How much does a led bulb cost to run?

LED bulbs draw 8–12 watts per bulb while on. A bulb on for 4 hours daily costs roughly $0.10–0.15 per month; they're among the cheapest electrical devices to operate.

Typical running cost (18.83¢/kWh, U.S. average, 2026-04)

BasisCost
Per hour (while running, 9 W typical)$0.002
Per day (6 h/day, 7/7 days)$0.010
Per month$0.31
Per year$3.71
Hourly range (small 5 W – large 15 W)$0.001 – $0.003
Save: Use motion sensors or timers in areas like garages and exterior lights to eliminate unnecessary on-time.

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