E12 vs E14 candelabra bases
The small screw bases on candle bulbs, chandeliers and night lights
A candelabra base is a small Edison screw used on candle-shaped bulbs, chandeliers, sconces and night lights. In North America it is the 12 mm E12; Europe and most 230 V countries use the 14 mm E14, called the small Edison screw (SES) in the UK.
Chandeliers and wall sconces need small bulbs, and small bulbs need small bases. North America and Europe chose sizes 2 mm apart, and unlike E26 and E27, that gap is too large for either bulb to work in the other's socket. This page shows how to tell them apart, when an adapter is a sensible fix and what to look for in an LED candle bulb.
What is the difference between E12 and E14?
An E12 base is 12 mm across and an E14 base 14 mm. E12, the candelabra base, is standard in North America on 120 V candle bulbs and night lights. E14, the small Edison screw, is standard in Europe on 230 V candle, golf-ball and appliance lamps. The 2 mm difference stops them interchanging.
Common lamp bases, drawn to the same scale
10 mm
An E14 bulb will not go into an E12 socket at all. An E12 bulb starts into an E14 socket, but its thread is too small to grip, so it wobbles and may not reach the center contact. Either way the fix is the right bulb or a listed adapter, never force. If the old bulb is unmarked, a ruler across the widest part of the thread settles it: about 12 mm for E12, 14 mm for E14.
Can you use an E14 bulb in an E12 socket?
Not directly: the E14 base is too large. Screw-in adapters convert E12 sockets to E14 and the reverse, but they add height and another joint that can loosen or overheat. Use one only if it is listed for the lamp's wattage, the bulb is rated for your voltage, and the shade still fits.
With LED candle bulbs the wattage is low, so heat is rarely the problem; the real risks are a bulb made for the wrong mains voltage and an adapter that works loose. Buying E12 bulbs for a North American fixture, or E14 bulbs for a European one, is almost always the better choice, and both are easy to find in LED.
E11, E12, E14 and E17: the small Edison family
Four small Edison screws are common. E11, the mini-candelabra, takes halogen accent lamps in North America. E12 takes candle bulbs. E14 is Europe's small base for candles, fridges and ovens. E17, the intermediate base, appears in North American appliances, ceiling fans and desk lamps. Measure the thread if the old bulb is unmarked.
| Base | Diameter | Name | Region | Typical lamps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E10 | 10 mm | Miniature (MES) | Worldwide | Flashlights, fairy lights, models |
| E11 | 11 mm | Mini-candelabra | North America | Halogen display and accent lamps |
| E12 | 12 mm | Candelabra | North America | Candle bulbs, chandeliers, night lights |
| E14 | 14 mm | Small Edison screw (SES) | Europe and 230 V countries | Candle, golf-ball, fridge, oven and cooker-hood lamps |
| E17 | 17 mm | Intermediate | North America | Appliance, ceiling-fan and desk lamps |
Oven lamps are a special case: they must survive around 300 °C, far more than LED electronics tolerate, so ovens keep heat-resistant incandescent or halogen appliance lamps. Fridge and cooker-hood lamps, on the other hand, are easy LED swaps.
Choosing LED candle bulbs
Match the base and voltage first, then the shape: B10 and B11 blunt candles, CA10 flame tips or clear filament candles for crystal chandeliers. Choose warm white, 2200–2700 K, for a candle-like glow, and if the fixture is on a dimmer, buy bulbs listed as dimmable on that dimmer, because many small bulbs share one circuit.
A chandelier with eight 40 W incandescent candles drew 320 W; eight LED candles may draw 30–40 W in total, which can fall below an old dimmer's minimum load and cause flicker or buzzing. A dimmer designed for LED loads, or one with an adjustable low end, fixes this (see dimming controls). Clear filament candles sparkle in crystal; frosted ones hide the LEDs in open shades. The shape codes are explained in the bulb shapes guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are E12 and E14 the same?
No. E12 is 12 mm and E14 is 14 mm across. An E14 bulb will not fit an E12 socket, and an E12 bulb is too loose in an E14 socket to make reliable contact.
Is a candelabra base E12?
Yes, in North America "candelabra base" means E12. The slightly smaller E11 is called mini-candelabra and is used mainly for halogen lamps.
What does SES mean on a bulb?
Small Edison screw, the UK name for E14. SBC, small bayonet cap, is the bayonet equivalent, B15d.
Can I use LED bulbs in an oven?
Usually not. Oven lamps must survive around 300 °C, well beyond what LED bulbs tolerate, so ovens use heat-resistant incandescent or halogen appliance lamps.
Why do my LED candle bulbs flicker on a dimmer?
Usually because the total LED load is below the dimmer's minimum, or the bulbs and dimmer are not compatible. Use a dimmer rated for LED loads and bulbs from its compatibility list.
Sources and further reading
- IEC 60061-1, Lamp caps and holders together with gauges for the control of interchangeability and safety: Lamp caps, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
- ANSI C81.61, Electrical Lamp Bases: Specifications for Bases (Caps) for Electric Lamps.
- ANSI C79.1, Nomenclature for Glass Bulbs Intended for Use with Electric Lamps (B, CA and other shape codes).
- IEC 60238, Edison screw lampholders.
- NEMA SSL 7A-2015, Phase-Cut Dimming for Solid State Lighting: Basic Compatibility.
Image credits
- Base chart: LEDlights.org.