How much does it cost to run a christmas lights?
A christmas lights costs about 0.09¢ per hour, 0.5¢ a day, $0.16 a month and $0 a year at typical use (6 hours a day for 3 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Per strand: 100 LED mini lights draw about 4-7 W versus 40 W for incandescent minis; C9 incandescent strands draw 7 W per bulb. A typical home display has 10-30 strands, so multiply accordingly.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED mini (100 bulbs) | 5 | 0.09¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $0 |
| Incandescent mini (100 bulbs) | 40 | 0.7¢ | 4.3¢ | $1.31 | $4 |
| LED C9 (25 bulbs) | 15 | 0.3¢ | 1.6¢ | $0.49 | $1 |
| Incandescent C9 (25 bulbs) | 175 | 3.1¢ | 19¢ | $5.75 | $17 |
At 6 hours a day for 3 months a year and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.01 | 0.09¢ | $0.03 | $0 |
| 2 hours | 0.01 | 0.2¢ | $0.05 | $1 |
| 4 hours | 0.02 | 0.4¢ | $0.11 | $1 |
| 8 hours | 0.04 | 0.7¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| 12 hours | 0.06 | 1.1¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| 24 hours | 0.12 | 2.2¢ | $0.66 | $8 |
Cost to run a christmas lights in every state
The same christmas lights costs $0 a year in North Dakota and $1 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.11 | $0 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.09¢ | $0.16 | $0 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.09¢ | $0.17 | $0 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.09¢ | $0.17 | $1 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.09¢ | $0.17 | $1 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.19 | $1 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.19 | $1 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.19 | $1 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.22 | $1 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.22 | $1 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.22 | $1 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.24 | $1 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.25 | $1 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.26 | $1 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.26 | $1 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.27 | $1 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.27 | $1 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.28 | $1 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.30 | $1 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.40 | $1 |
How to cut the cost
- Switch to LED strands; 20 strands of LED minis use about 100 W versus 800 W incandescent.
- Use a timer for 5-6 hours each evening, not dusk to dawn.
- Replace incandescent C9s with LED C9 retrofit bulbs at 0.5-1 W each.
- Turn off indoor tree lights when you go to bed.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Use about 85-90% less power and stay cool.
See options on AmazonTurns lights on at dusk and off after a set number of hours.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas lights | 5 | 6 hours a day for 3 months a year | $0.16 | $0 |
| Pre-lit Christmas tree | 40 | 6 hours a day for 3 months a year | $1.31 | $4 |
| Christmas light projector | 8 | 6 hours a day for 4 months a year | $0.26 | $1 |
| Outdoor inflatable decoration | 150 | 6 hours a day for 3 months a year | $4.93 | $15 |
| LED string lights | 15 | 5 hours a day | $0.41 | $5 |
| Electric window candles | 4 | 8 hours a day for 3 months a year | $0.18 | $1 |
| Fog machine | 400 | 4 hours a day, 1 days a week for 1 months a year | $0.75 | $1 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a christmas lights per hour?
A christmas lights drawing 5 watts uses 0.01 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.09¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.06¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 0.2¢.
How much does it cost to run a christmas lights per month?
At typical use (6 hours a day for 3 months a year), a christmas lights costs about $0.16 a month while in use and $0 a year over the 3 months it's typically used, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a christmas lights use?
Most christmas lights use 2 to 200 watts, depending on the setting (led mini (100 bulbs) 5 W, incandescent mini (100 bulbs) 40 W, led c9 (25 bulbs) 15 W, incandescent c9 (25 bulbs) 175 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a christmas lights use?
About 0.03 kWh a day and 3 kWh a year at typical use (6 hours a day for 3 months a year).
Does a christmas lights use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 3 kWh a year it's a small share (0.0%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a christmas lights or a pre-lit Christmas tree?
At typical use, a christmas lights costs about $0 a year versus $4 for a pre-lit Christmas tree. So the christmas lights is cheaper by about $3 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a christmas lights?
- Switch to LED strands; 20 strands of LED minis use about 100 W versus 800 W incandescent.
- Use a timer for 5-6 hours each evening, not dusk to dawn.
- Replace incandescent C9s with LED C9 retrofit bulbs at 0.5-1 W each.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.