Edison | ES | E27 Lampholders

The E27 Edison screw lampholder is the most widely used fitting in Europe and the standard choice for pendant lamps, lamp kits, and DIY lamp builds. It accepts all E27-cap bulbs, including filament, LED, and CFL types, and is available in a range of materials and fixing styles to suit almost any application.

What does E27 mean?

E27 refers to the Edison screw fitting with a 27mm thread diameter. The E stands for Edison, after the screw thread format Thomas Edison developed for early electric lamps. E27 is the larger of the two common Edison screw sizes used in the UK and Europe, with the smaller version being E14, often called SES or Small Edison Screw. E27 is also referred to as ES, medium screw, or standard screw, depending on the context.

What is an E27 lampholder used for?

E27 lampholders are used in pendant light fittings, lamp kits for bottles and ceramics, table lamps, floor lamps, and anywhere else an E27 bulb is required. They are available as pendant types with a cord grip and shade ring for hanging installations, and as batten or threaded base types for fixed applications. The E27 fitting is also the most common format for decorative filament bulbs, which makes it the go-to choice for lamp kit builds.

What materials are E27 lampholders available in?

E27 lampholders are available in brass, antique brass, chrome, white plastic, and black. Brass and antique brass suit vintage and industrial lamp builds, particularly when paired with braided flex. White plastic is the standard for most domestic pendant kits and is double-insulated for use with 2-core flex. Black lampholders work well in darker or minimalist schemes where the fitting itself is meant to be subtle.

Do I need a 2-core or 3-core flex with an E27 lampholder?

Plastic E27 lampholders are double-insulated and can be wired with 2-core flex. Metal E27 lampholders in brass, antique brass, or chrome require 3-core flex with an earth connection. If you are building a lamp kit from scratch, match your flex to your lampholder: 2-core for plastic and 3-core for metal. Mixing the two is not safe and not compliant with UK wiring standards.

Browse E27 lampholders in brass, antique brass, white, and black at LampSpares, all ready to pair with our pendant kits and braided flex.

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