lighting · 12W typical
Running a led bulb (12w, 75w equivalent) costs about $0.30/month.
That's the typical led bulb (12w, 75w equivalent) at 12W, run 5 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 5 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same led bulb (12w, 75w equivalent) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
brightly-lit kitchen
$0.30
per month
primary task light
hallway
$0.48
per month
high-traffic area left on
Where you live
$0.54 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¢ | $0.74 | $9.02 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.57 | $6.88 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.55 | $6.75 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.52 | $6.29 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.50 | $6.11 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.44 | $5.39 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.44 | $5.32 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.40 | $4.88 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.40 | $4.84 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.39 | $4.71 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.35 | $4.23 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.34 | $4.18 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.33 | $4.03 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.33 | $3.96 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.32 | $3.90 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.31 | $3.81 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.31 | $3.77 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.30 | $3.70 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.30 | $3.64 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.29 | $3.57 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.28 | $3.46 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.28 | $3.44 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.28 | $3.42 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.28 | $3.37 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.27 | $3.33 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.27 | $3.33 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.27 | $3.31 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.27 | $3.24 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.27 | $3.24 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.26 | $3.22 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.26 | $3.22 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.26 | $3.20 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.26 | $3.11 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.25 | $3.09 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.25 | $3.04 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.24 | $2.98 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.24 | $2.93 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.24 | $2.91 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.24 | $2.89 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.24 | $2.87 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.24 | $2.87 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.23 | $2.78 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.22 | $2.72 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.22 | $2.67 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.22 | $2.65 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.22 | $2.65 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.21 | $2.61 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.21 | $2.54 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.21 | $2.52 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.21 | $2.50 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.20 | $2.47 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $0.30/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
13W
$0.32 per month
$3.91 per year
Typical
12W
$0.30 per month
$3.61 per year
High draw
14W
$0.35 per month
$4.22 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Heavier winter use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use lower-output LED for closets and utility rooms (8-9W)
Over-lighting is a hidden cost
- 2
Pair with dimmer or dusk-to-dawn sensors
Cuts runtime 20-40%
- 3
Choose warm white (2700K) for living spaces — uses same watts but feels less harsh
Comfort improvement with no cost
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Philips | Ultra Definition 75W Equiv A19 | 12W |
| Cree Lighting | A19 75W Equiv | 11W |
| GE | Reveal 75W Equiv LED A19 | 13W |
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.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13