Globe Types Explained: E14, E27, G4, G9 and B15d for Chandeliers

TL;DR: Most chandeliers sold in Australia use one of five globe or base fittings: E14 (small screw, common on candle-style crystal chandeliers), E27 (standard screw, used on larger single-globe fixtures), G4 or G9 (small two-pin fittings on low-voltage halogen-era chandeliers), or B15d (small bayonet, common on older or imported fixtures). Many modern LED chandeliers have no replaceable globe at all - the LED module is integrated and the whole light head is rated for tens of thousands of hours. Checking the fitting before buying replacement globes avoids the most common return reason: a globe that physically doesn't fit the socket.

What Globe Type Does Your Chandelier Actually Need?

Chandelier globes aren't universal, and the fitting on the box doesn't always match what's already screwed or clipped into the fixture. Getting it wrong means a trip back to the shop, or worse, forcing a globe into a socket it wasn't designed for. This guide walks through the five fittings you'll actually encounter on chandeliers sold in Australia, how to identify which one you have, and when a chandelier doesn't take a replaceable globe at all.

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Why Globe Type Matters

The number stamped near the socket (E14, E27, G9 and so on) refers to the physical fitting - diameter for screw types, pin spacing for plug types - not the brightness or colour of the globe. A chandelier with six E14 sockets needs six E14 globes; putting an E27 globe in an E14 socket isn't possible, and the reverse is a common online-order mistake when a listing doesn't specify fitting clearly. Always check the fitting stamped on the existing globe or in the fixture's spec sheet before ordering replacements.

E14 - The Small Screw (Candle) Fitting

E14 is the most common fitting on candle-style crystal and K9 chandeliers sold in Australia. The "E" stands for Edison screw and the "14" is the diameter in millimetres at the base. It's sized for the slim, candle-shaped globes that suit multi-arm chandeliers where several small points of light matter more than one bright source.

What It's Used For

Multi-arm crystal chandeliers, candelabra-style fixtures, and most 3-to-12-light fittings with individual candle covers. Typical wattage for LED E14 candle globes sold in Australia sits between 3W and 6W per globe, which is more than enough output once you multiply it across six or more arms.

E27 - The Standard Screw Fitting

E27 is the same fitting used in most household pendant lights and downlights - a 27mm screw base. On chandeliers, it typically appears on larger single or dual-globe statement pieces, sputnik-style fixtures with exposed globes, and geometric or industrial-style chandeliers where the globe itself is part of the visual design.

What It's Used For

Sputnik and geometric chandeliers, industrial-style fittings, and any chandelier where the globe is visible rather than covered by a shade. Because the globe is exposed, colour temperature (warm white 2700-3000K versus cool white 4000K+) matters more here than on covered candle-style fixtures.

G4 and G9 - Low-Voltage Pin Fittings

G4 and G9 are two-pin push fittings rather than screw types - the globe clips straight into the socket. These were the standard fitting for halogen chandeliers through the 2000s and early 2010s, and plenty of that generation of fixture is still in Australian homes today. G4 runs on 12V and typically needs a transformer built into the fixture's canopy; G9 runs on standard 240V mains and doesn't need a transformer. LED replacements are available for both, but they must match the pin spacing exactly - G4 and G9 are not interchangeable despite looking similar at a glance.

Identifying G4 vs G9

G4 pins sit 4mm apart and the globe body is noticeably smaller; G9 pins sit 9mm apart with a slightly larger, squared-off globe body. If your chandelier is from the halogen era and has a small transformer box visible in the canopy or ceiling rose, it's almost certainly G4.

B15d - The Small Bayonet Fitting

B15d is a small bayonet fitting - the globe pushes in and twists to lock, rather than screwing in. It's less common on new chandeliers sold in Australia today but still turns up on older fixtures and some imported candelabra-style chandeliers. The "d" denotes a double-contact bayonet, which some dimmable globes require for correct operation.

Integrated LED Chandeliers - No Globe to Replace

A growing share of chandeliers sold in Australia - particularly modern geometric, ring, and linear designs - use integrated LED modules rather than replaceable globes. The light source is built into the fixture itself, typically rated for 25,000 to 50,000 hours of use, which at average household use works out to well over a decade before the whole light head (not just a globe) needs replacing. These fixtures often include dimming and colour-temperature adjustment via a wall dimmer or remote, but there's no globe to unscrew - if it stops working, the fixture itself is serviced or replaced rather than re-globed.

Globe Type Comparison at a Glance

  • E14 - Small screw, ~14mm base, candle-style chandeliers, 3-6W LED typical
  • E27 - Standard screw, ~27mm base, exposed-globe and sputnik-style chandeliers
  • G4 - Two-pin push, 4mm spacing, 12V, needs a transformer, halogen-era chandeliers
  • G9 - Two-pin push, 9mm spacing, 240V mains, no transformer needed
  • B15d - Small bayonet (push and twist), older and some imported candelabra fixtures
  • Integrated LED - No replaceable globe; module rated 25,000-50,000 hours

If you're shopping for a new chandelier rather than a replacement globe, browse the Chandeliers collection to compare fitting types across candle-style, sputnik, and integrated LED designs before you decide. For fixtures with dimmable integrated LEDs, it's also worth checking dimmer and globe compatibility before installation, since the same E27/E14 compatibility rules apply across both fan lights and chandeliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what globe fitting my chandelier uses?

Check the base of the existing globe for a stamped code (E14, E27, G9 etc.), or check the fixture's original spec sheet or product listing if the globes have been removed.

Can I replace a G4 globe with a G9 globe?

No. G4 runs on 12V through a transformer and has 4mm pin spacing; G9 runs on 240V mains with 9mm pin spacing. They are not interchangeable even though both are small pin-style fittings.

Do integrated LED chandeliers ever need globes replaced?

No - the LED module is built into the fixture and isn't designed to be swapped like a standalone globe. If an integrated LED chandelier fails, the fixture itself is serviced or replaced.

Why won't my new globe screw into my chandelier?

The fitting sizes don't match - most commonly an E27 globe being forced toward an E14 socket, or vice versa. Confirm the fitting code before ordering rather than assuming by globe size alone.

Are E14 and E27 globes interchangeable with an adapter?

E14-to-E27 adapters exist, but they change the globe's physical size and weight distribution in the socket, which isn't recommended for multi-arm chandeliers where fit and balance matter. It's simpler to buy the correct fitting outright.

Getting the fitting right the first time saves a return trip and gets your chandelier lit correctly from day one. Installation and wiring should always be handled by a licensed electrician in line with AS/NZS 3000.

Written by William Walker. Published 13 July 2026.

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