Smart bulb vs. LED bulb: running cost
An LED bulb is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $2 for a smart bulb at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $1 difference.
| Smart bulb | LED bulb | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 9 W | 9 W |
| Watt range | 5–15 W | 4–20 W |
| Typical use | 3 hours a day | 3 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 13 kWh | 10 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.2¢ | 0.2¢ |
| Cost per day | 0.6¢ | 0.5¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.19 | $0.15 |
| Cost per year | $2 | $2 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $6 | $4 |
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What drives the difference
- Smart bulb: Smart bulbs draw about the same as regular LEDs when on, plus about 0.2-0.5 W standby around the clock to stay connected, adding 2-4 kWh a year each.
- 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 AmazonControls several regular LED bulbs with one switch's standby draw instead of each bulb's.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a smart bulb or an LED bulb?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a smart bulb costs about $2 a year versus $2 for an LED bulb. That's $1 more, or 1.3× as much.
How many watts do smart bulb and LED bulb use?
A smart bulb typically draws 9 W (range 5–15 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.