lighting · 9W typical
Running a smart led bulb costs about $0.22/month.
That's the typical smart led bulb at 9W, 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 smart led bulb can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
scheduled evening
$0.22
per month
on dusk-to-bed schedule
always-on (always-connected)
$1.07
per month
standby draws 0.3-0.5W continuously
Where you live
$0.40 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¢ | $0.56 | $6.77 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.42 | $5.16 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.42 | $5.06 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.39 | $4.71 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.38 | $4.58 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.33 | $4.04 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.33 | $3.99 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.30 | $3.66 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.30 | $3.63 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.29 | $3.53 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.26 | $3.17 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.26 | $3.14 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.25 | $3.02 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.24 | $2.97 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.24 | $2.92 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.23 | $2.86 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.23 | $2.83 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.23 | $2.78 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.22 | $2.73 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.22 | $2.68 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.21 | $2.60 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.21 | $2.58 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.21 | $2.56 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.21 | $2.53 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.21 | $2.50 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.21 | $2.50 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.20 | $2.48 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.20 | $2.43 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.20 | $2.43 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.20 | $2.41 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.20 | $2.41 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.20 | $2.40 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.19 | $2.33 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.19 | $2.32 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.19 | $2.28 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.18 | $2.23 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.18 | $2.20 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.18 | $2.18 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.18 | $2.17 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.18 | $2.15 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.18 | $2.15 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.17 | $2.09 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.17 | $2.04 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.16 | $2.00 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.16 | $1.99 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.16 | $1.99 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.16 | $1.95 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.16 | $1.91 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.16 | $1.89 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.15 | $1.87 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.15 | $1.86 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $0.60/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
10W
$0.25 per month
$3.01 per year
Typical
9W
$0.22 per month
$2.71 per year
High draw
12W
$0.30 per month
$3.61 per year
When it hits hardest
winter peak
Heavier use in dark months.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use schedules — set lights to turn off at bedtime
Eliminates overnight accidental-on
- 2
Use dim-down at night — still lit, 50% less watts
Cuts evening watts 30-50%
- 3
Group bulbs and control via automations
One missed switch flip can run lights 24 hrs
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Philips Hue | White A19 | 9W |
| LIFX | Color A19 | 11W |
| Wyze | Bulb Color | 8.5W |
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.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13