lighting · 15W typical
Running a floor lamp costs about $0.22/month.
That's the typical floor lamp at 15W, run 3 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
Full-power draw for 3 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same floor lamp can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
reading evening
$0.22
per month
reading nook use
ambient living room
$0.37
per month
background lighting
Where you live
$0.40 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $0.56 | $6.77 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.42 | $5.16 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.42 | $5.06 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.39 | $4.71 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.38 | $4.58 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.33 | $4.04 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.33 | $3.99 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.30 | $3.66 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.30 | $3.63 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.29 | $3.53 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.26 | $3.17 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.26 | $3.14 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.25 | $3.02 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.24 | $2.97 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.24 | $2.92 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.23 | $2.86 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.23 | $2.83 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.23 | $2.78 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.22 | $2.73 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.22 | $2.68 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.21 | $2.60 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.21 | $2.58 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.21 | $2.56 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.21 | $2.53 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.21 | $2.50 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.21 | $2.50 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.20 | $2.48 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.20 | $2.43 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.20 | $2.43 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.20 | $2.41 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.20 | $2.41 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.20 | $2.40 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.19 | $2.33 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.19 | $2.32 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.19 | $2.28 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.18 | $2.23 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.18 | $2.20 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.18 | $2.18 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.18 | $2.17 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.18 | $2.15 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.18 | $2.15 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.17 | $2.09 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.17 | $2.04 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.16 | $2.00 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.16 | $1.99 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.16 | $1.99 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.16 | $1.95 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.16 | $1.91 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.16 | $1.89 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.15 | $1.87 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.15 | $1.86 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $16.44/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
9W
$0.13 per month
$1.63 per year
Typical
15W
$0.22 per month
$2.71 per year
High draw
100W
$1.49 per month
$18.07 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Heavier use in dark months.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use LED bulbs/integrated LED floor lamps — under 15W typical
90% less than halogen torchieres (which are 150-300W)
- 2
Pair with smart plug for schedule
Eliminates all-night accidents
- 3
Use as task lighting instead of overhead — lower watts for same usable light
Cuts room total 30-50%
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Brightech | Montage Modern LED Floor Lamp | 12W |
| Ottlite | Task Lamp | 13W |
| Ikea | NOT floor uplight | 17W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energy.gov · www.energystar.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13