Next Level Performance
September 27, 2026 • 10 min read
When winter closes in on Tampa road-trippers heading north — or on any 2018-2020 Ford F-150 owner facing early sunsets, sleet, and salt-fogged glass — the factory halogen headlights are often the weakest link. Upgrading to a modern set of 2018-2020 Ford F-150 LED headlights puts a whiter, more focused beam on dark, snow-covered roads and makes your truck far easier to see in gray winter overcast. Below we compare five ANZO headlight assemblies for the 13th-generation F-150, from full-LED light-bar units to plank-style projector housings, with honest notes on winter performance, fitment, and price.
Our Verdict
The ANZO Full LED Light Bar headlights ($899.00) are the best all-round winter upgrade for the 2018-2020 F-150.
Built-in LED low and high beams give the cleanest daylight-white output and a bright switchback DRL, so you see farther on dark roads and stay visible in falling snow — no bulb swap required. On a tighter budget, the plank-style projector kits (from about $260) still add a sharp cutoff and an LED signature light.
Shop Our Top Pick →Why Upgrade Your F-150 Headlights Before Winter?
Better headlights are one of the highest-value winter safety upgrades for a Ford F-150. Winter combines the two conditions that expose weak lighting the most — long hours of darkness and low-contrast precipitation. A whiter, better-aimed beam cuts through it, and brighter daytime running lights make your truck easier for other drivers to pick out in a whiteout.
LED headlights typically produce light around 6000K, a crisp daylight-white that renders lane lines, ice patches, and snowbanks with more contrast than the roughly 3200K yellow glow of an aging halogen bulb. Genuine projector optics also create a sharp beam cutoff, which keeps light on the road instead of scattering it up into falling snow and back into your eyes. And because LEDs light instantly and do not lose output in the cold, there is no warm-up lag on a sub-freezing morning.
There is one honest trade-off worth stating up front: LED headlights run cool, so on a heavy snow night they will not melt lens build-up the way a hot halogen housing does. Plan to wipe the lenses when you clear your mirrors. For most F-150 owners the visibility gain far outweighs that minor chore — and a fresh, sealed housing also keeps out the moisture and road salt that cloud tired factory units.
ANZO full LED light-bar headlight for the 2018-2020 F-150 lit up.
How We Chose These 2018-2020 F-150 Headlights
At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, we build these roundups from the parts we actually stock and fit for customers. Every headlight below is an in-stock ANZO assembly that is a direct fit for the 2018-2020 Ford F-150, carries a full set of product photos, and ships with a limited manufacturer warranty. We ranked them on the metrics that matter for winter driving: beam source (full LED versus a projector that uses your factory bulb), daytime running light and signal design, housing finish, and price.
A quick but important distinction runs through the whole list. Full-LED assemblies (part numbers anz111521 and anz111520) have the LED low and high beams built in — you install the housing and you are done. Plank-style projector housings (anz111509, anz111467, and anz111399) replace the factory housing with a projector lens and an LED "plank" DRL, but the low and high beam still come from your truck’s original bulb type; upgrading to a quality LED or HID bulb unlocks their full output. Knowing which one you are buying is the single biggest decision here.
The 5 Best 2018-2020 Ford F-150 LED Headlights for Winter
1. ANZO Full LED Light Bar (Chrome) — Top Pick
2. ANZO Full LED Smoke Bar (Black)
ANZO full LED smoke-bar headlight signature DRL for the F-150.
3. ANZO Plank-Style Projector, Switchback (Black)
4. ANZO Plank-Style Projector, No Switchback (Black)
5. ANZO Plank-Style Projector, Switchback (Chrome) — Best Value
2018-2020 F-150 Headlight Comparison at a Glance
Here is how the five ANZO headlight assemblies stack up on the attributes that decide most winter purchases. Full-LED units win on out-of-the-box brightness; projector kits win on price and let you tune output with your choice of bulb.
| Kit | Beam Source | Signature Lighting | Finish | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANZO Full LED Light Bar Headlights (Chrome/Amber)Top Pick | Full LED (built-in) | LED C-bar DRL + switchback signal | Chrome / amber | $899.00 |
| ANZO Full LED Smoke Bar Headlights (Black) | Full LED (built-in) | LED bar DRL + switchback signal | Black / smoke | $899.00 |
| ANZO Plank-Style Projector Headlights, Switchback (Black) | Projector (uses factory bulb) | LED plank DRL + switchback signal | Black | $641.23 |
| ANZO Plank-Style Projector Headlights (Black, No Switchback) | Projector (uses factory bulb) | LED plank DRL (static amber signal) | Black | $586.31 |
| ANZO Plank-Style Projector Headlights, Switchback (Chrome) | Projector (uses factory bulb) | LED plank DRL + switchback signal | Chrome | $260.55 |
Key Specs: Our Top Winter Pick
ANZO Full LED Light Bar — Key Specifications
ANZO plank-style switchback projector headlight for the 2018-2020 F-150.
