LED strip lights vs. LED bulb: running cost
An LED bulb is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $8 for an LED strip lights at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $6 difference.
| LED strip lights | LED bulb | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 24 W | 9 W |
| Watt range | 5–72 W | 4–20 W |
| Typical use | 5 hours a day | 3 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 44 kWh | 10 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.4¢ | 0.2¢ |
| Cost per day | 2.2¢ | 0.5¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.66 | $0.15 |
| Cost per year | $8 | $2 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $19 | $4 |
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What drives the difference
- LED strip lights: Common 16-ft (5 m) RGB strips draw about 15-36 W at full white; colored scenes and dimmed settings use less. Controllers idle at about 0.5-1 W.
- 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%.
See options on AmazonCertified bulbs meet lifetime and color tests, so they last 15,000+ hours.
See options on AmazonCuts controller standby and enforces off times.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an LED strip lights or an LED bulb?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an LED strip lights costs about $8 a year versus $2 for an LED bulb. That's $6 more, or 4.4× as much.
How many watts do LED strip lights and LED bulb use?
An LED strip lights typically draws 24 W (range 5–72 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.