What Is An E26 Bulb? Here’s Everything You Need To Know!

Before the pandemic started, I visited India and had a great time. I was impressed by the wide variety of food and amazing people.  I admit that the food was a bit too spicy for me, but the people were sweet. I traveled to some interesting places and made some great friends. One of my friends from India recently moved to the US and set up his home in Michigan. While buying the essentials, he called me up to ask, ‘what is an E26 bulb?’ as he wasn’t very familiar with the codes of bulbs. 

Lighting terminology can be confusing if you are not familiar with it and you’re looking to purchase a new bulb. You may have come across the terms like E26, E27, A19, etc.,  but may be unsure what they mean. This made me realize that many people are migrating to or living in the country who aren’t familiar with the codes of the light bulbs and end up searching about the same on the internet. Hence, I decided to write this article. 

Every light bulb has a code in the form of a letter followed by a code. The code is basically a shorthand representing the size and shape of the bulb or the bulb socket. E26 is a standard bulb with an Edison screw with a base diameter of 26 millimeters. An E26 base can be used in various light bulbs of different shapes and sizes and is a standard bulb base in countries like the USA, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, etc., where the standard voltage is 120V.

In this article, we will learn about the E26 bulb and how it is different from an A19 and E27 bulb. We will also know whether you can interchange an E26 bulb with an A19 bulb.

All About An E26 Bulb

If you’re looking for what an E26 bulb is, I’ll help you understand the meaning and some simple characteristics of the bulbs. In this article section, we shall discuss what an E26 base is and what its advantages are.

What Does E26 Bulb Mean?

Light bulbs come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Generally, they are categorized by their bases, i.e., the part that screws into the socket of the light. The bulb’s base is the component that allows both electrical and mechanical connection. 

The letter E in E26 refers to Edison Screw, and the number 26 refers to the diameter of the base in millimeters.

Edison screw is the system of screws used in the light bulbs invented by Thomas Elva Edison and is the most standard screw setting in the present time. An E26 bulb is also known as the Medium Edison Screw, or MES.

Notably, the code E26 does not refer to the shape and size of the bulb but refers to the shape and size of its base. You can use an E26 base in various light bulbs of different shapes and sizes.

Is E26 A Standard Bulb?

While there is no data available in absolute numbers, it is estimated that 90% of the bulbs sold in the US  have an E26 base. If you ask me, ‘is E26 a standard light bulb base?’, the answer is ‘yes’. 

Basically, an E26 bulb is the most common and standard bulb base in not only the US but also in countries like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, etc., where the standard voltage is 120V. The E26 bulb base is available in incandescent, LED, CFL, and halogen light bulbs. 

To give you an example, if you close your eyes and picture a light bulb in your head or look at the light bulb emoji on Whatsapp, they are all E26 bulbs.

Dimensions Of An E26 Bulb

The code E26 refers to the bulb base size and not the bulb, wherein the number 26 represents the diameter of the base in millimeters. As mentioned above, You can use an E26 base in various light bulbs of different shapes and sizes.

Advantages

There are a few reasons why the E26 bulbs became the standard light bulb base after being widely adopted by American households in the 20th century. I am listing some of the major advantages of E26 bulbs that made them make their way into our lives and made them stay as well.

• Since E26 bulbs are the most common bulb base type, finding an appropriate lamp fixture is easier.

• The installation process of an E26 bulb is relatively straightforward as it does not require any tools or assembly.

• E26 bulb bases are pretty strong and are suitable for installation in an area with vibrations like a ceiling fan or a garage.

• Since E26 bulbs fix tight into the screw, they ensure no dust or moisture enters the fixture to disrupt the connection. Moisture in the fixture can cause the lights to change their color by themselves.

A19 vs E26: Difference Between A19 and E26 Bulbs

The difference between A19 and E26 is that both of these are the codes for different parts of the bulb. While E26 is the code for the size and screw-type of the base of the bulb, A19 is the code for the bulb size and shape. Basically, you can have different shapes and sizes of the bulbs on the E26 base. E26 being the most standard bulb base in the US and other countries with 120 V standard voltage, many kinds of bulbs come with this base in the market. 

