💡 Lighting
How Much Does a CFL Bulb Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a cfl bulb costs about $0.39 per month at typical usage — 5 hours/day.
Per hour
0.3¢
at 9–23 W
Per day
1.3¢
5 hours/day
Per month
$0.39
2.1 kWh
Per year
$4.70
26 kWh
CFLs cut incandescent costs by about 75%, but modern LEDs beat them on power, lifespan, instant-on, and dimming. There's no reason to buy new CFLs — replace them with LEDs as they burn out.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
0.3¢
Per day
1.3¢
Per month
$0.39
Per year
$4.70
Uses 2.1 kWh/month at 18.4¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | 0.2¢ | $0.26 | $3.17 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 0.2¢ | $0.28 | $3.32 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 0.2¢ | $0.29 | $3.42 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 0.2¢ | $0.29 | $3.47 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 0.2¢ | $0.29 | $3.47 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 0.2¢ | $0.29 | $3.47 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 0.2¢ | $0.29 | $3.50 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 0.2¢ | $0.30 | $3.60 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 0.2¢ | $0.30 | $3.60 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 0.2¢ | $0.30 | $3.63 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 0.2¢ | $0.31 | $3.68 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 0.2¢ | $0.31 | $3.70 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 0.2¢ | $0.31 | $3.76 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 0.2¢ | $0.31 | $3.78 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 0.2¢ | $0.32 | $3.83 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 0.2¢ | $0.32 | $3.83 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 0.2¢ | $0.32 | $3.86 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 0.2¢ | $0.32 | $3.86 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 0.2¢ | $0.32 | $3.88 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 0.2¢ | $0.32 | $3.88 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 0.2¢ | $0.33 | $4.01 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 0.2¢ | $0.34 | $4.04 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 0.2¢ | $0.34 | $4.14 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 0.2¢ | $0.34 | $4.14 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 0.2¢ | $0.34 | $4.14 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 0.2¢ | $0.35 | $4.16 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 0.2¢ | $0.35 | $4.19 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 0.2¢ | $0.36 | $4.29 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 0.2¢ | $0.36 | $4.29 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 0.2¢ | $0.36 | $4.34 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 0.2¢ | $0.37 | $4.50 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 0.3¢ | $0.39 | $4.65 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 0.3¢ | $0.41 | $4.96 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.3¢ | $0.41 | $4.98 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 0.3¢ | $0.42 | $5.03 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 0.3¢ | $0.46 | $5.52 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 0.3¢ | $0.46 | $5.57 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 0.3¢ | $0.47 | $5.62 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 0.3¢ | $0.50 | $5.95 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 0.3¢ | $0.51 | $6.11 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 0.3¢ | $0.53 | $6.36 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 0.4¢ | $0.54 | $6.49 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 0.4¢ | $0.58 | $6.98 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 0.4¢ | $0.58 | $7.00 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 0.4¢ | $0.60 | $7.21 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 0.4¢ | $0.61 | $7.31 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 0.4¢ | $0.61 | $7.36 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 0.4¢ | $0.63 | $7.54 |
| New York | 29.9 | 0.4¢ | $0.64 | $7.64 |
| California | 33.3 | 0.5¢ | $0.71 | $8.51 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 0.7¢ | $1.11 | $13.29 |
How to lower the cost
- Replace remaining incandescent and halogen bulbs with LEDs — the payback is measured in months.
- Use motion sensors or timers for outdoor and hallway lighting.
- Dimming an LED saves nearly proportionally — 70% brightness ≈ 70% of the power.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a cfl bulb use?
A typical cfl bulb draws about 14 watts in use. At 5 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.1 kWh per day, or 2.1 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a cfl bulb for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.3¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.2¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 0.7¢.
How much does a cfl bulb cost to run per month?
With typical usage (5 hours/day), expect about $0.39 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $0.26 in Idaho up to $1.11 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a cfl bulb use a lot of electricity?
Not really — at typical usage it's under 1% of an average home's monthly consumption. Heating, cooling, hot water, and drying are the loads that move bills.