Hybrid LED Headlights

High-quality LED headlights should help you see the road more clearly when driving at night or in poor weather conditions. When choosing headlights, it is important to consult your owner’s manual to know which bulbs are best suited for your vehicle. You may also want to consider the warranty life of your headlights in case they are defective.

LED Vs. Halogen Headlights

One of the biggest differences between LED and halogen bulbs is brightness. LED headlights are typically much brighter, and also use much less power due to their built-in heat dissipation features. LED headlights cast a wider beam pattern and can come in a variety of colors, with bright white being the most common.

Because they are typically included standard only in luxury vehicles, automotive manufacturers recommend finding aftermarket LED lights or replacement bulbs. Some manufacturers even offer LED headlight conversion kits, as most vehicles require a Canbus converter in order to power their lights.

Halogen lights only burn yellow, while LED bulbs offer a greater number of colors to choose from. White LED headlights are the most popular, but can also be bought in purple, blue, and sometimes yellow. One concern about white LED headlights is the glare they produce, which some worry is too distracting for oncoming drivers.

LED Vs. HID Headlights

HID headlights are an alternative to LEDs that use Xenon gas to produce light instead of electricity. Although HIDs use less power and have a stronger light beam than halogen light bulbs, they still produce a lower beam compared to LED and use more energy in the process.

Before purchasing LED fog lights, low-beam headlights, or high-beam headlights, here are a few things to know before checkout: 

• Know your vehicle: Some LED headlights may not be compatible with the OEM housing on your vehicle, so make sure whatever you buy works for your car. What fits a Toyota might now work for a Honda or Jeep.
• Power: The overall brightness of a headlight is measured in lumens, and the larger the number the more powerful the light source. 
• Local laws: There are states that limit headlights by color or by power output. Check the laws in your state before buying a new set of LED headlights.

If your vehicle’s factory headlights are halogen bulbs, it may not be a good idea to upgrade to LED headlights. While an LED headlight will likely fit into your headlight assembly, the housing around the lightbulb is specifically designed for halogen headlights that emit light in a near-360-degree beam. The beam emitted by LED lights is much narrower, typically less than 180 degrees. So though LED lights are much brighter than halogen lights, you may get a narrower light spread in a housing designed for a halogen bulb.

That said, we read through many reviews from drivers who replaced their halogen bulbs with LED headlights and were pleased with the results. If you decide to try swapping halogen headlights for LED headlights, make sure you save your old bulbs just in case you want to switch back.

Our top recommendation for LED headlights is the Fahren LED headlight bulbs. They produce 14,000.0 lumens (Lm), making them more than 300 percent brighter than most halogen bulbs.

These are relatively inexpensive LED headlight bulbs designed for easy aftermarket installation. The Fahren bulb uses a (nearly) 1:1 design, and Fahren offers this bulb with several adapter kits to fit in many different make and model vehicles.

While the Fahren may not be the brightest or longest-lasting light among our recommendations, it is nonetheless durable while also being low-cost and easy to install. According to customer reviews, Fahren customer service is extremely responsive to assist customers with installation issues.

Key Features

• Cost: About $40
• Brightness: 14,000.0 Lm
• 6,500.0K cool white color temperature
• More than a 50,000-hour lifespan
• 60.0 watts
• Waterproof

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 51,000 ratings

Most reviewers claim they were able to install the Fahren bulbs without issue. Though be sure to do your own research on your particular vehicle beforehand as not 100 percent of reviewers were able to get these bulbs functioning.

Some felt these bulbs didn’t last long, claiming that theirs burned out after about a year of use.

Drivers looking for the most high-intensity headlight should consider the Hikari VisionPlus LED headlights. Producing over 15,000.0 Lm, these are the brightest LED headlights in our review thanks to Hikari’s Double-Layer Copper Plate Cooling System, which efficiently transfers power to create a high-quality beam. 

The VisionPlus headlights also boast a wider beam than most competitors and a double life expectancy than stock halogen lights.

