How much does it cost to run an LED bulb?
An LED bulb drawing 9 watts, used 5 hours a day, uses about 0.04 kWh per day and costs about <$0.01 per day, $0.27 per month, and $3.19 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 9-watt LED produces light equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent. Running cost is so low that lighting has shifted from a meaningful share of household electricity to a minor one in homes that have converted.
Cost at different daily usage
Same LED bulb at 9 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 h/day | 0.02 kWh | <$0.01 | $0.13 | $1.59 |
| 5 h/day | 0.04 kWh | <$0.01 | $0.27 | $3.19 |
| 7.5 h/day | 0.07 kWh | $0.01 | $0.40 | $4.78 |
| 10 h/day | 0.09 kWh | $0.02 | $0.53 | $6.38 |
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 | 5 W | 0.03 kWh | <$0.01 | $0.15 |
| Typical | 9 W | 0.04 kWh | <$0.01 | $0.27 |
| High-draw model | 15 W | 0.07 kWh | $0.01 | $0.44 |
Cost by state
An LED bulb at 9 W for 5 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | <$0.01 | $0.23 | $2.75 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.01 | $0.39 | $4.64 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | <$0.01 | $0.21 | $2.50 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | <$0.01 | $0.20 | $2.36 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.01 | $0.46 | $5.46 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | <$0.01 | $0.22 | $2.65 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.37 | $4.50 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | <$0.01 | $0.27 | $3.18 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.01 | $0.35 | $4.17 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | <$0.01 | $0.21 | $2.49 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | <$0.01 | $0.22 | $2.60 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.02 | $0.71 | $8.54 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | <$0.01 | $0.17 | $2.03 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.01 | $0.33 | $3.92 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | <$0.01 | $0.25 | $2.98 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | <$0.01 | $0.19 | $2.32 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | <$0.01 | $0.21 | $2.49 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | <$0.01 | $0.21 | $2.46 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | <$0.01 | $0.19 | $2.32 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.01 | $0.39 | $4.70 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | <$0.01 | $0.30 | $3.58 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.01 | $0.39 | $4.73 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | <$0.01 | $0.30 | $3.62 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | <$0.01 | $0.23 | $2.78 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | <$0.01 | $0.22 | $2.65 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | <$0.01 | $0.19 | $2.25 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | <$0.01 | $0.20 | $2.41 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | <$0.01 | $0.19 | $2.23 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | <$0.01 | $0.19 | $2.23 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.01 | $0.37 | $4.49 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.01 | $0.32 | $3.82 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | <$0.01 | $0.19 | $2.32 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.01 | $0.41 | $4.92 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | <$0.01 | $0.21 | $2.48 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | <$0.01 | $0.19 | $2.24 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | <$0.01 | $0.27 | $3.21 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | <$0.01 | $0.18 | $2.20 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | <$0.01 | $0.22 | $2.67 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | <$0.01 | $0.30 | $3.54 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.01 | $0.40 | $4.84 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | <$0.01 | $0.22 | $2.66 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | <$0.01 | $0.22 | $2.58 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | <$0.01 | $0.20 | $2.38 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | <$0.01 | $0.23 | $2.70 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | <$0.01 | $0.18 | $2.13 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.01 | $0.34 | $4.09 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | <$0.01 | $0.24 | $2.89 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | <$0.01 | $0.20 | $2.46 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | <$0.01 | $0.23 | $2.76 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | <$0.01 | $0.27 | $3.24 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | <$0.01 | $0.20 | $2.43 |
How to cut the cost
- Convert remaining incandescent and halogen fixtures, prioritizing the ones used most.
- Choose the right color temperature so you're not tempted to add extra lamps.
- Use dimmers rated for LEDs to avoid flicker and premature failure.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Do LED bulbs really save money?
Yes. For the same light output they use roughly a sixth of the power of an incandescent, and they last far longer, which saves on replacements too.
How do you calculate what an LED 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 LED bulb: 9 W × 5 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.04 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is <$0.01 per day.
How many watts does an LED bulb use?
Typically 9 watts, with most models falling between 5 and 15 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.