How Much Does It Cost to Run a Incandescent Light Bulb?
A typical Incandescent Light Bulb uses 60W and runs about 6 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $1.81/month.
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What Affects the Cost of Running a Incandescent Light Bulb
90% of Electricity Becomes Heat, Not Light
An incandescent bulb converts only 10% of its electricity into visible light. The other 90% becomes heat, which is why incandescent bulbs are hot to the touch. A 60W incandescent produces the same light as a 10W LED while wasting 50W as heat. In summer, this waste heat also adds to your air conditioning load, increasing cooling costs on top of the lighting cost.
The Math on Switching Is Overwhelmingly in LED's Favor
Replacing one 60W incandescent with a 10W LED saves 50W every hour the light is on. At 6 hours/day, that is 300Wh or 0.3 kWh daily. Over a year, one bulb saves 109 kWh ($18 at the national average rate). The LED bulb costs $1-3. Payback: about 3 weeks. There is essentially no better dollar-for-dollar energy efficiency upgrade in your entire home.
Incandescent Light Bulb vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Incandescent Light Bulb compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Incandescent Light Bulb (this page) | $1.81 | At national average rate, 6hrs/day |
| LED (10W equivalent) | ~$0.30-0.50 per bulb | Uses 83% less electricity. Lasts 15-25x longer. No contest. |
| CFL (14W equivalent) | ~$0.42-0.70 per bulb | Uses 77% less than incandescent. Contains mercury. Shorter than LED. |
| Halogen (43W equivalent) | ~$1.30-2.15 per bulb | 28% more efficient than incandescent but still far worse than LED. |
Incandescent Light Bulb Cost by State
What a Incandescent Light Bulb costs to run at 60W for 6 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $1.6 | $19.21 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $2.74 | $32.84 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $1.49 | $17.9 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $1.36 | $16.37 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $3.39 | $40.71 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $1.65 | $19.75 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $3.17 | $38.04 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $1.65 | $19.75 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $1.71 | $20.57 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $1.69 | $20.26 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $1.52 | $18.3 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $4.67 | $56 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $1.17 | $14.09 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $1.77 | $21.22 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $1.63 | $19.6 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $1.54 | $18.44 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $1.62 | $19.41 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $1.39 | $16.68 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $1.29 | $15.53 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $2.47 | $29.64 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $1.74 | $20.89 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $3.11 | $37.27 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $2.03 | $24.31 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $1.66 | $19.88 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $1.49 | $17.83 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $1.42 | $17 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $1.34 | $16.14 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $1.29 | $15.53 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $1.62 | $19.48 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $2.74 | $32.84 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $2.03 | $24.31 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $1.61 | $19.27 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $2.47 | $29.64 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $1.51 | $18.12 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $1.28 | $15.38 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $1.66 | $19.88 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $1.29 | $15.53 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $1.42 | $17 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $1.82 | $21.86 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $2.93 | $35.15 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $1.62 | $19.41 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $1.49 | $17.83 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $1.39 | $16.68 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $1.62 | $19.41 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $1.17 | $14.09 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $2.3 | $27.66 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $1.66 | $19.88 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $1.16 | $13.94 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $1.42 | $17 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $1.83 | $22.01 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $1.21 | $14.55 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Incandescent Light Bulb
- Incandescent bulbs convert 90% of energy into heat, not light
- Switching one 60W incandescent to a 10W LED saves about $8-12 per year
- If you still have incandescents, replace the most-used ones first
- Higher-wattage bulbs cost proportionally more to run
Frequently Asked Questions
A 60W incandescent bulb running 6 hours/day costs about $22/year at the national average rate. A 100W bulb costs about $37/year. If you have 10 incandescent bulbs in your home, you are spending $220-370/year on lighting that could cost $35-60/year with LEDs. The potential savings from switching all bulbs is $150-300/year.
While standard 60W and 100W incandescent bulbs have been phased out by federal efficiency standards, specialty incandescent bulbs (decorative, appliance, rough service) are still available. Some people prefer the warm color temperature of incandescent light, but modern LED bulbs are available in the same warm 2700K color temperature. There is no longer a visual quality advantage to incandescent.
Replacing a single 60W incandescent with a 10W LED saves about $18/year per bulb at 6 hours/day of use. For a home with 20 incandescent fixtures, switching all to LED saves approximately $360/year. The cost of 20 LED bulbs is $20-60. The investment pays for itself in roughly 1-2 months. No other home improvement offers a faster payback.
Related Appliances
LED Light Bulb
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CFL Light Bulb
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Halogen Light Bulb
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LED Strip Lights
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Electricity cost estimates are based on typical wattage and average residential rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your actual costs may vary based on your appliance's specific wattage, usage patterns, and your utility's rate structure. See our full disclaimer.