Reflector Housing
A headlight type that uses a chrome-coated bowl to bounce light forward. Simpler and cheaper than projectors, but LED upgrades can cause scattered light and glare issues.
Reflector headlights use a chrome-coated parabolic bowl to bounce light from the bulb forward toward the road. The shape of the reflector and the position of the bulb filament work together to create the beam pattern — including the asymmetric cutoff for dipped beam, which is formed by strategically placed ridges and facets in the reflector surface.
This design is simpler and cheaper than projector housings, which is why reflectors are found on most economy vehicles and many trucks. They work perfectly well with the halogen bulbs they were designed for — the filament sits at the precise focal point of the reflector, and the beam pattern is exactly what the engineers intended.
The problem arises with LED upgrades. An LED bulb's light source (the chip) is rarely in the exact position and orientation as the halogen filament it replaces. Even a few millimeters of difference causes the reflector to scatter light in unintended directions — including upward into oncoming drivers' eyes. This is why many automotive lighting experts recommend against LED bulbs in reflector housings, or at minimum suggest choosing LED bulbs with chip placement specifically designed to match the original filament position.
Specifications
| Beam pattern | Wider, less defined edges |
| LED compatible? | Possible but may cause glare |
| Disadvantage | Light scatter with non-halogen bulbs |
Related Terms
- Projector Housing
A headlight type that uses a convex lens to focus and shape the light beam into a sharp, defined pattern. Handles LED and HID upgrades much better than reflector housings.
- H7 Bulb
A single-filament halogen headlight bulb commonly used for low beam or high beam in European vehicles. One of the most popular bulbs for LED headlight upgrades.
- H1 Bulb
A compact single-filament halogen bulb used in headlights and fog lights. Smaller than H7 with a different connector — common in older European and Japanese vehicles.
