750 LED Christmas lights (8 strands, 40 watts total) running 6 hours a day for 30 days cost about $1.08 a month at $0.15 per kWh. The same lights in incandescent cost about $8.64 a month. Use the calculator below for your exact setup.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter how many 100-light strands you have, and choose LED or incandescent.
- Check the watts per strand — it fills in automatically (LED 5W, incandescent 40W) but you can change it.
- Enter hours per day, days and your electricity rate, then click Calculate.
Example: 8 strands of LED lights at 5W each, 6 hours a day for 30 days at $0.15 per kWh costs $1.08 a month. If a field is empty, the calculator will ask you to fill it in instead of showing zero.
Christmas Lights Electricity Cost Calculator
Bulb type
Planning Your Christmas Lights
First work out how many lights you need with our Christmas Tree Lights Calculator, then use this calculator to see what they will cost to run. For a party table to go with your decorated tree, our Sandwich Party Calculator helps with buffet quantities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run Christmas lights?
It depends on watts, hours and your electricity rate. For example, 750 LED lights (40 watts) running 6 hours a day for 30 days cost about $1.08 a month at $0.15 per kWh.
Are LED Christmas lights cheaper than incandescent?
Yes — LED lights use about 8 times less electricity than incandescent for the same number of lights. In the example above, LED costs $1.08 a month while incandescent costs $8.64 a month, a saving of $7.56.
How do I calculate Christmas light electricity cost?
Multiply total watts by hours per day and days, multiply by your electricity rate, then divide by 1000. Formula: Cost = Watts x Hours x Days x Rate / 1000.