How much does it cost to run a salt lamp?
A salt lamp costs about 0.3¢ per hour, 3.2¢ a day, $0.99 a month and $12 a year at typical use (12 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Most salt lamps ship with a 15 W incandescent bulb and are often left on many hours a day; 24/7 use adds up to about 130 kWh a year.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED bulb | 3 | 0.05¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| 15 W incandescent | 15 | 0.3¢ | 3.2¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| 25 W incandescent | 25 | 0.4¢ | 5.4¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
At 12 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 | 0.01 | 0.3¢ | $0.08 | $1 |
| 2 hours | 0.03 | 0.5¢ | $0.16 | $2 |
| 4 hours | 0.06 | 1.1¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| 8 hours | 0.12 | 2.2¢ | $0.66 | $8 |
| 12 hours | 0.18 | 3.2¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| 24 hours | 0.36 | 6.5¢ | $1.97 | $24 |
Cost to run a salt lamp in every state
The same salt lamp 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¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.67 | $8 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.69 | $8 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.70 | $8 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.71 | $9 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.73 | $9 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.73 | $9 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.75 | $9 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.77 | $9 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.78 | $9 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.86 | $10 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.87 | $10 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.93 | $11 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.3¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.00 | $12 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.03 | $12 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.03 | $12 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.13 | $14 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.15 | $14 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.15 | $14 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.30 | $16 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.30 | $16 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.33 | $16 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.46 | $18 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.47 | $18 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.53 | $18 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.56 | $19 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.60 | $19 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.4¢ | $1.61 | $19 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.67 | $20 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.81 | $22 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 0.7¢ | $2.38 | $29 |
How to cut the cost
- Use a warm LED bulb; note it won't warm the salt, which some owners use to reduce 'sweating' in humid rooms.
- Put it on a timer for evening hours only.
- Use the dimmer cord at a low setting.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Limits run time to the hours you're in the room.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt lamp | 15 | 12 hours a day | $0.99 | $12 |
| Lava lamp | 25 | 6 hours a day | $0.82 | $10 |
| Night light | 1 | 12 hours a day | $0.03 | $0 |
| Incandescent bulb | 60 | 3 hours a day | $0.99 | $12 |
| LED string lights | 15 | 5 hours a day | $0.41 | $5 |
| CFL bulb | 13 | 3 hours a day | $0.21 | $3 |
| Neon sign | 20 | 6 hours a day | $0.66 | $8 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a salt lamp per hour?
A salt lamp drawing 15 watts uses 0.01 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.3¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.2¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 0.7¢.
How much does it cost to run a salt lamp per month?
At typical use (12 hours a day), a salt lamp 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 a salt lamp use?
Most salt lamps use 3 to 25 watts, depending on the setting (led bulb 3 W, 15 w incandescent 15 W, 25 w incandescent 25 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a salt lamp use?
About 0.18 kWh a day and 66 kWh a year at typical use (12 hours a day).
Does a salt lamp 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 a salt lamp or a lava lamp?
At typical use, a salt lamp costs about $12 a year versus $10 for a lava lamp. So the lava lamp is cheaper by about $2 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a salt lamp?
- Use a warm LED bulb; note it won't warm the salt, which some owners use to reduce 'sweating' in humid rooms.
- Put it on a timer for evening hours only.
- Use the dimmer cord at a low setting.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.