The answer may surprise you. Modern lighting is incredibly energy efficient, and even leaving a light on for several hours each day costs far less than most people think.
The Cost of Running Different Types of Light Bulbs
The cost depends on two factors:
The wattage of the bulb.
The price you pay for electricity.
For this example, we’ll use an electricity price of 30p per kWh, which is close to the current UK domestic average.
LED Bulb (8 Watts)
An 8W LED bulb produces roughly the same amount of light as a traditional 60W incandescent bulb.
Energy used in one hour: 0.008 kWh
Cost per hour: 0.24p
Cost for 5 hours per day: 1.2p
Annual cost: approximately £4.40
Traditional Incandescent Bulb (60 Watts)
Older-style bulbs consume much more electricity.
Energy used in one hour: 0.06 kWh
Cost per hour: 1.8p
Cost for 5 hours per day: 9p
Annual cost: approximately £33
Halogen Bulb (42 Watts)
Many homes still use halogen lighting.
Energy used in one hour: 0.042 kWh
Cost per hour: 1.26p
Cost for 5 hours per day: 6.3p
Annual cost: approximately £23
Why LED Lighting Makes Sense
Switching to LED lighting offers several benefits:
Lower electricity bills.
Longer bulb lifespan (often 15,000–25,000 hours).
Reduced maintenance and replacement costs.
Lower carbon emissions.
Replacing just ten old 60W bulbs with modern LEDs could save around £280 per year in electricity costs alone.
Small Savings Add Up
While the cost of running a single light bulb is relatively low, every appliance contributes to your overall energy bill. Understanding where your electricity is being used can help you make informed decisions and identify opportunities for savings.
For businesses with multiple sites, warehouses, schools, care homes or hospitality venues, lighting can represent a significant proportion of overall energy consumption. Upgrading to LED lighting and reviewing energy contracts can deliver substantial long-term savings.
Final Thoughts
Running a modern LED light bulb costs only a fraction of a penny per hour. In most UK homes, a typical LED bulb used for five hours each day costs less than £5 per year to operate.
Although lighting is no longer one of the biggest contributors to energy bills, switching to efficient lighting remains one of the easiest and quickest ways to reduce energy costs.
Need help reducing your business energy costs? Utilinet works with multi-site businesses across the UK to secure competitive gas and electricity contracts and identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency.