How much does it cost to run a 60 watt light bulb for 24 hours?

A 60W bulb running 24 hours uses 1.44 kWh (60W × 24h ÷ 1000). At the US average rate of $0.15/kWh, that's about $0.22 per day, or roughly $6.50 per month.

What uses the most electricity in a home?

Heating and cooling systems typically use the most electricity (40-50% of total), followed by water heaters (14%), washers/dryers (13%), lighting (9%), and refrigerators (8%). LED lighting can significantly reduce that 9% lighting cost.

How much electricity does a LED bulb use compared to incandescent?

LED bulbs use about 75-90% less electricity than incandescent bulbs. A 10W LED produces the same light as a 60W incandescent, saving $8-12 per bulb annually at average US electricity rates.

How is electricity cost calculated on my bill?

Your electricity bill is calculated by multiplying your total kilowatt-hours (kWh) used by your rate per kWh. Some utilities have tiered rates where the price increases as you use more, or time-of-use rates that vary by time of day.

Does leaving lights on use a lot of electricity?

It depends on the bulb type. Leaving a 60W incandescent on for 8 hours costs about $0.07, while an equivalent 10W LED costs only $0.012. Over a year, that single bulb difference adds up to $20+ in savings.

Free Calculate

Electricity Cost Calculator

Calculate how much electricity your appliances and lights cost to run.

1Enter Details

Bulb/Appliance Wattage

Quantity

Hours Used Per Day

0.5h5 hours24h

Electricity Rate ($/kWh)

US average: $0.12-0.18/kWh

2Electricity Cost

Cost Per Hour$0.045

Daily Cost$0.22

Monthly Cost$6.75

Annual Cost$81

Energy Consumption

1.5

kWh/day

45.0

kWh/month

540

kWh/year

Save Money Tip

Switching to LED would reduce this cost by ~85%. A 60W bulb can be replaced with a 9W LED.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the wattage

Find the wattage on your bulb or appliance label. Common values: LED bulb (10W), incandescent (60W), refrigerator (150W), AC unit (1000-3000W).

Set the quantity

Enter how many of the same devices you want to calculate. This is helpful for figuring out total lighting costs across multiple rooms.

Adjust usage hours

Estimate how many hours per day the device runs. Be realistic - a bedroom light might be 3 hours, while a refrigerator runs 24/7.

Enter your electricity rate

Find your rate on your electricity bill (usually in $/kWh). The US average is about $0.15/kWh, but rates vary from $0.10 to $0.30+.

Review your results

See your daily, monthly, and annual electricity costs. Use this to identify energy-saving opportunities and calculate LED upgrade savings.

Why Calculate Electricity Costs?

Understanding your electricity costs is the first step toward reducing your energy bills. Many households spend 5-10% of their budget on electricity, with lighting accounting for about 9% of that total.

By calculating the running cost of individual appliances and lights, you can identify the biggest energy consumers and prioritize upgrades. Switching from incandescent to LED lighting alone can reduce lighting costs by 75-90%.

Pro Tip

Focus on devices that run for long hours. A 10W device running 24/7 costs more annually than a 1000W device used for 1 hour per week.

Common Appliance Electricity Costs

Here's a quick reference for typical electricity costs. Based on the US average electricity rate of $0.15/kWh.

Appliance	Typical Wattage	Cost/Hour	Cost/Month
LED Bulb	10W	$0.0015	$0.45
Incandescent Bulb	60W	$0.009	$2.70
Laptop	50W	$0.0075	$2.25
Desktop PC	200W	$0.03	$9.00
Refrigerator	150W	$0.0225	$16.20
Air Conditioner	2000W	$0.30	$90.00
Electric Heater	1500W	$0.225	$67.50
Washing Machine	500W	$0.075	$3.00

* Costs calculated at $0.15/kWh. Your actual costs may vary based on your local electricity rate and actual usage patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiply your device's wattage by the number of hours used, divide by 1000 to get kWh, then multiply by your electricity rate. For example, a 60W bulb running for 1 hour uses 0.06 kWh. At $0.15/kWh, it costs $0.009 per hour.