How much does a incandescent bulb cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a incandescent bulb (the classic 60 W bulb) costs about 1.0¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With 5 hours/day, that's 5.1¢/day, $1.54/month and $18.51/year — using ~0.3 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from $1.02 to $3.84 monthly.
Run your own numbers
the classic 60 W bulb · default assumes 5 hours/day
Uses about 0.3 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be $1.54/month.
Incandescent Bulb cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.42 |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 1.5¢ | $2.27 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.39 |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.16 |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 1.9¢ | $2.90 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.40 |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 1.9¢ | $2.95 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $1.53 |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 1.1¢ | $1.61 |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.38 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.30 |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 2.5¢ | $3.84 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.06 |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $1.50 |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.43 |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.25 |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.30 |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.19 |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.10 |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 1.5¢ | $2.33 |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 1.1¢ | $1.65 |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 1.9¢ | $2.85 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 1.2¢ | $1.77 |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.38 |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.24 |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.15 |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.17 |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.10 |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.40 |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 1.5¢ | $2.30 |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 1.2¢ | $1.79 |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.33 |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 1.5¢ | $2.24 |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.29 |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.02 |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $1.49 |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.11 |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.35 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 1.1¢ | $1.68 |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 1.8¢ | $2.77 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.34 |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.15 |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | $1.20 |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.42 |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.07 |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 1.3¢ | $1.97 |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.33 |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.12 |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.35 |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $1.57 |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | $1.08 |
FAQ
How much electricity does a incandescent bulb use?+
A typical incandescent bulb draws the classic 60 W bulb. At 5 hours/day, that's about 0.3 kWh per day.
How much does a incandescent bulb cost to run per month?+
About $1.54 per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly $1.02 in North Dakota to $3.84 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a incandescent bulb on?+
Running it costs about 1.0¢ per hour at average rates. Multiply by your actual hours — and check your state's rate above, since electricity prices vary almost 4× across the US.