LEDs (Light-emitting diodes) are the most energy-efficient and advanced lighting technology on the market today. Not only do they require much less electricity to run than incandescent bulbs, but they also can last up to 50x longer. As a result, the cost of running an individual lightbulb is quite low.
That being said, you'll need more than one lightbulb to light your home, and altogether those lightbulbs can start to rack up some costs. On average, lighting accounts for roughly 10% of a household's annual energy consumption. So how much exactly does it cost to light your home? Check out our LED cost calculator below to get an estimate.
Energy language can be confusing. Below, we break down what you need to know to use our calculator.
Watts measure the rate at which electricity moves through an appliance. When it comes to LEDs, more watts means more electricity which typically means larger bulbs and brighter lights.
To calculate watts for a LED light, you'll want to multiply the current (measured in amps) by the voltage (measured in volts). The best way to get an accurate read on amps and volts is to look at the packaging of your lightbulb. From there, you can calculate kilowatts by multiplying amps and volts and dividing by 1000.
Kilowatts = (Amps x Volts) / 1000
Another important light term to know is Lumens. Lumens measure the brightness of a light. More lumens means brighter lights. Typically, more lumens also mean more watts, though lumens and watts technically have no direct relationship. So while it might be useful to know the lumens of your LED in order to get a sense of how bright it will be in comparison to other bulbs, you don't need to measure lumens in order to calculate the power it takes to run your bulb.
According to US Energy Information Administration, the average cost of electricity in the U.S. is 13 cents/kWh. However, this number can vary depending on your electricity supplier. Today, people in some states have the power to shop for their electricity and find cheaper rates.
Brightness (in Lumens) | Watts | Cost / hr* | Avg. Cost / month* |
---|---|---|---|
400 – 500 | 6 – 7W | 0.085¢ | $0.20 |
650 – 850 | 7 – 10W | 0.115¢ | $0.26 |
1000 – 1400 | 12 – 13W | 0.16¢ | $0.39 |
1450 - 1700+ | 14 – 20W | 0.22¢ | $0.53 |
2700+ | 25 – 28W | 0.34¢ | $0.82 |
Brightness (in Lumens) | Watts | Cost / hr* | Avg. Cost / month* |
---|---|---|---|
400 – 500 | 8 – 12W | 0.13¢ | $0.31 |
650 – 850 | 13 – 18W | 0.2¢ | $0.48 |
1000 – 1400 | 18 – 22W | 0.26¢ | $0.6 |
1450 - 1700+ | 23 – 30W | 0.34¢ | $0.82 |
2700+ | 30 – 55W | 0.55¢ | $1.33 |
Brightness (in Lumens) | Watts | Cost / hr* | Avg. Cost / month* |
---|---|---|---|
400 – 500 | 40W | 0.5¢ | $1.25 |
650 – 850 | 60W | 0.78¢ | $1.87 |
1000 – 1400 | 75W | 0.97¢ | $2.34 |
1450 - 1700+ | 100W | 1.3¢ | $3.12 |
2700+ | 150W | 1.95¢ | $4.68 |
1.
Switch out your old lightbulbs for energy-efficient bulbs
2.
Take advantage of natural light
3.
Design your home to be light-efficient
4.
Install dimmers
5.
Choose Perch Energy