Light Bulb Finder & Reference
Identify a bulb by its base and shape, convert old incandescent wattage to lumens and the right LED, visualize color temperature from warm to daylight, and look up common automotive bulb numbers — all in your browser.
How to Use
- Identify tab: search or browse bulb bases (E26, E12, GU10…) and shapes (A19, BR30, PAR38…) to find what a bulb is and where it's used.
- Brightness tab: enter the old incandescent wattage (or lumens) to get the matching LED/CFL/halogen wattage — and the yearly energy cost and savings.
- Color tab: drag the Kelvin slider to see warm white vs daylight and which to use where.
- Car Bulbs tab: search a bulb number (194, 1157, 9005, H11…) to see its type and typical use.
- Everything runs locally — no lookups are sent anywhere.
| Incandescent | Lumens | LED | CFL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 W | 250 lm | ~3 W | ~6 W |
| 40 W | 450 lm | ~5 W | ~9 W |
| 60 W | 800 lm | ~9 W | ~14 W |
| 75 W | 1100 lm | ~12 W | ~19 W |
| 100 W | 1600 lm | ~16 W | ~23 W |
| 150 W | 2600 lm | ~27 W | ~40 W |
| Number | Base / type | Typical use |
|---|
Reading a bulb
A bulb is defined by three things: its base (how it connects — E26 screw, GU10 twist, BA15s bayonet…), its shape (A19 standard, BR30 reflector, B10 candle…), and its light output. Modern bulbs are rated in lumens (actual brightness) rather than watts (power), so a "60-watt-equivalent" LED really means about 800 lumens while drawing only ~9 watts. Color is given as a color temperature in Kelvin — lower is warmer, higher is cooler.
Match the base and shape so the bulb physically fits, pick the lumens for the brightness you want, and choose the Kelvin for the mood. For cars, bulbs go by a number (194, 1157, H11…) that encodes the base and filament arrangement; the Car Bulbs tab decodes the common ones.
Quick reference
About the Light Bulb Finder & Reference
Whether you are at a desk or on your phone, the Light Bulb Finder & Reference makes electronics and circuit design easy — and it is completely free. Identify a bulb by its base and shape, convert old incandescent wattage to lumens and the right LED, visualize color temperature from warm to daylight, and look up common automotive bulb numbers — all in your browser.
How it works
Enter what you have and read the result as it updates live. It all runs on your own device, so it is quick and private, with nothing to install.
Want the deeper story? The Knowledge Base explains the ideas behind the tools in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what bulb base I have?
The base is the part that connects to the socket. Screw bases are an "E" followed by the diameter in mm — E26 is the standard US bulb, E12 a candelabra, E27 the European standard. Bayonet bases (push-and-twist) start with B or BA. Pin bases start with G (GU10, G4, G9). Match yours to the Identify tab; the diameter is a good first clue.
How many lumens replace a 60-watt bulb?
About 800 lumens. Lumens measure actual brightness, while watts only measured the power an old incandescent drew. As a guide: 40W ≈ 450 lm, 60W ≈ 800 lm, 75W ≈ 1100 lm, 100W ≈ 1600 lm. A modern LED hits those with roughly a sixth to a ninth of the wattage — the Brightness tab does the conversion.
What color temperature should I choose?
Lower Kelvin is warmer (yellower), higher is cooler (bluer). 2700K is cozy warm white (living rooms, bedrooms), 3000K soft white, 3500-4100K neutral (kitchens, baths, work areas), and 5000-6500K daylight (garages, task lighting, makeup). The Color tab shows each.
Can I look up the exact bulbs for my specific car?
Not by year/make/model — that needs a licensed vehicle fitment database, which this local tool doesn't ship. What it does give you is a reference for the common bulb numbers (194, 1157, 9005, H11…) so you can identify a bulb you already have or that's printed in your manual, and understand its type and use.
Is anything sent to a server?
No. All the reference data and conversions run entirely in your browser. Nothing you type or look up leaves your device.
How do I use the Light Bulb Finder & Reference?
Simply type your numbers and read the result, which refreshes the instant you change something. There is nothing to submit and nothing to wait for.
Is it free? Does it work without internet?
Yes to both. It is free with no sign-up, and once the page has loaded it keeps working even with no internet.
Where does my data go?
Nowhere — every calculation runs on your own device. Nothing you enter is uploaded, logged, or stored.
Common Use Cases
Replacing a bulb
Figure out the base and shape so you buy the one that actually fits.
Switching to LED
Convert your old wattages to lumens and the right LED, and see the energy savings.
Choosing light color
Preview warm vs daylight before you buy a whole box of the wrong temperature.
Car bulb identification
Decode a bulb number from your manual or an old bulb (194, 7443, 9006…).
Planning room lighting
Estimate how many lumens a room needs and how many bulbs that is.
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