The GMC Sierra 1500 is the premium counterpart to the Chevy Silverado — same platform, same spacious engine bay, same frustrating factory halogen headlights on base trims. Dim, yellowish, and not nearly enough light when you're towing at night or driving on dark rural roads.
The good news: upgrading to LED is one of the easiest mods you can do. But the Sierra has gone through three distinct halogen setups across 2014–2024, plus an HID-only span in 2016–2018 for upper trims. Find your configuration below to see exactly what fits.
Contents
Configuration A — 2014–2015 Sierra 1500 (All Halogen Trims)
Who this fits: Base, SLE, SLT, Denali (every 2014–2015 Sierra shipped with halogen)
Identifier: Uses a single 9012 (HIR2) dual-beam bulb that handles both low and high beam — one pair of bulbs covers your entire headlight upgrade. Different from most trucks that use separate H11/9005 bulbs.
| Position | Bulb Size |
|---|---|
| Low + High Beam | 9012 (HIR2) — single dual-beam bulb |
| Fog Light | 5202 (PS24W) — special order |
Fog lights use 5202 (PS24W) — we don't keep this size in standard stock. Contact us with your Year/Make/Model/Trim for pricing and lead time.
Complete Upgrade
Driveon V7S — 9012
Low + High beam (dual-beam)
1 pair · 50W · 10,000LM · 6000K · Free US Shipping
$64.99
Driveon V4S — 9012
Low + High beam (dual-beam)
1 pair · 23W · 5,000LM · 6000K · Fanless · Free US Shipping
$32.89
Configuration B — 2016–2018 Sierra 1500 (Base / SLE Halogen)
Who this fits: Base, SLE
Identifier: K2XX facelift. SLT and Denali switched to factory HID (D5S) projector headlights — those are NOT covered by this guide (Driveon doesn't carry D5S). If your truck has the round halogen reflector, you're in this config.
| Position | Bulb Size |
|---|---|
| Low Beam | H11 |
| High Beam | 9005 (HB3) |
| Fog Light | 5202 (PS24W) — special order |
Fog lights use 5202 (PS24W) — special order only. Contact us for pricing.
Complete Upgrade
Driveon V7S — H11 + 9005
Low beam · High beam
2 pairs · 50W · 10,000LM · 6000K · Free US Shipping
$129.98
Driveon V4S — H11 + 9005
Low beam · High beam
2 pairs · 23W · 5,000LM · 6000K · Fanless · Free US Shipping
$65.78
Configuration C — 2019–2024 Sierra 1500 (Pro / SLE / Elevation Halogen)
Who this fits: Pro, SLE, Elevation (without factory LED package)
Identifier: Halogen reflector headlights with LED DRL accents. SLT, AT4, and Denali are factory LED (sealed units — not replaceable). 2022+ SLE/Elevation projector housings may use a single 9012 dual-beam instead of separate H11/9005 — verify your housing type before ordering if it's 2022 or newer.
| Position | Bulb Size |
|---|---|
| Low Beam | H11 (2019–2021) — verify for 2022+) |
| High Beam | 9005 (HB3) |
| Fog Light | H16 / 5202 on some configs — verify |
Fog light configuration varies. If your 2022+ truck has projector housings with a single bulb behind each lens, it uses 9012 dual-beam instead — see Configuration A bundle. Contact us if you're unsure.
Note: 2019+ Sierra 1500 (T1 platform) has stricter CANBUS monitoring. We recommend Summit only — its built-in decoder prevents flickering and "bulb out" warnings.
Complete Upgrade
Driveon V7S — H11 + 9005
Low beam · High beam
2 pairs · 50W · 10,000LM · 6000K · Free US Shipping
$129.98
Summit vs Coast — Which Series Should You Pick?
| Summit (Premium) | Coast (Value) | |
|---|---|---|
| Lumens | 10,000LM/pair | 5,000LM/pair |
| Power | 50W/bulb | 23W/bulb |
| Cooling | 12,000 RPM fan + heat pipes | Fanless (copper PCB) |
| CANBUS | Built-in decoder | No built-in decoder |
| Noise | Silent fan | Zero (no fan) |
| Body | 71mm × 24.3mm | 63mm × 30mm (1:1 halogen) |
| Best for | Towing, off-road, dark rural roads | Daily driver, city, budget-friendly |
Our recommendation for Sierra: For 2019+ T1 platform (2019–2024), pick Summit only — its built-in CANBUS decoder prevents flickering on GM's stricter monitoring system. For 2014–2018 Sierra (K2), either works — Summit for max brightness and towing, Coast for a clean daily-driver upgrade.
How to Install LED Headlights on a GMC Sierra 1500
No mechanic needed. No tools required. The Sierra has a wide-open engine bay — this is one of the easiest LED swaps you'll do.
1. Pop the hood and locate the headlight housing. The back of the headlight assembly is clearly visible on both sides. No need to remove the battery or air intake.
2. Remove the dust cap. Twist the round dust cap counterclockwise and pull it off to expose the bulb.
3. Remove the old halogen bulb. Twist the bulb socket counterclockwise (about a quarter turn) and pull it straight out. Disconnect the electrical connector.
4. Install the LED bulb. Plug the Driveon LED bulb into the connector. Insert it into the housing and twist clockwise to lock it in. Position the LED chips at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock (horizontal) for the correct beam pattern.
5. Test before closing up. Turn on your headlights. Aim at a wall or garage door — you should see a sharp, flat cutoff line on low beam with no glare above it.
6. Repeat for the other side.
Total time: 15–20 minutes for both sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will LED headlights throw error codes on my Sierra?
For 2014–2018 Sierra (K2 platform), either Summit or Coast works fine — GM's older trucks are LED-friendly. For 2019+ T1 platform (2019–2024), CANBUS monitoring is stricter and we recommend Summit only — its built-in decoder prevents flickering and "bulb out" warnings.
I have a 2016–2018 Sierra — can I upgrade to LED?
It depends on your trim. Base and SLE came with halogen H11/9005 headlights and can be upgraded with the Configuration B bundle above. SLT and Denali came with factory HID (D5S xenon) projectors — Driveon does not carry D5S, and HID replacement requires a different kit (not a simple bulb swap). This guide covers the halogen Sierra trims.
My 2023+ has H9 high beams — can I really use H11 LED bulbs?
Yes. H9 and H11 share the same physical socket and base. Our Summit and Coast H11 LED bulbs are also labeled H9-compatible — the only meaningful difference between the two is wattage (H9 is rated at 65W, H11 at 55W), and our LED draws far less than either. You just need two pairs of H11 to cover both low beam and high beam positions.
Which 2019–2024 trims have halogen vs factory LED?
Halogen (upgradeable with this guide): Pro, SLE, Elevation. Factory LED (not replaceable): SLT, AT4, Denali.
Are LED headlights legal on the Sierra?
Yes. LED replacement bulbs are legal for on-road use as long as they produce a proper beam pattern with a sharp cutoff line. Both the Summit and Coast replicate the factory halogen beam pattern.
How long do LED headlights last?
Both the Coast and Summit are rated for 50,000+ hours. At 2 hours of driving per day, that's over 68 years. You'll sell the truck long before the bulbs die.
What color temperature are the LEDs?
Both series are 6000K — a crisp, cool white that matches the look of modern factory LED headlights. A huge upgrade from the yellowish 3000K halogen.
Not sure which bulb fits your vehicle? Contact us with your Year, Make, Model, and Trim — we'll confirm for free.