f150 led lights

F150 LEDs – All Your Options Explained

Breaking down all the LED bulb options for you F150
Breaking down all the LED bulb options for you F150

Do you want to improve the appearance and function of your F-150? To do so, you can go for led lighting upgrades. There are many options for HID and LED lighting that can improve the look of your F-150. Led lighting on your F150 will not only increase your performance but give your truck a classic look. So now, let’s get into the details of F150 LEDs.

Do F150s come with LEDs?

When the 2015 F150s was launched, it was the first half-ton truck in America to feature high-tech LED headlights. With led lighting came better lighting while driving. In addition, these led headlights were more durable than the traditional filament-based headlight bulbs. As a result, the 2015 F150 was the first to depend on LEDs for the main headlight bulbs.

The 2020 F150 has many led headlight choices that will help you see brighter at night. The lights at the front of your truck are Headlamps-quad Beam LEDs which help you see in the dark. These headlights have an extended lifespan, so they do not require frequent changes like standard headlights. In addition, the location of LED Side-Mirror Spotlights on your side-view mirrors makes parking at night easier. The 2020 F150 also comes with Box Lighting-LEDs that light up the bed of your truck in the nighttime.

The 2021 Ford F-150 comes with LED Projector Headlamps and LED Taillamps. These headlights have a dual-beam styling which Ford named “LED Projector with Dynamic Bending Headlamps.”These LED Projector headlamps are used on the F-150, starting with the Lariat 502A High package and higher trim levels. In addition, the rear LED lights are also included on Lariat 502A High and above.

Led vs. Halogen vs. HID?

Most unmodified trucks from the past 20 years come with halogen headlights. Halogen lights are cheaper and easier to replace, but they do not last long. They also use up a lot of energy which eventually drains your car battery. However, as technology has advanced, efficient halogen lights have come up in the market.

Even better options like Led Light kits and HIDs are replacing old halogen lights. HID or high-intensity discharge headlights are somewhat similar to halogen headlights. The only difference is that HIDs use xenon gas instead of halogen gas. HIDs are generally brighter than LED lights, but they need to be replaced frequently as they do not last long. HIDs are good options if you do not want to spend a lot on LED headlights at the moment.

LED headlights are the best alternatives for halogens and HIDs. They consume less energy and are sometimes brighter. LED lights are popular day by day as their price slowly comes down. The only problem with Led lights is the heat. These lights do not heat up on their own, but they tend to heat the nearby wiring and assemblies and also take time to cool down.

HID vs LEDHIDLED
DurabilityAverage
Filaments are the week link
High, No Moving parts
Energy EfficencyAverage (30 lumens per watt)High (100 lumens per watt)
Installation TimeMore complex – Bulb & BallastSimple – Bulb only
Head Emission
Lifespan5000 hours – estimated25,000 – 50,000 – estimated
HID vs LED headlight comparisons

What Lights can I upgrade on my f150?

We shall give you a list of light upgrades that you can do on your F150 to make it look classier.

Headlights bulbs

Led Headlight bulbs

Aftermarket headlight assemblies are readily available for F150 pickups. These will not only increase nighttime visibility but also provide a new look to the front end of your F150. Most of the aftermarket headlight assemblies have projector-style lenses, so it’s better to replace the old, oxidized reflector with setting up with a projector assembly.

Suppose you have already installed a projector lens, but they are not providing the desired lighting. In that case, you can upgrade to a LED system or an HID system.

Many complete aftermarket headlights have built in led lighting. Check out our guide to the Best F150 headlights on the market

Turn signal bulbs

f150 turn signal bulb

To maintain your safety, you need to have perfectly working turn signal bulbs. While changing the lanes, if your turn signals fail, it can result in an accident. If your turn signal bulbs have gone bad, you need to replace them immediately. There are many aftermarket turn signal bulbs available, like the dual color (amber/white) LED bulbs kit, designed for F150 front single filament turn signal lights.

Interior bulbs

led interior light bulb retros

The F150 Interior Lights illuminate the interior like reading a map, finding small items or keys, and having food at nighttime. Halogen lights might appear dim and provide yellowish lighting, so it’s better to go for LED interior lights. Led interior bulbs provide bright and fresh, high-quality lighting, which is similar to natural daylight. In addition to that, Led lights do not drain the power of your car’s battery, so they can go on longer even with the engine turned off.

3rd break light bulbs (break and accessories lights)

The Ford F150 comes with a factory-made 3rd brake light bulb. However, this break light takes a tiny moment to light up, which does not instantly signal the nearby drivers. The recent aftermarket upgrades for 3rd brake light give an instant response. This can alert the nearby drivers faster, along with providing a modern LED appearance. These brake lights are available in different brightness levels and for all F150 models from 1997 to 2021.

Taillight bulb

f150 led break light bulb

Ford F-150 taillights are essential when traveling during the nighttime. A taillamp warns other drivers of your appearance and also informs them about your next significant decision on the road. Thus tail lamps are vital parts of your Ford F150. In addition, there are various types of aftermarket Ford F-150 taillights available. The most prominent in the market right now are Light-emitting diodes. These are trustable and produce around three times more lighting in comparison to other aftermarket taillight bulbs.

Be sure to check out our best f150 tail lights guide if your considering and led upgrade.

Reverse light bulb

The reverse light bulb provided by the factory for your F150 serves the purpose but may not be as bright as you want it to be. At times like this, you can look for an aftermarket upgrade for your reverse light bulb. These provide improved visibility behind compared to the ones that the factory offers. They are also available in multiple brightness levels.

What are the best f150 LEDs I should get?

The types of LED lighting upgrades you want to do on your F150 depend on what you are looking for. However, we can suggest some essential upgrades that can enhance your off-roading experience with your F150.

Upgrading your F150 Headlights with LED aftermarket headlights will increase your visibility at night. Upgrading to aftermarket Reverse lights will give you clear visibility while backing up, so you don’t damage your truck. Aftermarket 3rd brake led lights turn on faster and reduce the driver’s reaction time behind you, so you reduce your chance of getting rear-ended/ in an accident.

The above-mentioned LED light upgrades are the most basic installations you can do on your F150. If you are looking to change your truck’s appearance, you can go for tail light, interior light, and LED headlight upgrades.

Tony Farnsworth
The Man behind BeyondTheRaptor.com. Striving to share his obsession for product research and trucks with the world | Raised in Detroit | Studied Cars and Computers and Business | 25 years of Ford Family Employees