💡 Lighting
How Much Does a Grow Light Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a grow light costs about $23.37 per month at typical usage — 14 hours/day.
Per hour
5.5¢
at 100–650 W
Per day
$0.77
14 hours/day
Per month
$23.37
128 kWh
Per year
$281
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
5.5¢
Per day
$0.77
Per month
$23.37
Per year
$281
Uses 128 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 | 3.8¢ | $16.22 | $195 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 3.8¢ | $16.34 | $196 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 3.9¢ | $16.73 | $201 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 4.0¢ | $17.11 | $205 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 4.1¢ | $17.49 | $210 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 4.1¢ | $17.49 | $210 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 4.1¢ | $17.62 | $212 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 4.1¢ | $17.62 | $212 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 4.3¢ | $18.26 | $219 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 4.3¢ | $18.39 | $221 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 4.3¢ | $18.39 | $221 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 4.3¢ | $18.51 | $222 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 4.4¢ | $18.77 | $225 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $19.15 | $230 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 4.5¢ | $19.15 | $230 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 4.6¢ | $19.41 | $233 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 4.6¢ | $19.54 | $235 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 4.6¢ | $19.66 | $236 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 4.6¢ | $19.66 | $236 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 4.7¢ | $19.79 | $238 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 4.7¢ | $20.17 | $242 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 4.8¢ | $20.30 | $244 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 4.8¢ | $20.43 | $245 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 4.8¢ | $20.43 | $245 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 4.8¢ | $20.56 | $247 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 4.8¢ | $20.56 | $247 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 4.9¢ | $20.81 | $250 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 4.9¢ | $20.94 | $251 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 5.0¢ | $21.32 | $256 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 5.1¢ | $21.71 | $261 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 5.3¢ | $22.34 | $268 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 5.3¢ | $22.47 | $270 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 5.5¢ | $23.62 | $284 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 5.7¢ | $24.39 | $293 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 5.8¢ | $24.51 | $294 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 5.8¢ | $24.90 | $299 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 6.4¢ | $27.32 | $328 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 6.5¢ | $27.71 | $333 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 6.9¢ | $29.49 | $354 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 7.1¢ | $30.39 | $365 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 7.3¢ | $30.90 | $371 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 7.6¢ | $32.18 | $386 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 7.6¢ | $32.18 | $386 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 8.0¢ | $33.96 | $408 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 8.5¢ | $36.13 | $434 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 8.6¢ | $36.77 | $442 |
| New York | 29.9 | 9.0¢ | $38.18 | $458 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 9.2¢ | $38.94 | $468 |
| Maine | 32.4 | $0.10 | $41.37 | $497 |
| California | 33.6 | $0.10 | $42.90 | $515 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | $0.14 | $61.29 | $736 |
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 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 5.5¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 3.8¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's $0.14.
How much does a grow light cost to run per month?
With typical usage (14 hours/day), expect about $23.37 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $16.22 in Louisiana up to $61.29 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 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.