💡 Lighting
How Much Does a Fluorescent Tube Fixture Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a fluorescent tube fixture costs about $2.34 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
$2.34
13 kWh
Per year
$28.05
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
$2.34
Per year
$28.05
Uses 13 kWh/month at 18.3¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 0.9¢ | $1.62 | $19.47 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 0.9¢ | $1.63 | $19.62 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 0.9¢ | $1.67 | $20.08 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 0.9¢ | $1.71 | $20.54 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 1.0¢ | $1.75 | $21.00 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 1.0¢ | $1.75 | $21.00 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 1.0¢ | $1.76 | $21.16 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 1.0¢ | $1.76 | $21.16 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 1.0¢ | $1.83 | $21.92 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 1.0¢ | $1.84 | $22.08 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 1.0¢ | $1.84 | $22.08 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 1.0¢ | $1.85 | $22.23 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 1.0¢ | $1.88 | $22.54 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 1.1¢ | $1.92 | $22.99 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 1.1¢ | $1.92 | $22.99 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 1.1¢ | $1.94 | $23.30 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 1.1¢ | $1.95 | $23.45 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 1.1¢ | $1.97 | $23.61 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 1.1¢ | $1.97 | $23.61 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 1.1¢ | $1.98 | $23.76 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 1.1¢ | $2.02 | $24.22 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 1.1¢ | $2.03 | $24.37 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 1.1¢ | $2.04 | $24.53 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 1.1¢ | $2.04 | $24.53 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 1.1¢ | $2.06 | $24.68 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 1.1¢ | $2.06 | $24.68 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 1.1¢ | $2.08 | $24.99 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 1.1¢ | $2.09 | $25.14 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 1.2¢ | $2.13 | $25.60 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 1.2¢ | $2.17 | $26.06 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 1.2¢ | $2.23 | $26.83 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 1.2¢ | $2.25 | $26.98 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 1.3¢ | $2.36 | $28.36 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 1.3¢ | $2.44 | $29.28 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 1.3¢ | $2.45 | $29.43 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 1.4¢ | $2.49 | $29.89 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 1.5¢ | $2.73 | $32.81 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 1.5¢ | $2.77 | $33.27 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 1.6¢ | $2.95 | $35.41 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 1.7¢ | $3.04 | $36.49 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 1.7¢ | $3.09 | $37.10 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 1.8¢ | $3.22 | $38.63 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 1.8¢ | $3.22 | $38.63 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 1.9¢ | $3.40 | $40.78 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 2.0¢ | $3.61 | $43.38 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 2.0¢ | $3.68 | $44.15 |
| New York | 29.9 | 2.1¢ | $3.82 | $45.84 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 2.1¢ | $3.89 | $46.76 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 2.3¢ | $4.14 | $49.67 |
| California | 33.6 | 2.4¢ | $4.29 | $51.51 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 3.4¢ | $6.13 | $73.58 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.3¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 0.9¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 3.4¢.
How much does a fluorescent tube fixture cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $2.34 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.62 in Louisiana up to $6.13 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.