LED or the light-emitting diode light bulb is a good energy efficient option for lighting, often beating out CFL light bulbs in power efficiency and longevity at a similar price. A typical cheap (60 watt equivalent to incandescent) LED light bulb is advertised as providing 800 lumens, lasting up to 10,000 hours at 10 watts.
Click calculate to find out the electricity cost of a single LED light bulb running at 10 Watts for 5 hours a day @ $0.10 per kWh, you can also modify the input fields if needed.
Hours Used Per Day: Enter how many hours the device is being used on average per day, if the power consumption is lower than 1 hour per day enter as a decimal. (For example: 30 minutes per day is 0.5)
Power Use (Watts): Enter the average power consumption of the device in watts.
Price (kWh): Enter the cost you are paying on average per kilowatt hour, our caculators use the default value of 0.10 or 10 cents. To find an exact price check your electricity bill or take a look at Global Electricity Prices.
Comparison Between LED, CFL and Incandescent Light Bulbs:
| LED | CFL | Incandescent |
|---|
| Lifespan in hours | 10,000 | 9,000 | 1,000 |
| Watts (equivalent 60 watts) | 10 | 14 | 60 |
| Cost per bulb | $2.50 | $2.40 | $1.25 |
| Daily cost* | $0.005 | $0.007 | $0.03 |
| Annual cost* | $1.83 | $2.56 | $10.95 |
| Cost for 50k hours @ $0.10 kWh | $50 | $70 | $300 |
| Bulbs needed for 50k hours | 5 | 5.5 | 50 |
| Total cost for 50k hours with bulb price | $62.50 | $83.20 | $362.50 |
* Assuming 5 hours a day @ $0.10 per kWh.
LED lighting has become very common in the last few years, combined with government programs for energy reductions in some regions, LED light bulbs could be obtained for very cheap with special discounts. However with price reductions, quality control and decrease in longevity has also been observed.
Financially it may not be worth the hassle to purchase expensive LED light bulbs with significantly higher longevity ratings, at the same time it may be more environmentally friendly. The choice is up to you, we recommend to read reviews and try LED light bulbs yourself. Overall LED lighting is a great option for energy savings and far superior to the old incandescent lights.
FAQs
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED light bulbs use at least 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. A typical LED light bulb uses about 10 watts, according to EnergySage, compared to about 60 watts for most incandescent bulbs.
How much does it cost to run a LED light bulb for 24 hours? ›
On average, a 10W LED light bulb used for 24 hours will cost about $0.10 to $0.20. This is significantly less than traditional incandescent bulbs, making LED bulbs a cost-effective and energy-efficient choice for both indoor and outdoor lighting.
Does leaving LED lights on increase electric bill? ›
Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs for short, are the most efficient bulbs you can use for home illumination. Like incandescent bulbs, they are generally unaffected by the number of times you turn them on or off.
Do LED bulbs actually save money? ›
Lighting accounts for around 15% of an average home's electricity use, and the average household saves about $225 in energy costs per year by using LED lighting. if you are still using incandescent light bulbs, switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills.
Is it cheaper to leave LED lights on? ›
The lifespan of an LED bulb is not reliant on how many times it is turned off or on like a CFL bulb is. Turning off your LED bulbs when not in use may reduce the amount of electricity your lighting takes up and, in return, could lower some of your energy charges.
Do LED lights cost a lot to keep on all day? ›
Running an LED light bulb for 24 hours typically costs about $0.027, assuming an electricity rate of 16 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in the United States. This calculation is based on a 7W LED bulb, which is equivalent to a 40W incandescent bulb but consumes significantly less power.
How much does it cost to leave one LED light on all day? ›
Running a 3W LED is estimated to cost £0.0005 per hour. This gives an average cost of £1.86 per year for each LED – but this is based on what's considered “normal” use, running the light for an average of 10 hours a day, 365 days a year. Keeping the same LED on 24/7, 365 days a year costs an estimated £4.38 a year.
Can I leave LED lights on all day? ›
Well-made LED lights can be left on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They last extremely long and are relatively safe due to their very low chance of overheating. On average, LED bulbs last between 35,000 and 50,000 hours. LED bulbs convert about 90 percent of energy into light and 10 percent into heat.
What uses the most electricity in a house? ›
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.
Does turning a light switch on and off use more electricity? ›
Put simply, turning these lights on and off won't affect your energy bill from utility providers and electricity companies that much. Just remember, these types of bulbs have an operating life. This means their lifespan can be extended by reducing the amount of times you switch them on and off.
Using lighting such as floor lamps instead of a ceiling light can help to reduce the amount of electricity used. Be careful when using your ceiling fan as well, only use it when people are in the room, if it's empty turn the fan off.
Does leaving things plugged in use electricity? ›
The same goes for all those chargers, whether or not they are charging a smartphone. Everything you leave plugged into an outlet—appliances, computers, consoles, chargers, lamps, and more —draws energy even when not in use. Energy is not only converted for household use, it's also used by power suppliers.
Why should you turn off lights, fans, etc. when not in use? ›
Energy should be conserved wherever it is possible. The best way to reduce energy consumption is to switch off lights and fans when they are not in use.
Why do LED light bulbs not last? ›
Unlike incandescent light bulbs, LEDs don't produce light using heat. This is part of what makes them so energy efficient. The downside is that their components can be sensitive to overheating, which can cause them to burn out prematurely.
What are the best light bulbs to lower electric bill? ›
LED light bulbs stand out as the most energy-efficient option, using 75% less energy and lasting 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Do LED strip lights make your electric bill high? ›
Energy Savings: Since LEDs use much less electricity while still being able to produce the light you need, these lights also save you money in the long run. Compared to conventional incandescent lighting or fluorescent lighting, they will use a lot less electricity.
Are LED lights expensive to run? ›
The cost of running LED lights depends on three key things. These are the wattage, how many bulbs you have in your home and how many hours a day you have them on. But regardless of these factors, you'll usually find that LED bulbs are significantly cheaper to run than other types of lighting.
How much does it cost to run a LED light bulb for 24 hours in the UK? ›
For instance, if a 10-watt LED bulb consumes 0.01 kWh (10 watts/1000), you'll multiply this by the cost per kWh (£0.29), then multiply the total by 24. The cost to run this LED bulb for 24 hours is a mere £0.07! That's an almost negligible amount compared to older type bulbs.
