LED bulb vs. CFL bulb: running cost
An LED bulb is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $3 for a CFL bulb at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $1 difference.
| LED bulb | CFL bulb | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 9 W | 13 W |
| Watt range | 4–20 W | 9–26 W |
| Typical use | 3 hours a day | 3 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 10 kWh | 14 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.2¢ | 0.2¢ |
| Cost per day | 0.5¢ | 0.7¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.15 | $0.21 |
| Cost per year | $2 | $3 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $4 | $6 |
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What drives the difference
- 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.
- CFL bulb: CFLs use about 70-75% less power than incandescents; a 60 W-equivalent CFL draws 13-15 W. LEDs now beat them by another 30-40%.
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 LED bulb or a CFL bulb?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a CFL bulb costs about $3 a year versus $2 for an LED bulb. That's $1 more, or 1.4× as much.
How many watts do LED bulb and CFL bulb use?
An LED bulb typically draws 9 W (range 4–20 W). A CFL bulb draws 13 W (range 9–26 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.