The bulb in your dining light goes dark on a Sunday evening. You try to unscrew the bulb. The bulb does not turn. So you push, twist, and it drops into your hand.
At the electrical shop, the man asks, “Pin type or screw type?” You are not sure. You buy the wrong bulb, and the light stays dark for one more day.
Every light has a bulb holder, and there are only a few bulb holder types. The holder decides which bulb fits. The holder also sits right next to a warm bulb for years, so the metal around it matters too.
Below, you will see the common bulb holder types, how to check the holder before you buy a light, and what the holder should be made of.
The short answer
Most lights in India use one of five bulb holder types: B22, E27, E14, G9 or GU10. B22 is the push-and-twist holder found in most Indian homes, and E27 is the big screw holder used in many decorative lights. Before you buy a light, get three things in writing: the holder type, the top wattage, and the metal around the holder.
Bulb holder types: what the letters and numbers mean
A bulb holder is the small cup the bulb sits in. The holder carries power from the wire to the bulb. The holder also keeps the bulb in place, even when the bulb hangs upside down.
The letter tells you how the bulb locks in. “B” means bayonet. You push the bulb in and twist it, and two small side pegs lock it. “E” means Edison screw. You screw the bulb in like the lid of a jar.
The number is the size in millimetres. An E27 bulb has a screw base 27 mm across. An E14 bulb has a thin 14 mm screw, the kind you see on candle bulbs in a chandelier.
“G” means pins. A G9 bulb is a tiny capsule with two pins that push straight in. A GU10 bulb is a small spotlight with two short pins that twist and lock.
B22 is still the usual holder in Indian homes. An Alibaba seller guide on bulb bases says B22 “remains dominant in Indian residential markets.” The same guide says E27 is the most used base in the world, and E14 is common in decorative lights.
So a new pendant or wall light often needs a different bulb from the ones in your cupboard. A new bulb is normal. You only need to know the holder before you go to the shop.
How to check the bulb holder before you buy
- Find the holder line on the product page, such as “Holder: E27”, and write it down.
- Find the top wattage, such as “max 60 W”, and pick a bulb far below it.
- Ask what metal the holder and the frame around it are made of.
- Check if a bulb comes in the box, so you can buy one before the electrician arrives.
- Ask if a spare holder or part will be there in five years, and get the answer in writing.
Take a photo of the holder line before you order. When the bulb fails one day, show that photo at the shop. You will walk out with the right bulb the first time.
Side by side
| What you care about | JagMag | Two mild steel pendant listings we read |
|---|---|---|
| Holder type on the page | Yes, for example E27 | Yes, E27 |
| Metal around the holder | 304 stainless steel | Mild steel body |
| Rusts? | No | Can rust where the coat chips |
| Warranty in writing | Lifetime, against rust on steel parts | 6 months |
| Spare parts | Kept for 10+ years | Not mentioned on the listing |
Mild steel is ordinary iron-based steel. Bare mild steel rusts, so makers usually coat it with paint or powder. Engineer Fix explains that when a deep scratch or chip breaks the coat, the steel underneath can start to rust. A holder sits in a spot you touch every time you change a bulb, so small scratches do happen.
Where the other side is better
The two mild steel pendant listings we read on a large Indian online store were clear and fair. Both named the E27 holder. Both said the bulb is not included. Both listed copper wire, and both were made in India.
A light with a B22 holder has one more plus. You can reuse the bulbs you already have at home. Our lights use E27, E14, G9 or GU10 holders, so you will need to buy the matching bulb.
What we do at JagMag
JagMag Lights is a decorative lighting manufacturer in Greater Noida. Our product pages name the holder, the top wattage and the bulb we suggest. Take our faceted amber glass pendant light. The pendant takes one E27 bulb, rated up to 60 W. We suggest a 4 to 6 W warm-white LED of 3000K, and the bulb is not in the box.
The rod, holder and ceiling cup on that pendant are 304 stainless steel, the same grade used in a good kitchen sink. The steel carries a lifetime warranty against rust, in section 4.1A of our legal policies. The warranty covers the steel, not the brass-colour finish on top.
Across our own range, E27 is the holder we use most, then G9, then E14. G9 suits small stone and glass shades, because the capsule bulb is tiny. E14 suits candle-style arms on chandeliers.
The pendant hangs on Teflon-coated copper wire. We make it in our own factory, so we keep spare glass shades and parts for 10+ years.
People in our Greater Noida factory put each light together by hand: the steel rod, the holder, the wire and the glass. Warm light in a calm room is the kind of harmony Vastu thinking has always valued.
Want to know how the steel itself compares? Read mild steel vs stainless steel lights. Bought a light from the US? See E26 vs E27 first.
FAQs
What are the main bulb holder types in India?
The main bulb holder types in India are B22, E27, E14, G9 and GU10. B22 is a push-and-twist holder used in most homes. E27 and E14 are screw holders used in many decorative lights. G9 and GU10 use small pins.
What is the difference between B22 and E27?
A B22 bulb pushes in and twists to lock, while an E27 bulb screws in. The two do not fit each other. An adapter exists, but it makes the bulb longer, so it may not fit inside a shade. Buying the right bulb is simpler.
Which bulb holder is best for a chandelier?
No holder is best for every chandelier. Candle-style arms usually take E14 bulbs, and globe or glass shades often take E27. Read the holder line on the product page and buy that bulb.
Can I use a bigger bulb than the holder allows?
No, stay below the top wattage on the product page. A warm-white LED of 4 to 9 W gives plenty of light in a home and runs far below a 60 W limit.
Do JagMag lights come with a bulb?
No, JagMag lights with a holder come without a bulb. Each product page names the holder and suggests a 3000K warm-white LED. Lights with a built-in LED need no bulb at all.
Nature gives the material. Human hands give it meaning. Light brings it to life. That is JagMag.
Find the holder on the product pages in our glass pendant lights and pendant lights. Not sure which bulb fits your light? Video-call us.
Sources
- Alibaba.com Seller Blog – LED bulb base types: E27, E14, GU10, B22 (B22 dominant in Indian homes)
- Lightbulbs Direct – guide to light fittings, caps and bases (bayonet push and twist, E27 27 mm, G9, GU10)
- Bureau of Indian Standards – IS 1258: Bayonet lampholders (B15d, B22d)
- Bureau of Indian Standards – IS 10276: Edison screw lampholders
- Moglix pendant light listing 1 (E-27 holder, mild steel body, 6-month warranty)
- Moglix pendant light listing 2 (E-27 holder, mild steel body, 6-month warranty)
- Fractory – what is mild steel (untreated mild steel is prone to rust)
- Engineer Fix – does powder coating prevent rust?