Ford E-150 License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Ford E-150 license plate position uses two bulb sizes across its model history: the 168 and the 194. Both are ANSI-standardized miniature wedge bulbs sharing the T10 form factor and a 12-volt operating voltage.
• The primary distinction between the 168 and 194 lies in wattage. The 168 draws 4.9W, while the 194 draws 3.78W, making the 194 the lower-wattage of the two despite their identical physical form factor.
• Because the 168 and 194 share the T10 wedge base, they are physically interchangeable in the socket. However, the wattage difference means a substitution would not match the original electrical specification for that model year.
• The Ford E-150 (2004-2014) specifies the 168 bulb for the license plate position across all eleven of those model years without variation.
• The 194 bulb is specified for the 1998-2003 model years, representing a continuous six-year run of that fitment within that period.
• The specifications show alternating bulb assignments in the mid-1990s. The 1995-1997 years do not follow a single consistent pattern, with 1995 and 1994 using the 168, 1996 using the 194, and 1997 returning to the 168.
• From 1975 through 1993, the 194 is the predominant license plate bulb, with the exception of 1993 and 1992, where the 168 appears for 1993 and the 194 for 1992, and 1993 itself specifying the 168.
• Both the 168 and 194 carry ANSI standardization recognized in both the United States and Canada, meaning replacement bulbs conforming to those ANSI designations are widely available across North American markets.