Subaru Outback high beam headlight bulb size is 9005, while low beam headlight bulb sizes are H11, D4S, and H7 depending on model variant. The replacement chart covers 2008 through 2019 production years with corresponding bulb size specifications.
The year-by-year compatibility chart below provides a quick reference to verify the correct bulb size for your vehicle.
The 9005 bulb serves as the high beam headlight across the Subaru Outback for the 2008-2019 model years, making it the most consistently specified bulb type in these listings. It operates at 65 watts with a P20d base and is rated for approximately 1000 hours of service life under standard halogen operation.
The 2019 high beam entry carries a "With Halogen Capsule Headlamps" qualifier, indicating that the 9005 fitment applies specifically to the halogen headlamp configuration for that year rather than to all available headlamp systems.
The H11 bulb is specified for low beam use on the Outback from 2015-2019 in halogen capsule headlamp configurations. It uses a PGJ19-2 base and operates at 55 watts, and it is not interchangeable with the H9 or H8 bulbs despite sharing the same physical connector family.
The H7 bulb covers low beam duties on the Outback for the 2008-2014 model years. It uses a PX26d base and operates at 55 watts. The H7 base type differs from the H11 connector, meaning the two bulbs are not interchangeable despite similar wattage ratings.
The D4S bulb is listed as the low beam option for HID headlamp configurations on the 2015-2018 Outback. It is a high-intensity discharge type requiring a ballast and igniter, and it operates at approximately 35 watts with a significantly higher luminous output than halogen equivalents.
The D4S uses a quartz arc tube rather than a tungsten filament, which means it cannot be substituted with any halogen bulb type. Vehicles equipped with HID headlamps require the D4S specifically and are not compatible with H11 or H7 replacements in the low beam position.
For the 2015-2018 Outback, two distinct low beam bulb types are listed depending on headlamp configuration. The H11 applies to halogen capsule headlamps while the D4S applies to HID headlamps, and the correct replacement depends entirely on which system the vehicle was built with.
The 2014 Outback marks a transition point in the low beam specification. Prior to 2014, the H7 is listed; from 2015 onward, the H11 or D4S is listed depending on headlamp type. The H7 and H11 use different base configurations and are not interchangeable.
No HID specification is listed for the high beam position across any model year. The 9005 halogen bulb covers that position throughout the full range of years in these specifications, including years where HID low beams are also listed.
The 9005 bulb uses an SB-P20d base and is sometimes cross-referenced with the HB3 designation in international markets. Despite physical similarities to the 9006 bulb, the two are not interchangeable due to differences in base tab placement and wattage.