E27, E14, G9 or GU10: which fitting do you need?

E27, E14, G9, GU10: every product page lists a fitting, but rarely why it matters. It determines which light source fits, how much light you get from it and whether you can dim the lamp.

The four fittings you come across

E27 is the large screw fitting, the classic bulb size. You find it in pendant lamps, floor lamps and ceiling lights. It has the widest range of light sources, and is the fitting that gives you the most lumens.

E14 is the small screw fitting, also known as the candle fitting. Smaller in size and usually less powerful. You come across it in wall lights, chandeliers and smaller fittings.

G9 is a plug-in fitting with two thin pins. Compact, and therefore popular in sleek modern fittings where there is no room for a large light source.

GU10 is a twist-lock fitting, mainly used in spotlights. Recognisable by the two thicker pins that you push in and turn a quarter turn.

Integrated LED: no fitting

More and more fittings have the LEDs built in permanently. There is then no fitting and no light source to replace. The advantage: a sleeker design and often a more efficient light output. The disadvantage: you do not choose the colour of the light yourself. A good LED lasts fifteen to twenty-five years with normal use. If something does go wrong, it is usually the driver, and on most fittings that can be replaced separately. More in integrated LED or a replaceable light source.

On our stock lamps we give five years' warranty on the whole lamp, and ten years on the exclusive line, including the built-in LED.

What to look for when replacing

Look not only at the fitting but also at the maximum wattage the fitting can take; that is on the rating plate. And if you want to dim, buy a light source that is explicitly dimmable, because not every LED is. Read more in which dimmer works with LED lighting.

With us the light source is included

All our lamps are supplied complete with a matching light source, in warm white and dimmable. So you do not need to work out which fitting you need. It simply fits.

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