How Much Does a Smart light bulb Cost to Run? (2026 Calculator)
Typical setup: 12 W · 5 h/day · $0.180/kWh
Daily
$0.01
Monthly
$0.32
Yearly
$3.94
Quick rate
Daily cost
$0.01
Monthly cost
$0.32
+$0.00 vs typical
Yearly cost
$3.94
kWh / month
1.8 kWh
Local monthly estimate: $0.32 · U.S. average equivalent: $0.32
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ad-after-calculator Quick answer
A typical smart light bulb uses about 12 W and costs about $0.01/day or $0.30/month at the U.S. average rate of $0.17/kWh, assuming 5 hours of use per day. At the same rate, costs range from about $0.00/day (5 W) to $0.07/day (80 W).
State explorer
Quickly spot cheapest, highest, and near-average monthly costs.
Top 10 cheapest
Top 10 highest
- Hawaii $0.72
- Massachusetts $0.56
- Maine $0.55
- California $0.55
- Rhode Island $0.54
- New York $0.51
- Connecticut $0.51
- New Hampshire $0.47
- Alaska $0.46
- District of Columbia $0.43
Cost by state (monthly)
At typical 12 W and 5 h/day. Rates from our dataset (see methodology ). Open a state for a dedicated calculator page.
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ad-after-state-table Wattage range
| Level | Watts | Est. monthly @ avg rate |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 5 W | $0.13 |
| Typical | 12 W | $0.32 |
| High | 80 W | $2.16 |
Energy saving tips
- Avoid running this appliance longer than you need each day.
- Use built-in eco or energy-saving modes whenever available.
- Shift usage to off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use rates.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room.
- Use motion sensors or smart controls for outdoor and hallway lighting.
FAQ
- Most smart light bulb units fall between 5 W and 80 W, with 12 W as a typical operating value for estimates.
- Our estimates use 12 W as the typical wattage, within a reported range of 5–80 W.
- At typical use (5 hours/day at 12 W), the estimate is about 0.06 kWh/day and 1.8 kWh/month at the U.S. average rate.
- With 5 hours/day and 12 W, this appliance uses about 0.06 kWh per day.
- At 5 hours/day, the monthly estimate is about 1.8 kWh per month.
- Per hour, the typical draw is about 0.012 kWh (at 12 W).
- At the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.17/kWh, the typical daily cost is about $0.01/day for 5 hours/day.
- At the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.17/kWh, the typical monthly cost is about $0.30/month at 5 hours/day.
- Running for one hour at 12 W costs about $0.00/hour (using 0.17 $/kWh as the U.S. average).
- With typical use (5 hours/day at 12 W), the estimate is about $0.01/day or $0.30/month at the U.S. average rate.
- The estimate is about 1.8 kWh per month, which corresponds to roughly $0.30/month at the U.S. average rate. Your real bill depends on your rate and runtime.
- Use energy-saving tips tailored to this appliance. For example: Avoid running this appliance longer than you need each day. — reducing kWh reduces the bill at your local rate.