In E26, E represents the Edison screw, and 26 represents the diameter of the base in millimeters. Whereas in A19, A represents the pear shape of the bulb, which is also the most standard bulb shape adapted by most households across the world,, and 19 describes the one-eighth of the diameter of the bulb at the widest part in inches. Hence, the number 19 represents the diameter of the widest part of the A19 bulb, i.e., 2.4 inches. 

Just like the E26 bulb base, A19 is the standard bulb that comes to your mind when somebody mentions the word ‘light bulb.’ Yes, exactly the one you pictured in your head after reading this section of the article.

In the US, A19 bulbs must certainly have E26 bases. This means that not all E26 bases have the A19 bulb, but all A19 bulbs come with an E26 base.

E26 vs E27: Difference Between E26 And E27 Bulbs

Both E26 and E27 are the codes for the bulb base. Like E26 depicts the Edison bulb base with a base diameter of 26 millimeters, E27 depicts the bulb base with a base diameter of 27 millimeters. 

Though E26 and E27 bulbs are mechanically similar and interchangeable, I do not recommend blindly assuming that the bulbs are completely interchangeable. From an electrical safety point of view, E26 offers lesser insulation and protection against short circuits and electrical fires. You may be able to use an E27 bulb in the E26 socket, but I wouldn’t recommend using E26 bulbs in E27 sockets.

E26 bulbs are designed for the market, which primarily uses 120V AC, whereas E27 lamps are designed for other markets which use 240V AC.

Are E26 and A19 Bulbs Interchangeable?

E26 is the code representing the size and type of the bulb base. However, A19 is the code to describe the shape of the bulb. Basically, you can have different shapes and sizes of the bulbs on the E26 base, and A19 is one of them. Hence, ‘are E26 and A19 Bulbs Interchangeable?’ is not a valid question, but I understand the general confusion, so I am here to help you.

E26 represents the Edison screw with a base diameter of 26 millimeters. A19 bulb is a pear-shaped bulb whose diameter is one-eighth of the widest part in inches. Hence, the number 19 represents the diameter of the widest part of the A19 bulb i.e., 2.4 inches. E26 and A19 are the standards in their domain; hence, the combination works great and can be found in most American households. 

The combination is also popular in countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, etc. 

Basically, E26 are the perfect and the most standard bases used in the places where the standard voltage is 120V.

FAQs

Q1. Where is an E39 base used?

Answer – The E39 bulb base is used in the street light and high wattage lights. It is an Edison screw base with a base diameter of 29 millimeters.

Q2. Are E26 and E27 bulbs interchangeable?

Answer – E26 and E27 bulbs are mechanically similar and interchangeable. However,, one should not blindly assume that the bulbs are completely interchangeable. From an electrical safety point of view, E26 offers lesser insulation and protection against short circuits and electrical fires. Also, E26 bulbs are designed for the market, which primarily uses 120V AC, whereas E27 lamps are designed for other markets which use 240V AC. You may be able to use an E27 bulb in the E26 socket, but using E26 bulbs in E27 sockets is not advised.

Q3. What base do A19 bulbs have? Are all E26 bulbs A19?

Answer – While it is possible for A19 bulbs to have multiple bases, in the US, they mandatorily have an E26 base. Also, all A19 bulbs in the US are E26, but all E26 bulbs necessarily may not be A19.

Final Words

If you are not used to or have not heard of the codes of light bulbs, it may be challenging for you to choose a bulb that suits your needs when there are multiple options with codes. The codes of the bulbs represent the size, shape, and type of the bulb or the base. The codes E26, E27, E39, etc., are the codes for the base of the bulb, whereas A19, B10, C15, etc., are the codes for the bulbs. In this article, you must have gained a detailed insight into the E26 bulb base, the standard bulb base in the US, and the A19 bulb, the standard bulb in the country.

If you have any more queries about the E26 bulb, write to me in the comment section.