How much does it cost to run an incandescent bulb? ($1.53/mo)
Running an incandescent bulb costs about $1.53 / month
($0.05/day at 5 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
($0.05/day at 5 h/day, $0.17/kWh).
Running cost calculator
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An incandescent bulb wastes most of its energy as heat, making it many times more expensive to run than an LED of the same brightness.
Cost at different electricity rates
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.03 | $0.90 | $10.95 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.05 | $1.35 | $16.43 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.06 | $1.80 | $21.90 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.08 | $2.25 | $27.38 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.09 | $2.70 | $32.85 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.12 | $3.60 | $43.80 |
Cost over time
| Per hour of use | $0.01 |
| Per day (5 h) | $0.05 |
| Per month | $1.53 |
| Per year | $18.62 |
How to spend less running an incandescent bulb
- Cut the hours: An incandescent bulb at 5 h/day runs about $1.53/month — trimming one hour saves roughly $0.31/month.
- Lower the setting: running an incandescent bulb on a lower or eco setting drops the wattage directly.
- Upgrade efficiency: a newer incandescent bulb near 40 W uses far less than an old 100 W one.
Want the raw figure? See how many watts an incandescent bulb uses.
FAQ
How many watts does an incandescent bulb use?
Common incandescent bulbs draw 40-100 watts.
Is it worth replacing incandescent bulbs?
Yes - swapping to LEDs cuts lighting energy by around 85%.