Does a compact fluorescent bulb fit a standard fixture?

Yes. They screw into a standard base. They last as long as 13 standard light bulbs and use about 20% of the electricity. These bulbs are amazing! Thanks to its electronic ballast, the brightest spiral bulb gives 150 watts of light and takes only 30 wts of electricity. All of the bulbs work safely even in fixtures that say maximum 40 watts or 60 watts of electricity. And since it doesn't use much electricity, the bulb doesn't get hot. In a three-way fixture, the spiral bulbs will light up on the middle click. The ballast at the base of the bulb is larger than the standard light bulb. Some fixtures may need a base extender to lift the base a little higher in the lamp. Another solution is to get a larger harp (the metal piece that holds up the lamp shade). Both are available at the local hardware store for around $2.00.