💡 Lighting
How Much Does a Fluorescent Tube Fixture Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a fluorescent tube fixture costs about $2.40 per month at typical usage — 6 hours/day.
Per hour
1.3¢
at 35–110 W
Per day
7.9¢
6 hours/day
Per month
$2.40
13 kWh
Per year
$28.82
153 kWh
A two-tube T8 shop fixture draws about 70 watts including ballast losses. LED tube retrofits halve that and eliminate ballast failures — worthwhile in any garage or basement lit for hours daily.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
1.3¢
Per day
7.9¢
Per month
$2.40
Per year
$28.82
Uses 13 kWh/month at 18.8¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | 0.9¢ | $1.58 | $19.01 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | 0.9¢ | $1.62 | $19.47 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | 0.9¢ | $1.70 | $20.39 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | 0.9¢ | $1.70 | $20.39 |
| Utah | 13.3 | 0.9¢ | $1.70 | $20.39 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | 1.0¢ | $1.77 | $21.31 |
| Montana | 13.9 | 1.0¢ | $1.77 | $21.31 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | 1.0¢ | $1.79 | $21.46 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | 1.0¢ | $1.81 | $21.77 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | 1.0¢ | $1.83 | $21.92 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | 1.0¢ | $1.84 | $22.08 |
| Washington | 14.4 | 1.0¢ | $1.84 | $22.08 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | 1.0¢ | $1.85 | $22.23 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | 1.0¢ | $1.88 | $22.54 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | 1.0¢ | $1.90 | $22.84 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 1.1¢ | $1.92 | $22.99 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | 1.1¢ | $1.94 | $23.30 |
| Florida | 15.4 | 1.1¢ | $1.97 | $23.61 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | 1.1¢ | $1.97 | $23.61 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | 1.1¢ | $1.98 | $23.76 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | 1.1¢ | $2.02 | $24.22 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | 1.1¢ | $2.02 | $24.22 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | 1.1¢ | $2.06 | $24.68 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | 1.1¢ | $2.08 | $24.99 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | 1.1¢ | $2.09 | $25.14 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | 1.2¢ | $2.11 | $25.29 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | 1.2¢ | $2.15 | $25.75 |
| Texas | 17.0 | 1.2¢ | $2.17 | $26.06 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | 1.2¢ | $2.18 | $26.21 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | 1.2¢ | $2.22 | $26.67 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | 1.2¢ | $2.22 | $26.67 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | 1.3¢ | $2.29 | $27.44 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | 1.3¢ | $2.40 | $28.82 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | 1.3¢ | $2.45 | $29.43 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 1.4¢ | $2.49 | $29.89 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | 1.4¢ | $2.62 | $31.43 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | 1.5¢ | $2.73 | $32.81 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | 1.5¢ | $2.75 | $32.96 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | 1.5¢ | $2.82 | $33.88 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | 1.6¢ | $3.00 | $36.03 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | 1.7¢ | $3.14 | $37.71 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 1.8¢ | $3.24 | $38.94 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | 1.9¢ | $3.47 | $41.70 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | 1.9¢ | $3.50 | $42.00 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 2.0¢ | $3.61 | $43.38 |
| Maine | 28.4 | 2.0¢ | $3.63 | $43.54 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | 2.1¢ | $3.77 | $45.22 |
| New York | 29.5 | 2.1¢ | $3.77 | $45.22 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | 2.3¢ | $4.11 | $49.36 |
| California | 35.3 | 2.5¢ | $4.51 | $54.11 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | 3.3¢ | $5.95 | $71.44 |
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 fluorescent tube fixture use?
A typical fluorescent tube fixture draws about 70 watts in use. At 6 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.4 kWh per day, or 13 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a fluorescent tube fixture for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.3¢. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.9¢, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's 3.3¢.
How much does a fluorescent tube fixture cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $2.40 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.58 in North Dakota up to $5.95 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a fluorescent tube fixture 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.