outdoor · 12W typical
Running a outdoor porch/wall light costs about $0.71/month.
That's the typical outdoor porch/wall light at 12W, run 12 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 12 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same outdoor porch/wall light can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
dusk to dawn
$0.71
per month
all-night porch light
motion-triggered
$0.06
per month
evening arrivals only
Where you live
$1.29 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¢ | $1.78 | $21.65 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $1.36 | $16.50 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $1.33 | $16.19 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $1.24 | $15.08 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $1.21 | $14.66 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $1.06 | $12.93 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $1.05 | $12.77 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.96 | $11.72 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.95 | $11.62 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.93 | $11.30 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.83 | $10.14 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.83 | $10.04 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.79 | $9.67 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.78 | $9.51 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.77 | $9.36 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.75 | $9.15 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.74 | $9.04 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.73 | $8.88 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.72 | $8.72 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.70 | $8.57 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.68 | $8.30 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.68 | $8.25 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.67 | $8.20 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.67 | $8.09 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.66 | $7.99 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.66 | $7.99 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.65 | $7.94 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.64 | $7.78 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.64 | $7.78 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.64 | $7.73 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.64 | $7.73 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.63 | $7.67 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.61 | $7.46 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.61 | $7.41 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.60 | $7.31 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.59 | $7.15 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.58 | $7.04 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.57 | $6.99 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.57 | $6.94 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.57 | $6.89 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.57 | $6.89 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.55 | $6.68 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.54 | $6.52 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.53 | $6.41 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.52 | $6.36 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.52 | $6.36 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.51 | $6.25 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.50 | $6.10 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.50 | $6.04 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.49 | $5.99 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.49 | $5.94 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $49.14/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
7W
$0.42 per month
$5.06 per year
Typical
12W
$0.71 per month
$8.67 per year
High draw
75W
$4.46 per month
$54.20 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Longer nights = more runtime.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Replace 60-100W incandescents with 10-12W LEDs
Saves 200-400 kWh/year per fixture over dusk-to-dawn use
- 2
Use dusk-to-dawn sensors or smart bulbs
Eliminates forgotten-on daytime lights
- 3
Choose solar models for accent lighting
Zero grid energy
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Kichler | LED Outdoor Wall Lantern 49317 | 13W |
| Ring | Smart Lighting Wall Light | 10W |
| Heath Zenith | Dusk-to-Dawn Wall Mount | 12W |
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