Toyota Highlander License Plate Bulb Size

The Toyota Highlander license plate light uses bulb sizes 194, 12961, and 168 depending on the specific version of the vehicle. Available information covers a span of time starting from 2001 through 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
2024	194
2022-2023	12961
2020-2021	194
2008-2019	168
2001-2005	168

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

Other Locations

Additional Notes

The 168 bulb is the most frequently specified license plate bulb for the Toyota Highlander, covering model years 2001-2009 and 2012-2019. It follows the ANSI standard used in the US and Canada and is a T10 miniature wedge type rated at 12V and 4.9W.
The 194 bulb shares the same T10 miniature wedge form factor as the 168 but operates at a lower wattage of 3.78W versus 4.9W. It also conforms to the ANSI standard for the US and Canada markets.
The 12961 is a Philips part number designation rather than an ANSI standard code. It specifies a T10 miniature wedge bulb with a W2.1x9.5d base, rated at 12V and 5W, making it the highest-wattage bulb among the three types listed.
Although the 194 and 168 bulbs share the T10 wedge form factor, their wattage ratings differ. Substituting one for the other may affect illumination output, as the 168 draws approximately 1.1W more than the 194.
The 12961 and the 194 are both T10 wedge bulbs, but the 12961 carries a specific W2.1x9.5d base designation. This base specification is a formal IEC classification for the wedge base, while the 194 and 168 listings do not include an equivalent base code in the provided specifications.
The Toyota Highlander (2022-2023) specifies the 12961 bulb for the license plate position, while the 2021 and 2024 model years specify the 194. These adjacent years share the T10 form factor but differ in wattage and part number classification.
The W2.1x9.5d base notation on the 12961 indicates a wedge base with a 9.5mm pin spacing, which is the standard physical configuration also shared by the 194 and 168 bulbs, meaning all three types fit the same T10 socket type.