Incandescent bulb vs. LED bulb: running cost
An LED bulb is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $12 for an incandescent bulb at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $10 difference.
| Incandescent bulb | LED bulb | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 60 W | 9 W |
| Watt range | 25–150 W | 4–20 W |
| Typical use | 3 hours a day | 3 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 66 kWh | 10 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 1.1¢ | 0.2¢ |
| Cost per day | 3.2¢ | 0.5¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.99 | $0.15 |
| Cost per year | $12 | $2 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $29 | $4 |
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What drives the difference
- Incandescent bulb: Incandescent bulbs draw their labeled wattage; about 90% becomes heat. A 60 W bulb used 3 hours a day uses about 66 kWh a year.
- LED bulb: LED bulbs use about 75-85% less power than incandescents for the same light: a 60 W-equivalent LED draws about 8-9 W. DOE uses about 3 hours a day for typical residential lighting.
Ways to cut either cost
Turns lights off automatically in rooms people leave, cutting lighting hours 20-50%.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an incandescent bulb or an LED bulb?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an incandescent bulb costs about $12 a year versus $2 for an LED bulb. That's $10 more, or 6.7× as much.
How many watts do incandescent bulb and LED bulb use?
An incandescent bulb typically draws 60 W (range 25–150 W). An LED bulb draws 9 W (range 4–20 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.