Cost to run a light bulb in every state
For 90 W (10 × 9 W) for 3 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $1.03 | $12.36 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.01 | $1.04 | $12.51 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.01 | $1.08 | $12.94 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.01 | $1.08 | $12.94 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.01 | $1.08 | $13.00 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.01 | $1.09 | $13.04 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.01 | $1.10 | $13.16 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.01 | $1.12 | $13.41 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.01 | $1.16 | $13.97 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.01 | $1.17 | $14.03 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $0.01 | $1.17 | $14.03 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $0.01 | $1.19 | $14.22 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $0.01 | $1.20 | $14.41 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $0.01 | $1.21 | $14.53 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $1.21 | $14.57 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.01 | $1.22 | $14.63 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.01 | $1.23 | $14.73 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.01 | $1.25 | $15.04 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.01 | $1.26 | $15.13 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.01 | $1.28 | $15.32 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.01 | $1.29 | $15.45 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $0.01 | $1.29 | $15.46 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.01 | $1.29 | $15.47 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.01 | $1.30 | $15.57 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.01 | $1.32 | $15.85 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.01 | $1.32 | $15.87 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $0.01 | $1.34 | $16.05 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $0.02 | $1.38 | $16.54 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $0.02 | $1.38 | $16.58 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $0.02 | $1.39 | $16.69 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $0.02 | $1.39 | $16.72 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $0.02 | $1.43 | $17.15 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $0.02 | $1.51 | $18.18 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $0.02 | $1.56 | $18.78 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $0.02 | $1.57 | $18.84 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $0.02 | $1.57 | $18.87 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $0.02 | $1.73 | $20.80 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $0.02 | $1.76 | $21.16 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $0.02 | $1.86 | $22.35 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $0.02 | $1.93 | $23.17 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $0.02 | $1.99 | $23.82 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $0.02 | $1.99 | $23.92 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $0.02 | $2.10 | $25.25 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $0.02 | $2.24 | $26.87 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $0.03 | $2.28 | $27.39 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $0.03 | $2.32 | $27.85 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $0.03 | $2.38 | $28.59 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $0.03 | $2.41 | $28.92 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $0.03 | $2.47 | $29.63 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $0.03 | $2.60 | $31.21 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $0.04 | $3.82 | $45.86 |
How much homes actually use, by region
Average annual electricity used by a light bulb in homes that have one, from the EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), and what that use costs at today's U.S. average rate.
| Region | kWh per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 654 | $118.77 |
| New England | 511 | $92.80 |
| Middle Atlantic | 597 | $108.42 |
| East North Central | 613 | $111.32 |
| West North Central | 690 | $125.30 |
| South Atlantic | 674 | $122.40 |
| East South Central | 748 | $135.84 |
| West South Central | 817 | $148.37 |
| Mountain North | 681 | $123.67 |
| Mountain South | 633 | $114.95 |
| Pacific | 579 | $105.15 |
How the cost is calculated
The Department of Energy's formula: watts × hours per day ÷ 1,000 = kWh per day. Multiply by the days you use it and by your rate in dollars per kWh. A 1,500 W device running 1 hour uses 1.5 kWh; at 18¢ that is 27¢.
How to lower the cost
- Replace the bulbs you use most first; they pay back fastest.
- Use motion sensors or timers for outdoor and garage lights.
- Check the lumens, not the watts, to compare brightness.
