Pods and round lights solve the same problem from two directions. Both are compact lights for the places a long bar will not fit: the ditch line beside the windshield, the corners of a bumper, a rack, the back of a truck, the deck of a boat. Pods are square, small and sold from 2 to 4 inches. Round lights are the classic headlamp shape in 5, 7 and 9 inches. This guide draws every size to scale, shows where each one mounts, explains the beam shapes and helps you pick. If you already know what you want, shop the LED pod lights or the R-Series round LED lights.
- Ditch lights, A-pillar and reverse lights: 2 inch pods, or a 3 inch for a little more width.
- Panel cutout, clean flush look: 2 inch flush mount pod.
- More output from a compact square: 4 inch pod.
- Fog and driving duty with SAE listing: 3 inch DTR Series pods.
- Classic round look on a bumper, grille or rack: 5 or 7 inch round, 9 inch when you have the room.
- Long reach over open ground: a light bar, sized with the light bar size guide.
The Black Oak 2 inch pod pair, the size most ditch and corner installs start with.
What sizes do pod lights and round lights come in?
Black Oak builds square pods in 2, 3 and 4 inch faces, plus a 2 inch flush mount that drops into a panel cutout. Round lights come in 5, 7 and 9 inches. The chart draws them all at one scale, using the dimensions on Black Oak's line drawings, so you can hold a tape measure against your mounting spot and see what fits.
All sizes at the same scale. Check overall size on the product page before you order, since bracket angle changes the height.
One detail people miss: the 9 inch round has an 8-1/2 inch lens inside a bezel that is 8-7/8 inches across, so budget for the larger number.
How do the specs compare?
Every number below comes from the Specs tab on each product page. Raw lumens are LED output before the optic, so compare them to each other, not to a measured beam.
| Light (per light) | Power | Raw lumens | Beam and rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2" pod, 40W | 40W, 2.8A | 3,120 | Spot 15° or flood 45°, IP69K |
| 2" pod, 20W | 20W, 1.7A | 2,200 | Spot 15° or flood 45°, IP69K |
| 2" flush mount | 40W, 2.8A | 3,120 | Flood 45° or diffused, IP69K |
| 3" DTR | 20W, 1.7A | 2,000 | Fog or driving, SAE J583 / J581, IP67 |
| 4" pod | 120W, 8.1A | 12,480 | Combo, IP69K |
| 5" round | 60W, 4.5A | 6,830 | Combo 45°, IP69K |
| 7" round | 120W, 10.5A | 12,240 | Combo 45°, IP69K |
| 9" round | 150W, 11.5A | 15,300 | Combo 45°, IP69K |
Round lights are sold as pairs and include a 12 foot harness. Voltage: pods 10 to 30V DC, round lights 12 to 24V DC. The round lights also carry a switchable amber or white halo ring.
Where do pod lights and round lights mount?
Most builds use two or three zones. Pods go where space is tight, and round lights go where there is a wide, flat bracket spot.
- Ditch and A-pillar. A pair of 2 inch pods at the base of the windshield lights the sides of the road and trail that a forward bar misses on turns.
- Roof or rack. A row of 2 to 4 inch pods on a cab rack or headache rack gives raised, even light for work and camp.
- Grille. Small pods or a flush mount fit grille openings and panel cutouts.
- Bumper corners and fog pockets. 2 inch pods, flush mounts and the 3 inch DTR pair fill the corners and fog openings.
- Bumper top or brush guard. 5 and 7 inch round lights sit in pairs on a flat bracket surface.
- Rear. 2 or 4 inch pods double as reverse and work lights.
Illustrated mounting zones on a generic pickup. Verify fitment on your vehicle. Not every zone suits every truck.
Pick by use
Vehicle-specific kits include brackets made for the hood hinge or pillar.
Corners and fog pockets take 2 inch pods, the flush mount or the 3 inch DTR. A flat bumper top or brush guard takes a round pair.
- 2 inch flush mount pod for panel cutouts
- 3 inch DTR Series SAE pair for fog and driving duty
- 5 inch round pair or 7 inch round pair on a flat bracket surface
- Fog duty overall: LED fog lights
On a rack, output matters more than width. The 4 inch pod lists 12,480 raw lumens, and a row of 2 inch pods lets you mix spot and flood.
- 4 inch pod pair, combo beam
- 9 inch round pair when you have a wide rack bracket
- Brackets and accessories: light bar and pod mounts
A flood or diffused 2 inch pod on the tailgate or rear bumper lights the hitch and ground behind you. The 2 inch scene light pod is made for lighting an area rather than throwing a beam.
- 2 inch scene light pod
- 4 inch pod for a larger work area
- Choosing a location: mounting locations guide
On a boat, pods light the deck, spreader and bow. The marine pods come in a white body, and the GoPOD line clamps or suctions on with no drilling.
Pods also come in hunting colors and infrared, handy for a blind or a stand.
What do spot, flood and combo beam shapes do?
