💡 Lighting
How Much Does a Fluorescent Tube Fixture Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a fluorescent tube fixture costs about $2.35 per month at typical usage — 6 hours/day.
Per hour
1.3¢
at 35–110 W
Per day
7.7¢
6 hours/day
Per month
$2.35
13 kWh
Per year
$28.21
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
7.7¢
Per month
$2.35
Per year
$28.21
Uses 13 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 | 0.9¢ | $1.58 | $19.01 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 0.9¢ | $1.66 | $19.93 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 0.9¢ | $1.71 | $20.54 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 1.0¢ | $1.74 | $20.85 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 1.0¢ | $1.74 | $20.85 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 1.0¢ | $1.74 | $20.85 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 1.0¢ | $1.75 | $21.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 1.0¢ | $1.80 | $21.62 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 1.0¢ | $1.80 | $21.62 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 1.0¢ | $1.81 | $21.77 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 1.0¢ | $1.84 | $22.08 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 1.0¢ | $1.85 | $22.23 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 1.0¢ | $1.88 | $22.54 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 1.0¢ | $1.89 | $22.69 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 1.1¢ | $1.92 | $22.99 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 1.1¢ | $1.92 | $22.99 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 1.1¢ | $1.93 | $23.15 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 1.1¢ | $1.93 | $23.15 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 1.1¢ | $1.94 | $23.30 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 1.1¢ | $1.94 | $23.30 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 1.1¢ | $2.00 | $24.07 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 1.1¢ | $2.02 | $24.22 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 1.1¢ | $2.07 | $24.83 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 1.1¢ | $2.07 | $24.83 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 1.1¢ | $2.07 | $24.83 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 1.1¢ | $2.08 | $24.99 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 1.1¢ | $2.09 | $25.14 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 1.2¢ | $2.15 | $25.75 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 1.2¢ | $2.15 | $25.75 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 1.2¢ | $2.17 | $26.06 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 1.2¢ | $2.25 | $26.98 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 1.3¢ | $2.32 | $27.90 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 1.4¢ | $2.48 | $29.74 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 1.4¢ | $2.49 | $29.89 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 1.4¢ | $2.52 | $30.20 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 1.5¢ | $2.76 | $33.11 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 1.5¢ | $2.78 | $33.42 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 1.5¢ | $2.81 | $33.73 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 1.6¢ | $2.97 | $35.72 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 1.7¢ | $3.05 | $36.64 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 1.7¢ | $3.18 | $38.17 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 1.8¢ | $3.24 | $38.94 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 1.9¢ | $3.49 | $41.85 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 1.9¢ | $3.50 | $42.00 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 2.0¢ | $3.60 | $43.23 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 2.0¢ | $3.65 | $43.84 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 2.0¢ | $3.68 | $44.15 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 2.1¢ | $3.77 | $45.22 |
| New York | 29.9 | 2.1¢ | $3.82 | $45.84 |
| California | 33.3 | 2.3¢ | $4.25 | $51.05 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 3.6¢ | $6.64 | $79.72 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.3¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.9¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 3.6¢.
How much does a fluorescent tube fixture cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $2.35 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.58 in Idaho up to $6.64 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.