lighting · 5W typical
Running a holiday string lights (led) costs about $0.15/month.
That's the typical holiday string lights (led) at 5W, run 6 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 6 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same holiday string lights (led) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
dusk to midnight
$0.15
per month
traditional outdoor display
all night
$0.30
per month
heavy use during holidays
Where you live
$0.27 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¢ | $0.37 | $4.51 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.28 | $3.44 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.28 | $3.37 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.26 | $3.14 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.25 | $3.06 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.22 | $2.69 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.22 | $2.66 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.20 | $2.44 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.20 | $2.42 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.19 | $2.35 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.17 | $2.11 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.17 | $2.09 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.17 | $2.01 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.16 | $1.98 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.16 | $1.95 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.16 | $1.91 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.15 | $1.88 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.15 | $1.85 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.15 | $1.82 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.15 | $1.78 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.14 | $1.73 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.14 | $1.72 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.14 | $1.71 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.14 | $1.69 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.14 | $1.66 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.14 | $1.66 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.14 | $1.65 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.13 | $1.62 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.13 | $1.62 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.13 | $1.61 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.13 | $1.61 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.13 | $1.60 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.13 | $1.55 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.13 | $1.54 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.13 | $1.52 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.12 | $1.49 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.12 | $1.47 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.12 | $1.46 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.12 | $1.45 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.12 | $1.43 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.12 | $1.43 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.11 | $1.39 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.11 | $1.36 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.11 | $1.34 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.11 | $1.32 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.11 | $1.32 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.11 | $1.30 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.10 | $1.27 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.10 | $1.26 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.10 | $1.25 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.10 | $1.24 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $4.34/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
3W
$0.09 per month
$1.08 per year
Typical
5W
$0.15 per month
$1.81 per year
High draw
15W
$0.45 per month
$5.42 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Peak Dec 1-Jan 10 by far.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Replace incandescent strings with LED — 90% less watts
A full house switched saves 100-200 kWh/year in December
- 2
Use a timer or smart plug — dusk to midnight, then off
Cuts runtime 30-50%
- 3
Use solar-powered outdoor strings
Zero grid electricity
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| GE | Energy Smart Colorite 100-ct | 5W |
| Philips | 100ct LED Smooth Mini | 6W |
| Sylvania | 100-count LED Warm White | 5W |
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