How much does it cost to run an incandescent bulb?
An incandescent bulb costs about 1.1¢ per hour, 3.2¢ a day, $0.99 a month and $12 a year at typical use (3 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. 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.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 W | 40 | 0.7¢ | 2.2¢ | $0.66 | $8 |
| 60 W | 60 | 1.1¢ | 3.2¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| 75 W | 75 | 1.3¢ | 4.0¢ | $1.23 | $15 |
| 100 W | 100 | 1.8¢ | 5.4¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
At 3 hours a day and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.06 | 1.1¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| 2 hours | 0.12 | 2.2¢ | $0.66 | $8 |
| 4 hours | 0.24 | 4.3¢ | $1.31 | $16 |
| 8 hours | 0.48 | 8.6¢ | $2.63 | $32 |
| 12 hours | 0.72 | 13¢ | $3.94 | $47 |
| 24 hours | 1.44 | 26¢ | $7.89 | $95 |
Cost to run an incandescent bulb in every state
The same incandescent bulb costs $8 a year in North Dakota and $29 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¢ | 0.7¢ | $0.67 | $8 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.69 | $8 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.71 | $9 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.73 | $9 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.73 | $9 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.75 | $9 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.8¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.78 | $9 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.86 | $10 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.87 | $10 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.93 | $11 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 1.1¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 1.1¢ | $1.00 | $12 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 1.1¢ | $1.03 | $12 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 1.1¢ | $1.03 | $12 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 1.2¢ | $1.13 | $14 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 1.3¢ | $1.15 | $14 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 1.3¢ | $1.15 | $14 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 1.4¢ | $1.30 | $16 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 1.4¢ | $1.30 | $16 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 1.5¢ | $1.33 | $16 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 1.6¢ | $1.46 | $18 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 1.6¢ | $1.47 | $18 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 1.7¢ | $1.53 | $18 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 1.7¢ | $1.56 | $19 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 1.8¢ | $1.60 | $19 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 1.8¢ | $1.61 | $19 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 1.8¢ | $1.67 | $20 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 2.0¢ | $1.81 | $22 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 2.6¢ | $2.38 | $29 |
How to cut the cost
- Swap to LED: a 9 W LED replaces a 60 W incandescent and saves about 55 kWh a year per bulb at 3 hours a day.
- Use LED filament bulbs if you like the vintage Edison look; they draw 4-7 W.
- Turn off lights when leaving a room; incandescents have no restart penalty.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Keeps the vintage look at about 85% less power.
See options on AmazonSame light output at about one-seventh of the power.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incandescent bulb | 60 | 3 hours a day | $0.99 | $12 |
| LED bulb | 9 | 3 hours a day | $0.15 | $2 |
| CFL bulb | 13 | 3 hours a day | $0.21 | $3 |
| Halogen floodlight | 90 | 3 hours a day | $1.48 | $18 |
| Fluorescent tube light | 64 | 4 hours a day | $1.40 | $17 |
| Landscape lighting | 50 | 6 hours a day | $1.64 | $20 |
| LED shop light | 40 | 3 hours a day | $0.66 | $8 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an incandescent bulb per hour?
An incandescent bulb drawing 60 watts uses 0.06 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 1.1¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.7¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 2.6¢.
How much does it cost to run an incandescent bulb per month?
At typical use (3 hours a day), an incandescent bulb costs about $0.99 a month and $12 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does an incandescent bulb use?
Most incandescent bulbs use 25 to 150 watts, depending on the setting (40 w 40 W, 60 w 60 W, 75 w 75 W, 100 w 100 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an incandescent bulb use?
About 0.18 kWh a day and 66 kWh a year at typical use (3 hours a day).
Does an incandescent bulb use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 66 kWh a year it's a small share (0.6%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run an incandescent bulb or an LED bulb?
At typical use, an incandescent bulb costs about $12 a year versus $2 for an LED bulb. So the LED bulb is cheaper by about $10 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an incandescent bulb?
- Swap to LED: a 9 W LED replaces a 60 W incandescent and saves about 55 kWh a year per bulb at 3 hours a day.
- Use LED filament bulbs if you like the vintage Edison look; they draw 4-7 W.
- Turn off lights when leaving a room; incandescents have no restart penalty.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.