LED Bulbs: Which Color Should I Use?
If you are using an LED bulb behind a red or amber lens, it’s a good idea to match the color of the lens with the color of the
LED bulb
. If you use a white lens behind a red lens, you might end up with the pink light output.
When looking at replacing your stock automotive halogen/incandescent light bulbs with a new LED product, it’s important to know the differences in how the new light bulb will act in the housing you are going to place it in.
This infographic shows how LED bulbs produce light through a red lens.
For best results the LED color should be the same as the lens color or if bulb is behind a clear lens, use the appropriate color for turn and brake light functions. As an example: a red lens will filter out all but the red portion of the light so if the light is all red, none or very little light will be blocked by the lens. The light from a White LED contains very little light in the red portion of the visible spectrum so most of the light would be filtered out by a red lens.
Meet the Experts Behind Headlight Revolution
Chris Nelson – Founder
Before founding Headlight Revolution in 2011, Chris worked as an automotive install technician specializing in lighting, sound systems, and engine performance parts. He has personally tested thousands of lighting products and works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation.
Josh Beberg – Content Production Manager
Josh leads hands-on testing and content production at Headlight Revolution. From beam pattern comparisons to real-world installations, he works directly with lighting engineers to ensure every review is grounded in measured results, not marketing specs.
