•
Discover the professional Christmas light installation cost, including average prices, cost factors, and tips to save on your holiday lighting project.
Light Cost Calculator: How Much Does a Light Cost a Year?
Illuminate your annual electricity budget
Get quotes from lighting pros near you
No obligation · 100% free
Get quotes from lighting pros near you
No obligation · 100% free
Need Help With a Project? Connect With a Pro
LED lights cost about $1.24 per year for a single bulb, while your incandescent bulbs cost around $7.45 annually based on average daily use.
Expect to pay $160 to $540 to hire an electrician for fixture installation, with costs depending on your project complexity and local labor rates.
Your light bulb wattage, electricity rate, number of bulbs, and daily hours of use all combine to determine your total annual lighting costs.
Hiring a local electrical professional keeps fixture installation and wiring work safe, especially when you need to install new fixtures or change bulbs in hard-to-reach spots.
Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Whether you want to budget for a new light fixture or understand your current energy use, this calculator will show you how to calculate the annual price of a light fixture. Learn how much a light costs per year, depending on the type of bulb, number of bulbs, and average usage.
How Much a Light Costs Per Year
Refer to the table below to estimate how much your light costs per year, using your light bulb’s wattage and the electricity rate set by your utility company. For each type of bulb, the wattage varies based on the lumens, or brightness of the bulb.
The chart is for a single light bulb and assumes two hours of usage per day, the average daily use in U.S. households. Electricity rates differ significantly across the United States, ranging from 7.18 cents per kilowatts per hour (kWh) to 42.34 cents per kWh. The average cost per kWh is 17 cents.
| Type of Bulb | Light Bulb Wattage | Electricity Rate (Cents Per kWh) | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED | 5–24 | 7.18–42.34 | $0.26–7.42 |
| CFL | 13–23 | 7.18–42.34 | $0.68–$7.10 |
| Halogen | 8–60 | 7.18–42.34 | $0.42–$30.91 |
| Incandescent (Standard) | 25–100 | 7.18–42.34 | $1.31–$30.90 |
| Fluorescent Tube | 28–96 | 7.18–42.34 | $1.47–$29.67 |
How to Calculate the Annual Price for Light Fixtures
Using your wattage, daily usage, and electricity rate, apply the following formula to determine how much your light costs per year:
Cost of Light for a Year = (Bulb Wattage x Number of Bulbs x Daily Hours x 365 Days / 1,000) x Electricity Rate
Example: $3.72 per year = (10W x 2 bulbs x 3 hours x 365 days / 1,000) x 0.17 per kWh
Factors That Impact the Cost of a Light
Photo: Nikita Shevchenko / istock / Getty Images
There are a few main factors that impact the cost of a light and help you calculate how much your light costs per year.
Wattage
The wattage is the power consumption of the light bulb, such as 14W or 60W. It’s listed on the base of the bulb or the light bulb box. The higher the wattage, the more energy it uses and the more expensive it is. To determine the kilowatts per hour, which is how utility companies charge you, divide the number by 1,000 to convert watts to kilowatts (for kWh).
Electricity Rate
Your utility company’s price per kWh is determined based on regional factors. Look at a recent energy bill to see your current rate, often shown as “cents per kWh.”
Number of Bulbs
If the light fixture has four bulbs, the total wattage and energy use is higher compared to a single bulb.
Daily Hours of Use
The more hours the light is on, the more energy is used.
Who to Hire to Install a Light Fixture
Photo: Nazar Rybak / Getty Images
Whether you want recessed lighting or a new fixture with a dimmer, a licensed electrician near you can install a fixture and ensure it’s wired correctly. If you have fixtures high on the wall or ceiling, an electrician can safely change the light bulbs or swap out your fixture. The cost of hiring an electrician ranges from $160 to $540, depending on your project and local labor costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lighting services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.5★ avg. • 13 total reviews
- Ronald A.
Custom Paint Jobs LLC gave our office a fresh new look. Clients love it!
Custom Paint Jobs, LLC - John S.
Best painters in the Greater Columbus, Ohio area. Quality of work second to none and customer service is head above shoulders than everyone else. I cant wait to work on another project with Silvio and Team!
- Lauren R.
The Mosby team went above and beyond for my project. They not only installed my light fixture; they also worked through an old, wonky, and as it turns out incorrect wiring issue from the work of prior contractors. Professional, thorough, conscientious, and kind. Five star experience. Thank you!
Mosby Electric - Locke M.
We had a 20+ year old landscape lighting system that needed replacement. Midwest Lightscapes worked with us to design a much improved lighting system, lighting the exterior of the house and the back yard. Installation of the 45 light system took one and one-half days, and went very smoothly....
Midwest Lightscapes - Stephen D.
Jeff was a consummate professional. Responsive, courteous, and focused on meeting our needs. I had a small project of installing and replacing two ceiling light fixtures. He responded to my Home Advisory inquiry within 24 hours and in a span of two weeks our light fixtures were installed. ...
- Stephanie S.
For several months I was looking for somebody to tile a wall in my master bath and move lighting fixtures, and could not find anybody who was responsive. I contacted Rowe through Home Advisor and within days they came by to assess the job and provide an estimate. The cost was very...
Rowe House Development - John E.
A team of 2 spent 5 hours, cleaning top to bottom (removed all light fixture and cleaned.... impressive!!!)
Luzia's Cleaning - Jessica E.
It went very well. I was able to select the color blocks I wanted and where they would be placed in the window. All of the employees were very pleasant and patient. The guys who installed the window arrived promptly, did their job, and there was nothing for me to clean up. The window looks...
Innovate Home Org - Columbus Glass Block - Sarah C.
The initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
- Robb B.
Charlie recommended a separate fan with new lighting to clear steam from the room better. Several weeks ago I contacted Charlie via email to ask about pricing and scheduling, after one follow up he did reply with cost and said it would be about two weeks before he could do the work. I replied...
Settle Muter Electric
The homeowners guide to lighting services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
•Discover the cost to install landscape lighting. Learn about average prices, key cost factors, and ways to save on your outdoor lighting project.
•Get transparent landscape lighting repair cost info. Learn what impacts price, compare repair vs. replacement, and find ways to save on your project.
If you’re planning to install recessed lighting, one of the first things you’ll do is figure out how many recessed lights you need. Here’s how to do that.
Determine exactly how many Christmas lights you need to make sure your home and tree sparkle through the winter. Follow this guide to learn more.
The cost to run Christmas lights shouldn’t deter you from adding holiday cheer. Here’s how to save on holiday light energy costs.