How Much Does It Cost to Run Christmas Lights? LED vs Incandescent
Less than most people think, if the lights are LED. Twenty strands of LED mini lights at 5 W each, on for 6 hours a night from the day after Thanksgiving to New Year's Day (36 nights), use 21.6 kWh and cost about $3.67 at 17 cents per kWh. The same 20 strands in old incandescent mini lights cost $29.38. The Christmas lights cost calculator works out your own display.
Part of the project planner: Planning the holidays: dinner, tree and lights.
Cost per strand
One strand on for 6 hours a night for 36 nights at 17¢ per kWh. The watts are typical for each type: the box or the tag by the plug gives the real figure, and it is worth reading, because two strands that look alike can differ.
| Strand | Watts | Per night | For the season | Energy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED mini lights, 100 bulbs | 5 W | 0.5¢ | $0.18 | 1.1 kWh |
| Incandescent mini lights, 100 bulbs | 40 W | 4.1¢ | $1.47 | 8.6 kWh |
| Incandescent C9, 25 bulbs | 175 W | 18¢ | $6.43 | 37.8 kWh |
Big old-style C9 bulbs are where the money goes. Ten incandescent C9 strands along a roofline cost about $64.26 for the season, against $1.84 for ten LED strands at 5 W.
A whole display: LED against incandescent
LED mini strands at 5 W against incandescent mini strands at 40 W, 6 hours a night for 36 nights.
| Strands | LED | Incandescent | LED saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $0.92 | $7.34 | $6.43 |
| 10 | $1.84 | $14.69 | $12.85 |
| 20 | $3.67 | $29.38 | $25.70 |
| 40 | $7.34 | $58.75 | $51.41 |
| 80 | $14.69 | $117.50 | $102.82 |
Count the strands you actually plug in, not the boxes in the attic. For how many strands a tree or a roofline takes, see how many Christmas lights do I need.
If your electricity price is different
The price per kWh is on your bill, and it varies a lot from state to state. The same three displays at four prices:
| Price | 20 LED strands | 20 incandescent strands | 10 incandescent C9 strands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12¢ per kWh | $2.59 | $20.74 | $45.36 |
| 17¢ per kWh | $3.67 | $29.38 | $64.26 |
| 25¢ per kWh | $5.40 | $43.20 | $94.50 |
| 40¢ per kWh | $8.64 | $69.12 | $151.20 |
Hours a night, and why a timer pays
| On each night | 20 LED strands | 20 incandescent strands |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | $2.45 | $19.58 |
| 6 hours | $3.67 | $29.38 |
| 8 hours | $4.90 | $39.17 |
| 12 hours | $7.34 | $58.75 |
| 24 hours | $14.69 | $117.50 |
- A timer from dusk to bedtime is the cheapest upgrade. Lights left on all day and night cost 4 times as much as 6 hours a night, and unattended lights are a fire risk.
- Inflatables, projectors and animated figures run motors and fans, and often use more power than the lights. Add their watts from the label.
- Switching to LED also lets you join more strands end to end and put more on one circuit. Check the limit on the box and use the Christmas lights circuit calculator before you daisy-chain.
- Use outdoor-rated lights and cords outside, plugged into a GFCI outlet.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run Christmas lights per hour?
One 5 W LED strand costs about 0.09¢ an hour at 17¢ per kWh, and a 40 W incandescent strand about 0.68¢ an hour.
How much do Christmas lights add to the electric bill?
For 20 LED strands on 6 hours a night, about $3.67 for the whole season at 17¢ per kWh. Incandescent strands cost about $29.38, and a large incandescent C9 roofline can cost much more.
Is it worth switching to LED Christmas lights?
Usually, for a big display. Each 40 W incandescent strand replaced by a 5 W LED strand saves about $1.29 a season at 6 hours a night and 17¢ per kWh, so the payback depends on how many strands you run and the price of the new lights.
Is it expensive to leave Christmas lights on all night?
For 20 LED strands, 24 hours a day costs about $14.69 for the season against $3.67 at 6 hours a night. Turning them off at bedtime is safer as well as cheaper.
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