Light Bulbs of Different Bases Used in the United States

Light bulbs come in many different bases and types, and they are different from country to country. Here we focus on the bases used most frequently in the United States. Most household light fixtures use light bulbs of candlelabra bases, intermediate bases, and/or medium bases.

The candlebra bases used most commonly in the United States are E10, E11, and E12, which are also used in Canada and Japan. The intermediate base E17 is used in the United State and Japan. E26 and E27 are medium bases and are used in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. The tw0-digit number following the letter E indicates the diameter (in millimeters) of the cap of the light bulb. For example, an E26 light bulb indicates that the cap of the light bulb has a diameter of 26 millimeters.


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Since light bulbs come in different bases, it is important to know which base of the light bulb your light fixture houses before you rush to get any light bulb replacements. Nowadays, LED light bulbs are designed to fit the existing light fixtures. Replacing your money-wasting traditional light bulbs or environmentally unfriendly CFLs with the green, high-tech, energy-saving LED light bulbs is as easy as 1-2-3. Best of all, you save yourself tons of money and be a good global citizen saving the planet. That is a very sweet deal, I’d say.