Subaru Legacy Tail Light Bulb Size

The Subaru Legacy tail light utilizes 12961, 7443, 1157, and 194 bulb sizes for the rear lighting components. Data for the specific bulb requirements spans the range from 1990 to 2024.

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
2023-2024	12961
2008-2014	7443
1995-1999	1157
1994	194
1990-1993	1157

Bulb Specifications

Description	Bulb Size
Philips part number. Miniature wedge bulb (T10) with W2.1x9.5d base. 12V, 5W.	12961
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament wedge bulb (T20). 12V, 21W/5W.	7443
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Dual-filament bulb with BAY15d bayonet base. 12V, 21W/5W.	1157
ANSI standard (US & Canada). Miniature wedge bulb (T10). 12V, 3.78W.	194

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 7443 bulb is the most frequently specified tail light bulb across the Subaru Legacy's listed model years, covering 2008-2014. It is a dual-filament T20 wedge bulb rated at 12V with a 21W high filament and 5W low filament, conforming to the ANSI standard used in the United States and Canada.
The 1157 bulb appears across the majority of the remaining listed years, from 1990-1999 with one exception. Like the 7443, it is a dual-filament 12V bulb with a 21W/5W output, but it uses a BAY15d bayonet base rather than a wedge-style base, making the two bulbs physically incompatible despite sharing the same wattage ratings.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation for a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W. The Subaru Legacy (2023-2024) uses this single-filament bulb for the tail light position, a notable departure from the dual-filament bulbs specified for earlier model years.
The 1994 Subaru Legacy is specified with a 194 bulb rather than the 1157 used in surrounding years. The 194 is a single-filament T10 miniature wedge bulb rated at 12V and 3.78W, which differs fundamentally in base type, filament count, and wattage from the 1157, making direct substitution between the two incorrect for that model year.
The 7443 and 1157 bulbs share identical voltage and wattage ratings but are not interchangeable. The 7443 uses a T20 wedge base while the 1157 uses a BAY15d bayonet base, meaning socket compatibility is determined by physical base type rather than electrical output.
The 12961 and 194 are both T10 wedge bulbs, but the 12961 carries a W2.1x9.5d base designation and is rated at 5W, while the 194 is rated at 3.78W. These differences in wattage and base specification indicate they are not confirmed drop-in replacements for one another.