How much does it cost to run an electric window candles?
An electric window candles costs about 0.07¢ per hour, 0.6¢ a day, $0.18 a month and $1 a year at typical use (8 hours a day for 3 months a year) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Corded window candles with C7 incandescent bulbs draw 4-7 W each; LED versions draw under 1 W.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED candle | 1 | 0.01¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.02 | $0 |
| Incandescent C7 candle | 4 | 0.07¢ | 0.6¢ | $0.18 | $1 |
| Incandescent 7 W candle | 7 | 0.1¢ | 1.0¢ | $0.31 | $1 |
At 8 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 | 0.00 | 0.07¢ | $0.02 | $0 |
| 2 hours | 0.01 | 0.1¢ | $0.04 | $1 |
| 4 hours | 0.02 | 0.3¢ | $0.09 | $1 |
| 8 hours | 0.03 | 0.6¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| 12 hours | 0.05 | 0.9¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| 24 hours | 0.10 | 1.7¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
Cost to run an electric window candles in every state
The same electric window candles 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¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.12 | $0 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.13 | $0 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.14 | $0 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.15 | $0 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.16 | $0 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.16 | $0 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.16 | $0 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.16 | $0 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.16 | $0 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.16 | $0 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.17 | $1 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.18 | $1 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.18 | $1 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.18 | $1 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.20 | $1 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.20 | $1 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.21 | $1 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.10¢ | $0.23 | $1 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.10¢ | $0.23 | $1 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.10¢ | $0.24 | $1 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.26 | $1 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.26 | $1 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.27 | $1 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.28 | $1 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.29 | $1 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.29 | $1 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.30 | $1 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.32 | $1 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 0.2¢ | $0.42 | $1 |
How to cut the cost
- Swap C7 bulbs for LED C7 bulbs at about 0.5 W.
- Use candles with built-in 6-hour timers or a sensor.
- Light only front-facing windows; 10 incandescent candles for 8 hours a night use about 20 kWh a season.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Under 1 W each and switch off automatically.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric window candles | 4 | 8 hours a day for 3 months a year | $0.18 | $1 |
| 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 |
| Night light | 1 | 12 hours a day | $0.03 | $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 |
| 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 an electric window candles per hour?
An electric window candles drawing 4 watts uses 0.00 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.07¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.05¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 0.2¢.
How much does it cost to run an electric window candles per month?
At typical use (8 hours a day for 3 months a year), an electric window candles costs about $0.18 a month while in use and $1 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 an electric window candles use?
Most electric window candles use 1 to 7 watts, depending on the setting (led candle 1 W, incandescent c7 candle 4 W, incandescent 7 w candle 7 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does an electric window candles use?
About 0.03 kWh a day and 3 kWh a year at typical use (8 hours a day for 3 months a year).
Does an electric window candles 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 an electric window candles or a christmas lights?
At typical use, an electric window candles costs about $1 a year versus $0 for a christmas lights. So the christmas lights is cheaper by about $0 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running an electric window candles?
- Swap C7 bulbs for LED C7 bulbs at about 0.5 W.
- Use candles with built-in 6-hour timers or a sensor.
- Light only front-facing windows; 10 incandescent candles for 8 hours a night use about 20 kWh a season.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.