G4 vs G9 LED Bulbs for Wall Sconces: What's the Difference?

Birch wood wall lamp with warm LED glow

Look at the specs of a small wall sconce and you will often see G4 or G9. Both are compact LED bulb fittings — here is what sets them apart and why it matters.

What the letters and numbers mean

The G means the bulb has two prongs (a bi-pin base), and the number is the gap between the pins in millimetres: 4 mm for G4, 9 mm for G9. They are not interchangeable — the fitting on the sconce determines which bulb you use.

G4

G4 is the smaller, lower-profile fitting, traditionally a low-voltage type. In our range it appears on compact and value models where a tidy, small bulb suits the design. It is a great fit when you want a discreet light.

G9

G9 is slightly larger and mains-voltage in most modern LED versions, which keeps installation simple. It is the fitting on many of our standard sconces.

What it means for you

Practically, the most useful thing to know is which fitting your sconce uses, so you can buy the right replacement LED later. Every SOKO sconce lists its lamp holder in the key details on the product page, and ships with the correct LED bulb included, so you are ready to go out of the box. We recommend warm-white LEDs (around 2700–3000K) to get that soft glow through the wood.

See the lamp holder noted on each design across the full collection.