Full-LED vs Plank-Style Projector: Which Is Right for Winter?
If maximum, plug-and-play winter brightness is the goal, choose a full-LED assembly. The integrated optics give you the whitest, most consistent beam with zero bulb shopping, which is why the full-LED light-bar and smoke-bar units are our winter picks. If you want to spend less, like the idea of tuning your own beam with a specific LED bulb, or simply want to refresh cloudy factory housings, a plank-style projector kit delivers a sharp cutoff and a modern LED DRL for far less money.
Choose Full LED If…
- + You want the brightest beam with no extra bulb purchase
- + You drive a lot at night or in heavy winter weather
- + You want the strongest LED signature DRL
Choose a Projector Kit If…
- – Budget is the priority (from about $260)
- – You are happy to add an LED bulb for full output
- – You mainly want to refresh faded factory housings
Installation & Fitment Notes for the 2018-2020 F-150
These headlights are a direct-fit replacement, and most F-150 owners can install a pair in the driveway in about 60 to 90 minutes with basic hand tools. Remove the front bumper cover fasteners and grille as needed, unbolt the factory headlight (typically three bolts per side), unplug the harness, and reverse the process. A few honest notes will save you a headache in the cold:
- Confirm your factory headlight type. These housings are designed to replace factory halogen reflector headlights. Trucks that left the factory with OEM LED headlights (common on Platinum and Limited trims) may need additional wiring or adapters — check your original units before ordering.
- Verify the model year. The full-LED and black switchback projector units are listed for 2018-2020; the no-switchback black kit and the chrome value kit are listed for 2018-2019. When in doubt, send us your VIN.
- Re-aim after installation. Always adjust headlight aim on a level surface after fitting new housings — correct aim is what keeps your light on the road and out of oncoming drivers’ eyes, and it matters most on dark winter routes.
- Plan for lens clearing. Cool-running LED lenses can hold snow and ice; give them a quick wipe when you clear the windshield on heavy days.
Need help matching a set to your truck or picking the right LED bulb for a projector kit? Browse the full lighting collection or reach out to our Tampa team — we fit these on customer F-150s regularly.
ANZO chrome plank-style projector headlight, value pick for the F-150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are LED headlights better for winter driving on a Ford F-150?
Yes. LED headlights produce a whiter, roughly 6000K daylight-colored beam that renders snow, ice, and lane markings with more contrast than aging halogen bulbs, and projector optics keep that light focused on the road instead of scattering into falling snow. LEDs also light instantly with no cold-weather warm-up and add a bright daytime running light that improves how easily other drivers see you in gray winter conditions.
Do these ANZO headlights fit a 2020 Ford F-150?
The full-LED light-bar and smoke-bar assemblies (anz111521 and anz111520) and the black switchback projector housing (anz111509) are listed for the 2018-2020 F-150. The no-switchback black kit (anz111467) and the chrome value kit (anz111399) are listed for the 2018-2019 F-150. Always confirm whether your truck came with factory halogen or LED headlights before ordering.
What is the difference between full-LED and plank-style projector headlights?
Full-LED assemblies have the low and high beams built in from LED optics, so they are the brightest option and need no separate bulbs. Plank-style projector housings use a projector lens fed by your truck’s factory bulb, plus an LED "plank" daytime running light; they cost less and let you choose your own LED bulb, but they are not as bright out of the box as a full-LED unit.
Will LED headlights collect snow and ice in winter?
They can, and it is the one real trade-off. Because LEDs run cool, they do not generate the heat that melts snow and ice off a halogen lens, so build-up can accumulate on the housing during heavy snow. The fix is simple: wipe the lenses when you clear your mirrors and windshield. The visibility gain from a whiter, brighter beam still outweighs the occasional wipe for most drivers.
How much do 2018-2020 F-150 LED headlights cost?
At NLP Performance, ANZO headlights for the 2018-2020 F-150 range from about $260 for the plank-style projector value kit on clearance to $899 for the full-LED light-bar and smoke-bar assemblies. The black switchback projector housing sits in the middle around $640.
Do I need to aim aftermarket headlights after installing them?
Yes. Aim should always be checked and adjusted on a level surface after installing any new headlight housing. Proper aim keeps the beam on the road for maximum forward visibility on dark winter routes and prevents glare toward oncoming traffic. It takes only a few minutes and makes a noticeable difference in real-world lighting.
See Farther This Winter
Shop ANZO LED and projector headlights for the 2018-2020 Ford F-150 — plus thousands more lighting and winter parts at NLP Performance.
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