So, what’s so special about H7 headlight bulbs? Surely all headlight bulbs are basically the same, right? Well, you’d be surprised just how many types of headlights there are and how they perform differently. Currently, on the market, there are filaments, Xenon bulbs, LEDs and even lasers. In fact, we’ve got a full guide to the different types of headlight bulbs available.
H7 headlight bulbs provide the light for your car’s low beams, the ones you use most often to help improve safety and visibility. During the winter months they are usually the main daytime running lights, meaning they’ll also be the ones that’ll need replacing the quickest.
The best H7 bulbs at a glance
What is a H7 headlight bulb?
The H7 bulb was introduced as an improvement on the H4 bulb. The “H” refers to halogen. These bulbs contain a tungsten filament enclosed in a halogen gas-filled quartz capsule. This allows higher light output and improved efficiency compared to old incandescent headlight bulbs.
When shopping for a new pair of H7 bulbs, it’s best to have piece of mind that the set you decide on will work with your car. Services like Amazon Garage will allow you to input your car and filter products guaranteed to fir the car. It’s the perfect tool for making sure you won’t be left in the dark when bulb shopping.
Are all H7 headlight bulbs the same?
No, they are not. H7 refers to the fitting type, but aside from this there are a variety of headlight bulbs: Halogen, LED, and Xenon bulbs are the main examples, and they work in a slightly different way to one another to give you a different quality of light. Even when considering the same type of bulbs, a H7 Halogen bulb for example, there are still a number of variables including brightness and colour.
How we tested H7 headlight bulbs
The H7 bulbs were tested on several different vehicles over the course of a few weeks. This allowed our expert testers to experience the bulbs in a variety of situations; including unlit roads, adverse weather conditions, and with oncoming traffic. Each product was assessed on brightness, colour, distance, and quality. If you’re looking for your next H7 bulb, here are our picks.
The best H7 headlight bulbs, chosen by Parkers
The best H7 headlight bulbs
Installing them was straightforward – just make sure you don’t touch the glass with your fingers – and once they were in, the effect was immediate. The white tone doesn’t quite reach xenon territory, but it’s clean enough to modernise the look of an older car, especially if you're replacing the factory-fit yellowish bulbs. Oncoming drivers did flash me a couple of times, so I adjusted the headlight aim slightly – a small price to pay for such a big step up in performance.
They’re not cheap at around £35-40 a pair, but if you drive regularly in the dark or want a simple upgrade that genuinely improves safety and the look of the car, they’re worth it. The added reach and clearer definition at the edges of the beam pattern make night driving more relaxing, especially in wet weather. You could spend hundreds upgrading to decent LEDs – or just fit these and enjoy a significant improvement with zero hassle.
Review by Keith Adams
Pros
- Impressive brightness means clearer vision at night
- A step up in quality over competitors
Cons
- Less affordable than other options
Editor's pick
At first, the quality of the bulb was quite apparent. While they may not excel in any particular aspect over other bulbs, they appear to be sturdy and reliable - which equates to good value for money. I found the light to be relatively bright, especially when considering a flurry of new cars have LED headlights, the Bosch bulbs didn't look out of place on a busy road.
I did test to see how they would look to oncoming motorists and I found them to be bright but not blinding. It's good to make sure you can see in the dark, but it's also safe to make sure other motorists can see too - especially oncoming motorists.
There's a good level of brightness and are able to shine far enough down the road to be suitable in pretty much any situation. I found the width of the beam to be adequate too, which meant I was able to see pedestrians on the footpath easily too. The temperature of the light is slightly off-white, but not enough to affect the natural colours of other cars and objects. I think the colour strikes a lovely balance.
If you’re interested in excellent quality but don’t want to pay a premium price, these Bosch H7 bulbs will offer both. While they don’t have the same features as some of the pricier options here, they are fully road-legal and will still offer enough improvements in brightness to make these bulbs a solid choice.
Review by Naveed Hussain
Pros
- Great choice of bulb thanks to good build quality
- Decent value for money
Cons
- Not the most advanced option
Best long-beam H7 headlights
Rrp: $35.95
Rrp: $35.95
Once on the road, the benefits are immediately obvious. The beam is crisp and wide, casting aside the dull yellow gloom of tired factory bulbs for a cleaner, whiter spread. Night driving on unlit back roads feels safer and more relaxed, and crucially, these bulbs don’t seem to provoke oncoming drivers into a chorus of headlight flashes.
Interestingly, in this particular Volvo, the WhiteVision Ultras even outperform the various retro-fit LED conversion kits I’ve tried – they provide sharper cut-off and less glare, with a genuine OEM feel that aftermarket LEDs often struggle to match.
Despite the ‘sharp white look’ promise, purists hoping for an icy LED-blue glow may find the colour more subtly modern than showy. They are at the pricier end of the halogen market, but for ease of installation, quality, and sheer usable light on the road, they’re well worth the investment.
