How much does it cost to run an incandescent bulb?
An incandescent bulb drawing 60 watts, used 5 hours a day, uses about 0.30 kWh per day and costs about $0.06 per day, $1.77 per month, and $21.25 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
A 60-watt incandescent bulb produces about the same light as a 9-watt LED while using roughly six times the power, with most of the difference lost as heat. Multiply across every fixture in a house and the difference becomes significant.
Cost at different daily usage
Same incandescent bulb at 60 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 h/day | 0.15 kWh | $0.03 | $0.89 | $10.63 |
| 5 h/day | 0.30 kWh | $0.06 | $1.77 | $21.25 |
| 7.5 h/day | 0.45 kWh | $0.09 | $2.66 | $31.88 |
| 10 h/day | 0.60 kWh | $0.12 | $3.55 | $42.51 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 5 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 40 W | 0.20 kWh | $0.04 | $1.18 |
| Typical | 60 W | 0.30 kWh | $0.06 | $1.77 |
| High-draw model | 100 W | 0.50 kWh | $0.10 | $2.95 |
Cost by state
An incandescent bulb at 60 W for 5 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.05 | $1.53 | $18.36 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.08 | $2.58 | $30.91 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.05 | $1.39 | $16.68 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.04 | $1.31 | $15.72 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.10 | $3.04 | $36.41 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.05 | $1.48 | $17.70 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.08 | $2.50 | $29.97 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.06 | $1.77 | $21.22 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.08 | $2.32 | $27.81 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.05 | $1.39 | $16.61 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.05 | $1.45 | $17.34 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.16 | $4.75 | $56.94 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.04 | $1.13 | $13.52 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.07 | $2.18 | $26.12 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.05 | $1.66 | $19.87 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.04 | $1.29 | $15.48 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.05 | $1.38 | $16.57 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.04 | $1.37 | $16.40 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.04 | $1.29 | $15.49 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.09 | $2.61 | $31.35 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.07 | $1.99 | $23.84 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.09 | $2.63 | $31.56 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.07 | $2.01 | $24.10 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.05 | $1.55 | $18.56 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.05 | $1.48 | $17.70 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.04 | $1.25 | $14.98 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.04 | $1.34 | $16.06 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.04 | $1.24 | $14.88 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.04 | $1.24 | $14.89 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.08 | $2.50 | $29.93 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.07 | $2.13 | $25.48 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.04 | $1.29 | $15.46 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.09 | $2.73 | $32.77 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.05 | $1.38 | $16.52 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.04 | $1.24 | $14.90 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.06 | $1.78 | $21.37 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.04 | $1.22 | $14.65 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.05 | $1.49 | $17.82 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.06 | $1.97 | $23.60 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.09 | $2.69 | $32.26 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.05 | $1.48 | $17.72 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.05 | $1.44 | $17.22 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.04 | $1.32 | $15.84 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.05 | $1.50 | $18.00 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.04 | $1.18 | $14.19 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.07 | $2.27 | $27.25 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.05 | $1.61 | $19.28 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.04 | $1.37 | $16.37 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.05 | $1.53 | $18.40 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.06 | $1.80 | $21.62 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.04 | $1.35 | $16.21 |
How to cut the cost
- Replace with LEDs — this is one of the few upgrades that pays back quickly and requires no behavior change.
- Prioritize the bulbs that run longest, not the ones that are easiest to reach.
- Don't discard working incandescents en masse; replace as they fail if budget is tight, starting with high-use fixtures.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
How much more does an incandescent bulb cost than an LED?
Roughly six times as much to run for equivalent light output. Compare the two tables on this site's LED bulb page for the exact difference at your rate.
How do you calculate what an incandescent bulb costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For an incandescent bulb: 60 W × 5 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.30 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.06 per day.
How many watts does an incandescent bulb use?
Typically 60 watts, with most models falling between 40 and 100 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.