lighting · 50W typical
Running a halogen bulb costs about $0.99/month.
That's the typical halogen bulb at 50W, run 4 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 4 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same halogen bulb can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
track lighting
$0.99
per month
kitchen/dining track lights
accent uplight
$1.24
per month
evening ambience
Where you live
$1.79 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¢ | $2.47 | $30.08 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $1.88 | $22.92 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $1.85 | $22.48 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $1.72 | $20.95 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $1.67 | $20.37 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $1.48 | $17.96 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $1.46 | $17.74 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $1.34 | $16.28 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $1.33 | $16.13 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $1.29 | $15.70 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $1.16 | $14.09 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $1.15 | $13.94 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $1.10 | $13.43 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $1.09 | $13.21 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $1.07 | $12.99 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $1.04 | $12.70 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $1.03 | $12.56 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $1.01 | $12.34 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $1.00 | $12.12 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.98 | $11.90 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.95 | $11.53 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.94 | $11.46 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.94 | $11.39 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.92 | $11.24 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.91 | $11.10 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.91 | $11.10 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.91 | $11.02 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.89 | $10.80 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.89 | $10.80 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.88 | $10.73 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.88 | $10.73 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.88 | $10.66 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.85 | $10.37 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.85 | $10.29 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.83 | $10.15 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.82 | $9.93 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.80 | $9.78 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.80 | $9.71 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.79 | $9.64 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.79 | $9.56 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.79 | $9.56 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.76 | $9.27 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.74 | $9.05 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.73 | $8.91 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.73 | $8.83 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.73 | $8.83 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.71 | $8.69 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.70 | $8.47 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.69 | $8.40 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.68 | $8.32 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.68 | $8.25 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $31.32/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
20W
$0.40 per month
$4.82 per year
Typical
50W
$0.99 per month
$12.05 per year
High draw
150W
$2.97 per month
$36.14 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Heavier evening use when dark.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Replace halogens with LED PAR/BR equivalents immediately — biggest lighting ROI
Saves 150-250 kWh/year per bulb
- 2
Halogens run hot — also a summer AC burden
Extra 10-15% savings from reduced AC load
- 3
Use dimmer for accent lighting — halogens and LEDs both save more dimmed
Cuts watts 20-40%
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Philips | PAR20 50W | 50W |
| GE | Edison-look Halogen 60W | 60W |
| Sylvania | PAR30 50W | 50W |
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