People often think that LED lights use a lot of electricity. But is that real? Let’s understand how much electricity LED lights use with real-world examples. We will break down the electricity consumption and cost. We will also compare the LED lights with other lighting technologies to help you decide which one is more energy efficient.
Part 1. Do LED Lights Use a Lot of Electricity?
No, LED lights do not use a lot of electricity. In fact, they are extremely energy efficient. They consume minimal electricity compared to other lighting technologies, such as incandescent lights, halogen lights, CFLs, etc.
They are ideal for saving energy, reducing electricity bills, and minimizing energy wastage. If you want to reduce your electricity bill, it’s better to replace all lights in your home with energy-efficient LED bulbs and lighting.
Part 2. How Much Electricity Do LED Lights Use?
A 700-800 lumen LED bulb is typically rated at 8-10W. It provides the same amount of light as a 60W incandescent bulb, but at one-sixth of the energy consumption. Simply put, you get the same brightness while saving energy and reducing your energy bill at the same time.
Similarly, you can get the same light as a 100W incandescent bulb from a 12-15W LED bulb. LED lights consume less electricity because, unlike other technologies, they turn most of the energy into light and there is minimal wastage.
kWh Explanation (Simple Breakdown)
Suppose you are using a 12W LED bulb for 8 hours every day.
- Energy consumption per day (Wh) = 12 x 8 = 96 Wh
- Energy consumption per month (Wh) = 96 x 30 = 2880 Wh
- Energy consumption per month (kWh) = 2.88 kWh
Thus, a 12W LED bulb consumes around 2.88 units of electricity if you use it for 8 hours per day.
LED Electricity Consumption by Type
The wattage of different LED lights varies according to the output lumens, LED technology, and various other factors. However, here is the typical consumption of different LED lights in a residential setting.
| Product Type | Watts |
| LED Bulb | 6-15W |
| LED Strip Lights | 4-15W per meter |
| LED Floor Lamp | 15-30W |
| LED Ceiling Fixtures | 18-40W |
You may also like: How Much Electricity Do Christmas Lights Use?
Part 3. How Much Do LED Lights Cost to Run?
Suppose you have installed 20 LED lights of 10W at your home. You use these lights for 8 hours every day. Let’s calculate the cost to run these lights in the US.
Daily Energy Consumption of 1 LED Light = 10W x 8 hours = 80 Wh
Daily Energy Consumption of 20 LED Light = 20 x 80 Wh = 1600 Wh = 1.6 kWh
If you are living in New York, and the cost per unit (kWh) is $0.30.
- Daily Cost = $0.30 x 1.6 = $0.48
- Monthly Cost = $0.48 x 30 = $14.4
- Annual Cost = $14.4 x 12 = $172.8
Part 4. Factors That Affect LED Light Power Consumption
Driver Efficiency
LED lights use a driver to convert 110V or 220V into 12V/24V. The efficiency of this conversion depends on the driver. If the efficiency is high, there will be less wastage, which translates to more energy savings. Reputable brands use high-quality drives that can offer up to 90% efficiency.
Color and Wavelength
Single-color LEDs use different chemical compounds to produce the color. Thus, they require different voltages to operate, which also affects the energy consumption. White LEDs have a high power consumption, while red LEDs have the lowest.
And if you are using RGB lights, it requires more power as it is based on three LEDs, which include Red, Green, and Blue. Other than these three basic colors, all colors are made up of the combination of two or three colors. For instance, white is obtained by turning on the Red, Blue, and Green at full intensity. Thus, the power consumption increases.
LED Density and Length
These factors are specific to LED strip lights. The LED density defines the number of LED lights per unit length. For instance, there could be 30 LEDs per meter or 60 LEDs per meter. The latter produces more light than the former and also consumes more energy.
Similarly, as the length of the strip increases, the power consumption also increases.
Smart Features
For smart features and controls, LED lights consume a little more electricity. If there is a separate IC for each LED light, it consumes some power. Moreover, when smart lights are on standby, they still consume minimal electricity, around 0.5W to 1W. It is necessary to keep the bulb connected to the control device in order to receive commands.
Heat Management
Heat management plays an important role in the energy consumption of LED lights. If heat is not properly controlled, the efficiency decreases. That’s why aluminum heat sinks, channels, and PCBs are used in LED lights.
Part 5. LED Lights vs Other Lighting Types: Energy Consumption
| Type |
Wattage (800 Lumens) |
Annual Cost (8 hours per day usage at $0.30 per unit) |
| LED | 8-10W | $8.76 |
| Halogen | 13-15W | $13.14 |
| CFL | 40-45W | $39.51 |
| Incandescent | 60W | $65.7 |
We have four common lighting technologies: LED, Halogen, CFL, and Incandescent. And LED is the most efficient.
An 800-lumen LED light typically consumes 8-10W. It converts most of the energy into light, and there is minimal wastage. Thus, its efficiency is high.
In second place, we have CFL (Compact Fluorescent) lights. You might have seen CFL tube lights and spiral tube bulbs. If you want 800 lumens, you need to get a 13-15W CFL light. It also converts most of the energy into light and is much more efficient than incandescent bulbs.
