Ford F-250 Super Duty License Plate Bulb Size

Additional Notes

• The Ford F-250 Super Duty uses two bulb sizes across its license plate light positions: the 168 and the 194. Both are ANSI-standardized miniature wedge bulbs sharing the T10 form factor and a 12-volt operating voltage, though they differ in wattage.
• The 168 bulb operates at 4.9 watts, while the 194 operates at 3.78 watts. Despite sharing the same T10 wedge base, these two bulbs are not electrically identical, and substituting one for the other introduces a wattage mismatch relative to the original specification.
• The T10 wedge base is a single-contact design where the electrical connection is made through the base of the glass envelope rather than through separate pins or a bayonet fitting. This construction is standard across both the 168 and 194 types.
• For the Ford F-250 Super Duty (1999-2015), the specified license plate bulb is either the 168 or the 194 depending on the model year, with 2011-2016 calling for the 194 and the surrounding years calling for the 168.
• From 2017-2020, the 168 specification carries a conditional note indicating it applies to vehicles equipped with halogen capsule headlamps. This suggests that headlamp type is a relevant fitment variable for those years.
• The 2021-2023 model years specify the 168 without any conditional notation, indicating a single fitment regardless of headlamp configuration during that period.
• The 168 and 194 bulbs are both covered under ANSI standards applicable in the United States and Canada, meaning their electrical and physical characteristics conform to a defined industry specification rather than being proprietary to any vehicle manufacturer.
• The wattage difference between the 168 and 194 reflects a meaningful distinction in power draw. At 4.9 watts versus 3.78 watts, the 168 draws approximately 30 percent more power than the 194 under the same 12-volt supply.