How much does it cost to run a pre-lit Christmas tree?
A pre-lit Christmas tree costs about 0.7¢ per hour, 4.3¢ a day, $1.31 a month and $4 a year at typical use (6 hours a day for 3 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A 7.5-ft pre-lit tree with 700-1,000 warm-white LEDs draws about 30-60 W; incandescent versions with 700 mini lights draw about 280 W.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED 7.5 ft (700-1,000 lights) | 40 | 0.7¢ | 4.3¢ | $1.31 | $4 |
| Incandescent 7.5 ft (700 lights) | 280 | 5.0¢ | 30¢ | $9.20 | $28 |
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 | 0.04 | 0.7¢ | $0.22 | $3 |
| 2 hours | 0.08 | 1.4¢ | $0.44 | $5 |
| 4 hours | 0.16 | 2.9¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| 8 hours | 0.32 | 5.8¢ | $1.75 | $21 |
| 12 hours | 0.48 | 8.6¢ | $2.63 | $32 |
| 24 hours | 0.96 | 17¢ | $5.26 | $63 |
Cost to run a pre-lit Christmas tree in every state
The same pre-lit Christmas tree costs $3 a year in North Dakota and $10 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¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.90 | $3 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.92 | $3 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.94 | $3 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.95 | $3 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.97 | $3 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.98 | $3 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.98 | $3 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.99 | $3 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.00 | $3 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.01 | $3 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.02 | $3 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.02 | $3 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.02 | $3 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.03 | $3 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.03 | $3 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.04 | $3 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.08 | $3 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.08 | $3 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.10 | $3 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.10 | $3 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.12 | $3 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.12 | $3 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.12 | $3 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.13 | $3 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.13 | $3 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.14 | $3 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.17 | $3 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.18 | $4 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.20 | $4 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.20 | $4 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.21 | $4 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.24 | $4 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.30 | $4 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.33 | $4 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.37 | $4 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.37 | $4 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.51 | $5 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.54 | $5 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.54 | $5 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 1.0¢ | $1.74 | $5 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 1.0¢ | $1.74 | $5 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 1.0¢ | $1.77 | $5 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 1.1¢ | $1.95 | $6 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 1.1¢ | $1.96 | $6 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.04 | $6 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 1.1¢ | $2.07 | $6 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.14 | $6 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.14 | $6 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 1.2¢ | $2.22 | $7 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.3¢ | $2.41 | $7 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 1.7¢ | $3.18 | $10 |
How to cut the cost
- Put the tree on a remote or smart plug timer so it's off overnight.
- Choose LED pre-lit trees; incandescent trees use 5-7x more power.
- Turn off color-changing or twinkle effects if your tree draws more in those modes.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Uses about a sixth of the power of incandescent pre-lit trees.
See options on AmazonMakes switching the tree off at bedtime effortless.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-lit Christmas tree | 40 | 6 hours a day for 3 months a year | $1.31 | $4 |
| Christmas lights | 5 | 6 hours a day for 3 months a year | $0.16 | $0 |
| 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 |
| 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 pre-lit Christmas tree per hour?
A pre-lit Christmas tree drawing 40 watts uses 0.04 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.7¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.5¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 1.7¢.
How much does it cost to run a pre-lit Christmas tree per month?
At typical use (6 hours a day for 3 months a year), a pre-lit Christmas tree costs about $1.31 a month while in use and $4 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 pre-lit Christmas tree use?
Most pre-lit Christmas trees use 15 to 300 watts, depending on the setting (led 7.5 ft (700-1,000 lights) 40 W, incandescent 7.5 ft (700 lights) 280 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a pre-lit Christmas tree use?
About 0.24 kWh a day and 22 kWh a year at typical use (6 hours a day for 3 months a year).
Does a pre-lit Christmas tree use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 22 kWh a year it's a small share (0.2%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a pre-lit Christmas tree or a christmas lights?
At typical use, a pre-lit Christmas tree costs about $4 a year versus $0 for a christmas lights. 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 pre-lit Christmas tree?
- Put the tree on a remote or smart plug timer so it's off overnight.
- Choose LED pre-lit trees; incandescent trees use 5-7x more power.
- Turn off color-changing or twinkle effects if your tree draws more in those modes.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.