The third option is Halogen. For 800 lumens, you need a 40-45W halogen bulb. It is less efficient than CFL and LED, but consumes around 25-30% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
The last option is Incandescent, which is notorious for high energy consumption. The reason is that it wastes around 85-90% of the electrical energy as heat. So, only 10-15% is converted into light. That’s why you need a 60W incandescent bulb to get 800 lumens.
Part 6. Do LED Light Strips Use a Lot of Electricity?
An LED strip light is the most efficient strip lighting technology. Undoubtedly, it has dozens of LEDs per meter, so it consumes more electricity compared to an LED bulb. But when it is compared to other strip or string lighting technologies, it saves a lot of energy.
Suppose you have a string of 10 incandescent bulbs. It translates to 600W, which means 0.6 kWh per hour. It consumes a lot of electricity and also generates too much heat.
On the other hand, if you use an LED strip light, it will consume 20-60W, depending on the length, brightness, and other factors. They are extremely budget-friendly and the safest option.
Part 7. Choosing Energy-Efficient LED Lights
How to Choose Energy-Efficient LED Lights?
While buying energy-efficient LED lights, you can consider these important things.
- Check Lumens: It is necessary to check lumens as they define the brightness of a light. Depending on your needs, you can select a suitable lumen value.
- Consider Wattage: Even though LED lights are efficient, you should consider the wattage, especially if you are replacing all lights. It gives you an idea of the energy consumption.
- Voltage: Make sure to check the voltage compatibility before buying. You can choose 110V or 220V-rated lights, depending on where you live.
- Smart Features: It is better to go with smart LED lights. They are perfect for automation and energy-saving. They can be connected to the mobile application or smart home system.
- CRI: Color Rendering Index (CRI) is an important factor that measures how accurately a light source reproduces the true colors when it falls on an object compared to natural sunlight. For better results, you can go with LED bulbs with CRI 90+.
- Certifications: You can look at the certifications the lights have. For safety certifications, look for ETL, CSA, or UL. For energy efficiency, check Energy Star or DLC.
Energy-Efficient LED Lights Recommendation
Energy-efficient LED Bulbs: Check out these smart LED light bulbs to light up your bedroom and kitchen.
Solar Outdoor String Lights: Govee’s Outdoor Solar String Lights offer retro aesthetics and high energy efficiency at the same time.
LED Light Strips: Decorate your houses and elevate the room ambiance with Govee LED Strip Lights.
Energy-efficient LED Ceiling Light: Govee offers a massive range of recessed and ceiling lights that offer incredible smart features.
Part 8. Common Myths About LED Electricity Usage
Myth 1: LEDs are 100% Efficient
LEDs offer high efficiency, but they are not 100% efficient. They convert most of the electrical energy into light, but some energy is still converted into heat. You can find LED lights with 80% to 90% efficiency.
Myth 2: LEDs have a Short Lifespan
LEDs do not have a short lifespan. In fact, they last much longer than incandescent, CFL, and halogen lights.
They usually last for 20,000 to 50,000 hours, which is incredible. If the life is 20,000 hours and you use the light for 8 hours every day, it can last up to 7 years. And if life is 50,000 hours, it could last up to 17 years for the same usage.
Myth 3: LEDs are Too Expensive
People often think that LEDs are too expensive. But it is incorrect. The price of LED lights is a bit higher than other lighting technologies, but it is recovered quickly as it uses much less electricity. Secondly, it lasts much longer. Therefore, it is worth the price.
FAQs About LED Power Usage
1. Do LED lights make your electric bill high?
No, LED lights do not make your electric bill high. They are highly efficient, which means they use minimal electricity and reduce energy consumption. They are energy savers compared to incandescent, CFL, and halogen lights.
2. Do smart lights still use electricity when off?
Yes, smart lights use a small amount of electricity when they are powered off. It is necessary to keep the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and IR connectivity active so that the bulb can respond to commands.
3. Can you leave LED lights on all night?
You can leave LED lights on all night. They consume less electricity and produce minimal heat. They are safe to use without interruption.
4. smart lights use more electricity?
Smart lights consume the same electricity as normal LED lights, as they also have the same lighting technology. They are highly efficient compared to incandescent, CFL, and halogen lights. However, they consume minimal electricity when they are on standby because they need to keep the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity active.
5. How much electricity does a light bulb use?
A 10W LED bulb offers around 700-800 lumens and uses only 2.4 kWh of electricity if you use it 8 hours a day for a month. In contrast, a 60W incandescent bulb that produces the same lumens consumes 14.4 kWh monthly if you use it 8 hours a day.
6. Do RGB LED lights use a lot of electricity?
RGB LED lights are also energy efficient, but they use more electricity than a single-color LED light. The reason is that most colors are obtained through the mixing of Red, Green, and Blue, so either two or three of them are turned on at the same time to achieve the desired color.
Conclusion
LED lights do not use a lot of electricity because their energy efficiency is 80-90%. They convert electrical energy into light, and a small amount of energy is converted into heat. Thus, by installing LED lights, you can save energy and reduce electricity bills. Check out Govee’s energy-efficient LED lights and enjoy energy savings with smart features.
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