How much does it cost to run a landscape lighting?
A landscape lighting costs about 0.9¢ per hour, 5.4¢ a day, $1.64 a month and $20 a year at typical use (6 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A 10-fixture low-voltage LED landscape system draws about 40-60 W including transformer losses; the same layout with 20 W halogen lamps draws about 200-250 W.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED system (10 fixtures) | 50 | 0.9¢ | 5.4¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
| Halogen system (10 fixtures) | 220 | 4.0¢ | 24¢ | $7.23 | $87 |
At 6 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 | 0.05 | 0.9¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| 2 hours | 0.10 | 1.8¢ | $0.55 | $7 |
| 4 hours | 0.20 | 3.6¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| 8 hours | 0.40 | 7.2¢ | $2.19 | $26 |
| 12 hours | 0.60 | 11¢ | $3.29 | $39 |
| 24 hours | 1.20 | 22¢ | $6.57 | $79 |
Cost to run a landscape lighting in every state
The same landscape lighting costs $13 a year in North Dakota and $48 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¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.12 | $13 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.16 | $14 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.17 | $14 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.19 | $14 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.22 | $15 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.22 | $15 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.23 | $15 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.24 | $15 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.25 | $15 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.26 | $15 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.27 | $15 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.27 | $15 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.28 | $15 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.29 | $15 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.29 | $15 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.30 | $16 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.35 | $16 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.35 | $16 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.38 | $17 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.38 | $17 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.40 | $17 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.41 | $17 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.41 | $17 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.41 | $17 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.42 | $17 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.43 | $17 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.46 | $17 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.48 | $18 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.50 | $18 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.50 | $18 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.51 | $18 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.55 | $19 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.62 | $19 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.67 | $20 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.71 | $21 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.72 | $21 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 1.0¢ | $1.89 | $23 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 1.1¢ | $1.92 | $23 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 1.1¢ | $1.92 | $23 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.17 | $26 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.17 | $26 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.21 | $27 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 1.3¢ | $2.44 | $29 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 1.3¢ | $2.45 | $29 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 1.4¢ | $2.56 | $31 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 1.4¢ | $2.59 | $31 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 1.5¢ | $2.67 | $32 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 1.5¢ | $2.68 | $32 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 1.5¢ | $2.78 | $33 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.6¢ | $3.01 | $36 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 2.2¢ | $3.97 | $48 |
How to cut the cost
- Use the transformer's photocell plus a 4-6 hour timer instead of dusk-to-dawn.
- Retrofit halogen MR16/T5 lamps with 3-5 W LED lamps.
- Size the transformer close to the load; lightly loaded magnetic transformers waste a larger share.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses about 75-80% less than halogen systems.
See options on AmazonNo wiring or electricity cost for low-light path marking.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape lighting | 50 | 6 hours a day | $1.64 | $20 |
| Security floodlight | 30 | 11 hours a day | $1.88 | $23 |
| LED string lights | 15 | 5 hours a day | $0.41 | $5 |
| Halogen floodlight | 90 | 3 hours a day | $1.48 | $18 |
| Incandescent bulb | 60 | 3 hours a day | $0.99 | $12 |
| LED shop light | 40 | 3 hours a day | $0.66 | $8 |
| Fluorescent tube light | 64 | 4 hours a day | $1.40 | $17 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a landscape lighting per hour?
A landscape lighting drawing 50 watts uses 0.05 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.9¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.6¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 2.2¢.
How much does it cost to run a landscape lighting per month?
At typical use (6 hours a day), a landscape lighting costs about $1.64 a month and $20 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a landscape lighting use?
Most landscape lightings use 20 to 400 watts, depending on the setting (led system (10 fixtures) 50 W, halogen system (10 fixtures) 220 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a landscape lighting use?
About 0.30 kWh a day and 110 kWh a year at typical use (6 hours a day).
Does a landscape lighting use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 110 kWh a year it's a small share (1.0%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a landscape lighting or a security floodlight?
At typical use, a landscape lighting costs about $20 a year versus $23 for a security floodlight. So the landscape lighting 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 landscape lighting?
- Use the transformer's photocell plus a 4-6 hour timer instead of dusk-to-dawn.
- Retrofit halogen MR16/T5 lamps with 3-5 W LED lamps.
- Size the transformer close to the load; lightly loaded magnetic transformers waste a larger share.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.