Key Features

• Cost: About $60
• Brightness: 15,000.0 Lm
• 6,000.0K white color temperature
• 60.0W/set (30.0W/bulb)
• Double-Layer Copper Plate Cooling System
• Waterproof

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 2,400 ratings

As with many aftermarket LED headlight bulbs, not all brands fit perfectly with all vehicles. Based on customer reviews for the Hikari bulbs, they do fit in most cases. Reviewers are very pleased with the brightness in particular. Another frequent comment is that these bulbs are easy to install.

Most complaints come from those lamenting that these lights aren’t bright enough. While some reviewers post pictures of brightly-illuminated streets, others show their Hikari bulbs producing a narrow beam of light. This may have to do with improper installation or the way these bulbs work with certain headlight housings.

Sealight specializes in a variety of headlights for different vehicles, and its X1 Series headlights are no exception. The CSP LED chips produce 14,000.0 Lm, giving drivers a super bright beam that’s four times brighter than most standard halogen headlights.

One thing we especially like about these headlights is their longevity: Sealight claims its X1 Series bulbs have a 20-year lifespan. This is due to the X1’s anodized aluminum heat sink, which improves its cooling performance. 

Key Features

• Cost: About $40
• Brightness: 14,000.0 Lm
• 6,000.0K xenon white color temperature
• 20-year lifespan
• 80.0W/set (40.0W/bulb)
• Waterproof

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 9,700 reviews

Positive reviews commend the X1’s low-light capabilities and competitive pricing. These lights are bright and effective, those switching from halogen bulbs are typically satisfied with the choice.

There are a couple of complaints about the warranty, with customers claiming Sealight is unresponsive on returns.

A fanless design makes the Beamtech S1 Series quieter than other brands, and with its aluminum heat sink, these headlights are more energy-efficient than some competitors.

We like the 6,500.0K Xenon White focused beams, as well. Our only reservation is with the lifespan: roughly three and a half years, which is shorter than other LED headlight options. 

Key Features

• Cost: About $40
• Brightness: 8,000.0 Lm
• 6,500.0K white color temperature
• Up to a 30,000-hour lifespan
• 50.0W/set (25.0W/bulb)
• Waterproof

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 17,500 ratings

Beamtech customers note the crispness of the white light is better than their old halogen bulbs. Some reviews mention dark spots in their headlights, but the overall consensus is that these headlights are reliable.

The Morimoto XB hybrid LED headlights don’t quite provide the same brightness as full LED headlights, but nonetheless offer a significant lighting upgrade over stock halogen bulbs. Morimoto headlights are expensive but don’t expect to need replacements. These bulbs are likely to last longer than any others on this list and are guaranteed for at least five years.

These Morimoto headlights include the entire headlight assembly – not just the bulbs. Each assembly is custom fit for each vehicle, meaning a simple, plug-and-play installation. Many people choose to upgrade to these headlights for their superior illumination as well as their look.

Key Features

• Cost: About $1,000
• Brightness: 3,200.0 Lm
• Fully SAE and DOT compliant
• Five-year warranty

What Customers Are Saying

Reviews praise these headlights for the visual appeal, brightness, and easy installation. While reviewers admit these are expensive headlights, many feel the cost is justified. The Morimoto headlight brand is known for service excellence and high-quality parts.

At least one person mentioned that they had difficulties getting the LED turn signal to work properly, though all other aspects of installation were seamless.

Replacing your halogen bulbs with LED headlights can be a good idea if you want to increase the brightness of your headlamps. However, be aware that LED headlights may not be compatible with older vehicles, so it’s important to do research about your particular car.

Those thinking about making the switch might consider the Fahren LED headlight bulbs. These are designed with easy installation in mind and Fahren has a good track record for responsive customer service.

If you need an inexpensive LED headlight, we recommend Sealight LED headlights, which are low-cost, long-lasting, and exceptionally bright.

*Data accurate at time of publication.