Are LED Headlights Worth Buying or Should I Buy Halogen?

By Shawn Longmore â€¢  Updated: 02/16/22 â€¢  8 min read
Led Headlights Featured Image

Buying New Headlights?

Let’s face it, driving at night is challenging if the only light on the road is coming from your vehicle. This article will discuss LED headlights and how the quality is different from other lights available. After reading this article, you’ll better understand which type of light is best for your vehicle and the average cost. We’ll cover the four types of lights available, from the older technology such as halogen to the latest laser technology.

View F-16 Plus Series LED Lights

The first question most people ask when buying new headlights is whether it’s worth spending more money on LED replacement bulbs than traditional halogen bulbs. The answer is yes! Improved visibility at night is one great reason, among others we’ll discuss shortly. Continue reading to get the pros and cons of each type of headlight on the market today.

Headlight Types and Bulbs

Halogen Bulbs

Chrysler first introduced Halogen back in 1954 and has been used ever since. These bulbs can burn for long periods without turning the bulb black.

They consist of two parts: A filament and a reflector. Tungsten lights have a filament wire that glows white-hot when exposed to a current. It’s that current that produces the light. The reflector then focuses the light onto the road ahead. For brightness and low production costs, most newer vehicles have halogen headlights.

PROS

CONS

Expected Life – The average life of a traditional headlight bulb is around 1,000 hours which is spot on for halogen lights. So on average, these bulb types will last between 500 and 1,000 hours.

Average Price – The average price for one halogen bulb is around $15, considerably less than LED bulbs.

Laser Headlights

Laser headlights use different technology to illuminate the road ahead called chemiluminescence. This technology sends a laser beam through a chemical reaction that creates a brilliant white light. High-end sports cars like the Ferrari 458 Italia and Porsche 911 Turbo typically have laser lights. 

PROS

CONS

Expected Life – Compared to other lights, laser headlights have a very long lifespan of roughly 50,000 hours.

Average Price – The average cost of laser headlights on your vehicle will be more than $8,000. In some cases, prices can go as high as $10,000.

Headlight Systems

There are three different light systems mainly used in vehicles today: sealed beam, projector, and reflector. Below are details for each type of system.

A Lesson On Color Temperature

Measured in Kelvin (K) units, color temperature determines how warm or cool the light appears. For instance, when you look at the sun, its color temperature is 5500 Kelvin (K). A typical incandescent bulb has a color temperature of 2700 K.

Most people think that higher numbers mean warmer colors, but this isn’t true. Higher numbers mean cooler colors such as white or light blue. So, a 5000 K light would appear much colder than a 3000 K light.

When looking at lights below 5000 K, they will appear to have a yellowish-orange color when turned on. Lights above 5000 K will generate a much whiter light than those with a lower Kelvin temperature. Below is an example of the different Kelvin colors associated with automotive lights.

Kelvin Color Temperature Scale

LED Headlights and Older Vehicles

Older classic vehicles had great headlights but weren’t very bright, so some people have turned to beam conversion kits to upgrade the lights. Also, thanks to aftermarket conversions, it’s now possible to add LED lights to older vehicles. The cost to convert the factory original headlamp to an LED version is usually around $800-$1000.

Top Brands Available

Several different headlight manufacturers produce LED bulbs making it challenging to choose. We’ve added some of our top selections below.

Available Products

F16 300X250 1
Auxbeam S9 Series Led 300X250

Key Takeaways

  1. All states allow you to install LED headlights as long as they meet Federal Regulations.
  2. You should check your local laws before installing anything.
  3. If you’re planning on using LED lights in your vehicle, make sure you get the right type.
  4. Laser headlights have the most extended lifespan.
  5. Xenon/HID are the best lights with a lifespan of around 10,000 hours. Plus, they are bright white and have a greater viewing distance than other bulbs.
  6. Buying bulbs that produce more than 5000 Kelvin (K) will have the most brilliant color of white.

Final Thoughts

Headlight technology has changed dramatically over the years, and LEDs offer a brighter, safer alternative to traditional halogens. If you’re planning on buying new lights, we hope this guide helped you decide what type of automotive lighting is right for your vehicle.

Shawn Longmore

Shawn Longmore has been a part of the auto glass industry for over 20 years and is the founder of Auto Glass Locator. With years of hands-on experience replacing and repairing auto glass, he offers valuable insights into the world of windshield replacements. Each year he continues to help more people find great deals on auto glass and other automotive services.

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