💡 Lighting
How Much Does a Grow Light Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a grow light costs about $24.00 per month at typical usage — 14 hours/day.
Per hour
5.6¢
at 100–650 W
Per day
$0.79
14 hours/day
Per month
$24.00
128 kWh
Per year
$288
1,533 kWh
Grow lights run long photoperiods — commonly 12–18 hours daily — so even efficient LED panels rack up serious kilowatt-hours. A single 300-watt light on a 14-hour schedule uses more electricity than most refrigerators; indoor growing budgets should start with the electric bill.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
5.6¢
Per day
$0.79
Per month
$24.00
Per year
$288
Uses 128 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 | 3.7¢ | $15.83 | $190 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | 3.8¢ | $16.22 | $195 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | 4.0¢ | $16.98 | $204 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | 4.0¢ | $16.98 | $204 |
| Utah | 13.3 | 4.0¢ | $16.98 | $204 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | 4.2¢ | $17.75 | $213 |
| Montana | 13.9 | 4.2¢ | $17.75 | $213 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | 4.2¢ | $17.88 | $215 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | 4.3¢ | $18.13 | $218 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | 4.3¢ | $18.26 | $219 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | 4.3¢ | $18.39 | $221 |
| Washington | 14.4 | 4.3¢ | $18.39 | $221 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | 4.3¢ | $18.51 | $222 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | 4.4¢ | $18.77 | $225 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | 4.5¢ | $19.02 | $228 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $19.15 | $230 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | 4.6¢ | $19.41 | $233 |
| Florida | 15.4 | 4.6¢ | $19.66 | $236 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | 4.6¢ | $19.66 | $236 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | 4.7¢ | $19.79 | $238 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | 4.7¢ | $20.17 | $242 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | 4.7¢ | $20.17 | $242 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | 4.8¢ | $20.56 | $247 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | 4.9¢ | $20.81 | $250 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | 4.9¢ | $20.94 | $251 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | 5.0¢ | $21.07 | $253 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | 5.0¢ | $21.45 | $258 |
| Texas | 17.0 | 5.1¢ | $21.71 | $261 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | 5.1¢ | $21.83 | $262 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | 5.2¢ | $22.22 | $267 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | 5.2¢ | $22.22 | $267 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | 5.4¢ | $22.85 | $274 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | 5.6¢ | $24.00 | $288 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | 5.8¢ | $24.51 | $294 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 5.8¢ | $24.90 | $299 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | 6.1¢ | $26.17 | $314 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | 6.4¢ | $27.32 | $328 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | 6.5¢ | $27.45 | $330 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | 6.6¢ | $28.22 | $339 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | 7.0¢ | $30.00 | $360 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | 7.4¢ | $31.41 | $377 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 7.6¢ | $32.43 | $389 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | 8.2¢ | $34.73 | $417 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | 8.2¢ | $34.98 | $420 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 8.5¢ | $36.13 | $434 |
| Maine | 28.4 | 8.5¢ | $36.26 | $435 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | 8.8¢ | $37.67 | $452 |
| New York | 29.5 | 8.8¢ | $37.67 | $452 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | $0.10 | $41.11 | $494 |
| California | 35.3 | $0.11 | $45.07 | $541 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | $0.14 | $59.50 | $714 |
How to lower the cost
- Buy by PPF efficiency (µmol/J), not wattage — modern LED bars deliver the same light for 40% less power than old HPS.
- Use a timer religiously; every extra lit hour is pure cost.
- Reflective surfaces let you run lights lower or farther for the same canopy light.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a grow light use?
A typical grow light draws about 300 watts in use. At 14 hours/day, that works out to roughly 4.2 kWh per day, or 128 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a grow light for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about 5.6¢. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's 3.7¢, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's $0.14.
How much does a grow light cost to run per month?
With typical usage (14 hours/day), expect about $24.00 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $15.83 in North Dakota up to $59.50 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a grow light use a lot of electricity?
Yes — at typical usage it accounts for roughly 14% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption (885 kWh), which makes it one of the larger loads in the house.