Ford Ranger License Plate Bulb Size

Ford Ranger license plate bulb sizes include 2825, 194, and 97 specifications across various production configurations. The replacement chart covers vehicle data spanning from 1983 to 2023.

The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.

Bulb Size by Year Range

Years	Bulb Size
2019-2023	2825
2008-2011	194
1987-2004	194
1986	97
1985	194
1984	97
1983	194

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	2825
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. Variant of 1156. 12V, 13W.	97

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Ford Ranger license plate position uses three distinct bulb sizes across its model history: the 2825, 194, and 97.
The 194 is the most frequently specified bulb in the Ford Ranger license plate position, covering model years 1983-1993, 1995-2011 (with exceptions in 1984 and 1986).
Both the 2825 and 194 are T10 miniature wedge bulbs sharing the same physical form factor, though they differ in wattage. The 2825 operates at 5W while the 194 operates at 3.78W.
Despite the shared T10 form factor between the 2825 and 194, these two bulbs are not rated identically and are specified for different model year groups on the Ford Ranger.
The Ford Ranger (2019-2023) uses the 2825 bulb for the license plate position, which carries a W2.1x9.5d wedge base and runs on a 12V circuit.
The 97 bulb, specified for the 1984 and 1986 Ford Ranger, uses a BA15s bayonet base rather than a wedge base, making it physically incompatible with sockets designed for the 194 or 2825.
At 13W, the 97 bulb draws significantly more power than either the 194 or the 2825, which is a relevant consideration given that the surrounding model years use the lower-wattage 194.
All three bulb types listed in these specifications are ANSI standards recognized in both the United States and Canada, operating on a 12V electrical system.