How much does a led light bulb cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a led light bulb (8–12 W (60 W-equivalent)) costs about 0.2¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With 5 hours/day, that's 0.8¢/day, 23.1¢/month and $2.78/year — using ~0.0 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from 15.3¢ to 57.6¢ monthly.
Run your own numbers
8–12 W (60 W-equivalent) · default assumes 5 hours/day
Uses about 0.0 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be 23.1¢/month.
LED Light Bulb cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 21.3¢ |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 34.1¢ |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.8¢ |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 17.4¢ |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 0.3¢ | 43.5¢ |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.9¢ |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 0.3¢ | 44.2¢ |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 23.0¢ |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 24.1¢ |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.7¢ |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 19.4¢ |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 57.6¢ |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 15.9¢ |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 22.4¢ |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 21.5¢ |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 18.7¢ |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 19.6¢ |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 17.9¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 16.6¢ |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 35.0¢ |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 24.8¢ |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 0.3¢ | 42.7¢ |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 26.5¢ |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.7¢ |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 18.6¢ |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 17.2¢ |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 17.5¢ |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 16.6¢ |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 21.1¢ |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 34.5¢ |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 26.8¢ |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.0¢ |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 33.7¢ |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 19.3¢ |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 15.3¢ |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 22.3¢ |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 16.7¢ |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.2¢ |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 25.2¢ |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 0.3¢ | 41.6¢ |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.1¢ |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 17.2¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 18.1¢ |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 21.3¢ |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 16.0¢ |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 29.5¢ |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.0¢ |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 16.8¢ |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 20.2¢ |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 0.2¢ | 23.5¢ |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 0.1¢ | 16.1¢ |
FAQ
How much electricity does a led light bulb use?+
A typical led light bulb draws 8–12 W (60 W-equivalent). At 5 hours/day, that's about 0.0 kWh per day.
How much does a led light bulb cost to run per month?+
About 23.1¢ per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly 15.3¢ in North Dakota to 57.6¢ in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a led light bulb on?+
Running it costs about 0.2¢ 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.