Quick Scenario
Living room
4×60W, 5h/day
Kitchen
6×65W, 4h/day
Exterior flood
2×150W, 10h/day
Garage / shop
4×100W, 6h/day
Warehouse high bay
20×400W, 10h/day
LED strip (5m)
1×25W, 6h/day
Holiday lights
2×40W, 6h/day
Custom
Enter your own
Fixture
Electricity rate
Low (10¢)
US avg (16¢)
High (22¢)
Very high (34¢)
Enter rate in cents per kWh. Check your electricity bill.
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per day
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per month
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per year
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5 years
Rate (¢/kWh):
Add all your fixture groups and rank by cost.
10¢
16¢
22¢
34¢
Fixture name
Watts
Qty
Hrs/day
Annual $
Total annual lighting cost
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Monthly average
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Total kWh per year
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💡 Fixtures ranked by annual cost (highest first)
Compare your current lighting against a proposed upgrade — LED retrofit, more efficient fixtures, or reduced hours.
🟠 Current setup
🟢 Proposed upgrade
Electricity rate
Low (10¢)
US avg (16¢)
High (22¢)
Very high (34¢)
You save every year
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Daily cost
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Monthly cost
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Annual cost
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5-year cost
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Energy reduction
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run a light bulb?
Cost = Watts ÷ 1,000 × Hours × Rate. A 60W bulb at 5 hours/day at 16¢/kWh costs 60 ÷ 1000 × 5 × 0.16 = 4.8¢/day, or about $1.45/month and $17.52/year. A whole kitchen with six 65W can lights running 4 hours/day costs over $145/year.
How much do lights cost to run all day?
Running a 60W bulb 24 hours/day at the US average of 16¢/kWh costs $0.23/day or $84/year. A 400W warehouse high bay run 24/7 costs $560/year per fixture. Always-on lighting benefits significantly from motion sensors or timers.
What is the average US residential electricity rate?
As of 2024–2025, the US average residential electricity rate is approximately 15–17¢/kWh. Louisiana and Oklahoma average around 10¢; California, Connecticut, and Hawaii average 30–40¢/kWh. Your exact rate appears on your electricity bill, usually labeled “energy charge” or “rate” in cents per kWh.
How do I reduce my lighting electricity cost?
The biggest levers are: switch to LED (saves 75–90% of lighting energy), reduce hours via motion sensors or timers (occupancy sensors for garages and bathrooms can cut runtime 40–60%), and use dimmers (running lights at 70% roughly saves 20–30% energy). For commercial spaces, upgrading to T8/T5 fluorescent or LED troffer panels is typically the highest-ROI project.
How much does it cost to run Christmas / holiday lights?
Traditional incandescent Christmas light strings (50–100W per strand) running 6 hours per day for 30 days costs roughly $1.50–3.00 per strand. LED Christmas lights use 70–80% less power — a comparable LED strand might cost only 30–60¢ for the season. For large outdoor displays, the difference adds up quickly.
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