Jeep Wrangler License Plate Bulb Size

The Jeep Wrangler license plate component utilizes unique bulb sizes 194, 12961, 168, 1156, and P21W depending on the specific production period. Available data covers the range from 1987 through 2018.

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
2007-2018	194
2000-2006	12961
1997-1999	168
1987-1995	1156

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 4.9W.	168
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Single-filament bulb with BA15s bayonet base. 12V, 21W.	1156

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The Jeep Wrangler license plate bulb specifications cover model years 1987 through 2018 and reference four distinct bulb types across that span.
The 194 bulb is the most widely specified type in these records, covering the Jeep Wrangler from 2007 through 2018. It is an ANSI-standard miniature wedge bulb in the T10 form factor, rated at 12V and 3.78W.
The 12961 is a Philips part number rather than an ANSI standard designation. It is a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, and it fits the Wrangler for model years 2000-2006.
Although the 194 and 12961 share the T10 wedge form factor, they carry different wattage ratings (3.78W versus 5W respectively), which is a relevant fitment consideration when substituting one for the other.
The 168 bulb is an ANSI-standard T10 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 4.9W. It is specified for the Wrangler for model years 1997-1999.
The 194, 12961, and 168 bulbs all share the T10 wedge base form factor, meaning the physical socket is the same across the Wrangler model years 1997-2018, though wattage differs among them.
The 1156 bulb represents a fundamentally different socket type from the T10 wedge bulbs. It uses a BA15s single-contact bayonet base and is rated at 12V and 21W, making it physically incompatible with sockets designed for T10 wedge bulbs.
The 1156 is specified for the Jeep Wrangler from 1987 through 1995, and at 21W it operates at substantially higher wattage than any of the T10 wedge types listed for later model years.
No bulb specification is listed for the 1996 model year in these records.
The transition from the BA15s bayonet-base 1156 to the T10 wedge-base bulbs reflects a socket change in the Wrangler's license plate lamp housing between the 1995 and 1997 model years.