Ford F-150 License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Ford F-150 license plate position uses four distinct bulb types across its model history: the 12961, 168, 194, and 97.
• The 194 is the most frequently specified bulb across the F-150 lineup, appearing in model years 1975-1983, 1985-1986, 1988-1990, 1993, 1995-1998, and 2004-2014. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb operating at 12V and 3.78W.
• The 168 is an ANSI-standard T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 4.9W, specified for the Ford F-150 (2015-2020). It shares the same wedge base type as the 194 but draws slightly more power.
• The 12961 is a Philips-branded part rather than an ANSI-standard designation. It is a T10 wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, and is specified for the F-150 in 2021-2022.
• The 97 is a single-filament bulb with a BA15s bayonet base, rated at 12V and 13W. It is a variant of the 1156 bulb family and is specified for the F-150 in 1981, 1987, 1991-1992, and 1994.
• The 97 uses a BA15s bayonet base, which is physically incompatible with the wedge base used by the 194, 168, and 12961. These bulb types are not interchangeable with one another.
• Although the 194 and 168 share the T10 wedge form factor and the same base type, their wattage ratings differ. Substituting one for the other may affect circuit load and is not confirmed as interchangeable within these specifications.
• The 12961 carries a W2.1x9.5d base designation, which is the standard wedge base shared by T10 bulbs such as the 194 and 168, though its status as a proprietary Philips part number rather than an ANSI designation means fitment should be treated as specific to the 2021-2022 model years as listed.