Review by Keith Adams
Pros
- Safe and stylish white light
- Good for upgrading original halogen bulbs
Cons
- Not as white as some reviewers expect
Best Xenon-look H7 headlight bulb
Rrp: $21.99
Rrp: $21.99
I fitted the Osram bulbs to a Mk 7 Vauxhall Astra and compared them to the previously tested Bosch Pure Light bulbs. The Osram bulbs were equally easy to fit and felt just as sturdy.
Once fitted, the bulbs were tested for a few weeks, in a variety of situations which included unlit roads and even during adverse weather. Generally, I found the light to be just as bright as the Bosch bulbs, but with the slightest cooler colour.
The Osram bulbs didn’t look out of place on the road, and they do well to light up object to their true colour. I didn’t find them to be any brighter than the Bosch bulbs, and they didn’t immediately seem to shine further down the road. The Osram bulbs claim to shine to a slightly further distance than a standard bulb, but I didn’t notice that.
While the Osram Cool Blue Intense bulbs offer good quality, I wouldn’t expect them to be head and shoulders above other bulbs. They do, however, provide decent value thanks to their price.
Review by Naveed Hussain
Pros
- Cool light colour without a yellow tint
- Good value for money for a quality set of bulbs
Cons
- Not noticably brighter than other brands
Best for brightness
It felt really easy to fit the Night Breakers, admittedly easier than any other bulbs that I’ve tested, but since the fitting is the same I wouldn’t read too much into that. The bulbs were fitted to the same Mk 7 Vauxhall Astra that I tested other bulbs on.
I found the colour to have more of a yellow tint than any other bulbs that I’ve tested, but when considering the Cool Blue Intense bulbs are specifically designed to have a blue-ish light it all makes sense. The advantage of the Night Breakers lies in the brightness and distance. While the distance is slightly improved over other bulbs, I certainly felt the road ahead lit up brighter.
The Night Breaker bulbs are noticeably better than some other bulbs, but they also come at a premium cost. The longevity isn’t claimed to be any more than the Cool Blue Intense bulbs, so if you value a slightly warmer light than is brighter then the extra price makes sense.
Review by Naveed Hussain
Pros
- Improved distance and brightness over other bulbs
- Warmer temperature light for those that don't want a sharp white light
Cons
- Costs more than others
Best for lifespan
Pros
- Striking white light
- 450 hours lifespan
Cons
- Average in other aspects
What you need to know about H7 headlight bulbs
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Are H7 LED bulbs legal?
In the UK it is not legal to retrofit H7 LED bulbs to your car if it comes with Halogen bulbs. According to the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, headlight bulbs must be E-marked or have a British Standards Mark. The reason for this is that many aftermarket LED headlight bulbs don't meet quality and safety standards, and may not have the correct intensity or beam pattern which can blind other road users. You can fail your MOT if you have retrofitted LED headlight bulbs in place of Halogen bulbs.
Cars that come with LED headlights from the manufacturers aren't affected, and if you need to change the headlight bulbs then you should contact your local garage. -
How to remove a H7 bulb?
You will be able to change the bulbs yourself, but the complexity depends entirely on what car you drive. On some cars, it’s very easy, while others are considerably more difficult. For example, some Renault Megane models require you to take off the entire bumper; some Fiat Punto models simply required the removal of a rubber seal.
In terms of tools, all you should need is a set of screwdrivers and a socket set. A basic toolset should be sufficient. -
Are H4 and H7 bulbs interchangeable?
No, they are not. H4 bulbs do not fit H7 fittings, and vice versa. The key difference between H7 and H4 bulbs is the number of filaments; H4 bulbs contain two filaments for the low beam and high beam, whereas H7 bulbs only contain one filament (for either the high or low beam). Your car's headlight assembly will be specially designed for the bulb type, so it's important to make sure you get the correct bulb type.
This should usually be listed in your vehicle’s handbook, but if not, there are ways to find out. Amazon Garage allows you to add your car and filter items that will fit it. This not only works for headlights but also for other parts, including wiper blades and pollen filters for pretty much any production vehicle. A similar service is also offered by Halfords and other car part suppliers. -
Can I upgrade my headlight bulbs?
Upgrading your headlights is a rather complicated affair. If your car came from the factory with filament bulbs, then there is nothing wrong with choosing a better filament option for your car, but you cannot upgrade to an LED or laser option by law. The same is the case for xenon lights. This is because of both complexity and the fact legislation has yet to catch up with testing aftermarket options for LED and laser lights.
If your car has LED or laser lights, then you’ll need your local garage to change them should they fail. -
Are H7 bulbs high and low beam?
No, H7 bulbs contain only one filament, so a single bulb can only be used for high beam or low beam, but not both at the same time. This is the key difference between H7 and H4 bulbs. This means that two H7 bulbs will be required for each headlight assembly - twice as many as H4 bulbs.
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