lighting · 12W typical
Running a recessed can light costs about $0.36/month.
That's the typical recessed can light at 12W, 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 recessed can light can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
kitchen task lighting
$0.36
per month
kitchen overhead
hallway all-evening
$0.59
per month
high-traffic hallway
living room
$0.24
per month
evening lighting
Where you live
$0.65 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¢ | $0.89 | $10.83 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.68 | $8.25 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.67 | $8.09 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.62 | $7.54 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.60 | $7.33 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.53 | $6.46 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.52 | $6.39 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.48 | $5.86 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.48 | $5.81 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.46 | $5.65 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.42 | $5.07 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.41 | $5.02 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.40 | $4.84 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.39 | $4.76 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.38 | $4.68 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.38 | $4.57 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.37 | $4.52 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.37 | $4.44 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.36 | $4.36 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.35 | $4.28 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.34 | $4.15 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.34 | $4.13 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.34 | $4.10 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.33 | $4.05 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.33 | $3.99 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.33 | $3.99 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.33 | $3.97 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.32 | $3.89 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.32 | $3.89 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.32 | $3.86 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.32 | $3.86 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.32 | $3.84 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.31 | $3.73 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.30 | $3.71 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.30 | $3.65 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.29 | $3.57 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.29 | $3.52 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.29 | $3.50 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.29 | $3.47 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.28 | $3.44 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.28 | $3.44 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.27 | $3.34 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.27 | $3.26 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.26 | $3.21 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.26 | $3.18 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.26 | $3.18 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.26 | $3.13 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.25 | $3.05 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.25 | $3.02 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.25 | $3.00 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.24 | $2.97 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $22.04/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
14W
$0.42 per month
$5.06 per year
Typical
12W
$0.36 per month
$4.34 per year
High draw
75W
$2.23 per month
$27.10 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Heavier winter use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Swap BR30 or PAR halogens/incandescents for LED retrofits
Saves 50-100 kWh/year per fixture
- 2
Install dimmers for living areas
Evening dim saves 20-40% on watts
- 3
Air-sealed retrofit modules also cut HVAC loss
5-10% HVAC saving on top of lighting
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Halo | RL56 LED | 12W |
| Sylvania | Ultra LED Disk 6-inch | 13W |
| Commercial Electric | 6-inch Retrofit | 10W |
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