A pod or round light is a point source, so its beam shape decides what it is good for. The 2 inch pod lists a 15 degree spot and a 45 degree flood. The 4 inch pod and all three round lights list a combo beam, which mixes a tight center with a wide edge so one light does both jobs.
Spot and flood angles are from the 2 inch pod spec sheet. Combo layers both. Beam shapes are illustrative only.
A simple rule: the farther you want to see, the tighter the beam. Ditch pods work close to the road edge, so flood or diffused fits. A bumper round or rack pod looks farther, so combo or spot earns its place. The combo beam guide goes deeper.
Should you choose a pod, a round light or a light bar?
| Question | Pod (2 to 4") | Round (5 to 9") |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Ditch line, corners, rack, rear | Bumper, grille, brush guard |
| Shape | Compact square | Round, with a switchable amber or white halo ring |
| Beam choices | Spot, flood, diffused or combo | Combo |
| Raw lumens per light | 2,000 to 12,480 | 6,830 to 15,300 |
| Sold | Single, pair or vehicle kit | Pair |
If distance is the goal, a bar usually wins, and the light bar size guide shows which length fits your mount. For the full pods versus bars breakdown, read LED pod lights vs. LED light bars. Shopping for a bar? Start at the LED light bars collection.
Pods fill the gaps. Round lights make a statement. Match the light to the mount, not the other way around.
What are they built to handle, and how do you wire them?
Black Oak pods and round lights are military grade and IP69K rated: sealed housings that shrug off dust, mud, salt spray and high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. The 2 inch pods add a military-grade breather that equalizes pressure so moisture does not build up inside. The 3 inch DTR pods list IP67 on their spec sheet.
Every pod and round light above ships with a wiring harness, and the spec sheets list the fuse size for each. For anything on a relay, use the relay wiring guide, and for a full harness walkthrough see how to wire a light bar. If you are comparing bigger picks, the buying guide to LED light pods and the flush mount pod overview cover individual models.
Pod and round light FAQ
What size pod light do I need for ditch lights?
Most ditch light and A-pillar installs use a pair of 2 inch pods, and vehicle kits such as the Tacoma ditch light pod kit are built around that size. If your bracket location has room for more width, step up to a 3 inch DTR or a 4 inch pod. Measure the mounting surface first and compare it to the overall sizes in the chart above.
Are round lights better than pod lights?
Neither is better overall. Round lights give you a larger lens, more output per light and a switchable amber or white halo ring, so they suit a bumper, brush guard or grille. Pods are smaller and fit places a 5 inch round cannot, such as the ditch line and bumper corners. The mount decides.
Does Black Oak make a 6 inch round light?
Not today. The R-Series round lights come in 5, 7 and 9 inch sizes. If you were looking for something between the two smaller sizes, the 5 inch fits tighter spots and the 7 inch gives more output. Browse the full round LED lights collection.
What is the difference between spot, flood and diffused?
Spot is a narrow beam for reach (15 degrees on the 2 inch pod). Flood is wide and close (45 degrees). Diffused is the widest, softest pattern, offered on the flush mount and some 2 inch pods, and it suits close work areas. The 4 inch pod and the round lights list a combo beam that mixes both. See the combo beam guide for more.
Can I run pods and a light bar together?
Yes. Many builds use a bar for distance and pods for the sides and corners. Wire them on their own fused circuits and size the fuse to each light's spec sheet. The pods vs light bars guide covers combining them, and the wiring guide walks through the harness.
Are the DTR pods street legal?
The 3 inch DTR Series lists SAE J583 fog and SAE J581 driving certification on its product page. Rules on color, height and how many lights you can run differ by state, so check yours before you wire them to the road.
How do I know a flush mount pod will fit my panel?
The 2 inch flush mount pod lists a cutout of about 3.225 inches wide by 3 inches high and 3 inches deep, with a 4-7/8 by 3-5/8 inch face plate. Check the panel and the space behind it before you cut.
What does IP69K mean for a light?
It is the top of the ingress protection scale: sealed against dust and against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets, which is why it matters for pressure washing, mud and salt spray. The 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9 inch lights here are IP69K rated. The 3 inch DTR lists IP67. More in the IP codes guide.
Shop pods and round lights by size
Black Oak 2 inch LED pod light pair, spot or flood2 inch pair
Black Oak 2 inch LED pod light, single, spot or flood2 inch single
Black Oak 2 inch flush mount LED pod lightFlush mount
Black Oak 2 inch marine LED pod light pairMarine, white body
Black Oak 3 inch DTR Series SAE pod lights, pair3 inch, fog and driving
Black Oak 4 inch LED pod light pair, combo beam4 inch pair
Black Oak 5 inch round LED light pair with amber and white halo5 inch round pair
Black Oak 7 inch round LED light pair with amber and white halo7 inch round pair
Black Oak 9 inch round LED light pair with amber and white halo9 inch round pair
Black Oak LED pod lights and round lights are designed and engineered in Sarasota, Florida.
