Cost to run Christmas lights in every state
For 70 W (10 × 7 W) for 6 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity rate (August 2026, EIA). Click a state for more detail.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $1.60 | $19.23 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $0.01 | $1.62 | $19.46 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $0.01 | $1.68 | $20.12 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $0.01 | $1.68 | $20.12 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $0.01 | $1.68 | $20.22 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $0.01 | $1.69 | $20.29 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $0.01 | $1.71 | $20.47 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $0.01 | $1.74 | $20.87 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $0.01 | $1.81 | $21.73 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $0.01 | $1.82 | $21.82 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $0.01 | $1.82 | $21.82 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $0.01 | $1.84 | $22.12 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $0.01 | $1.87 | $22.41 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $0.01 | $1.88 | $22.60 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $1.89 | $22.66 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $0.01 | $1.90 | $22.76 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $0.01 | $1.91 | $22.91 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $0.01 | $1.95 | $23.39 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $0.01 | $1.96 | $23.54 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $0.01 | $1.99 | $23.83 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $0.01 | $2.00 | $24.04 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $0.01 | $2.00 | $24.06 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $0.01 | $2.01 | $24.07 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $0.01 | $2.02 | $24.22 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $0.01 | $2.06 | $24.66 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $0.01 | $2.06 | $24.69 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $0.01 | $2.08 | $24.96 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $0.01 | $2.14 | $25.73 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $0.01 | $2.15 | $25.79 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $0.01 | $2.16 | $25.96 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $0.01 | $2.17 | $26.01 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $0.01 | $2.22 | $26.67 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $0.01 | $2.36 | $28.27 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $0.01 | $2.43 | $29.21 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $0.01 | $2.44 | $29.30 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $0.01 | $2.45 | $29.35 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $0.01 | $2.70 | $32.36 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $0.02 | $2.74 | $32.92 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $0.02 | $2.90 | $34.76 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $0.02 | $3.00 | $36.05 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $0.02 | $3.09 | $37.06 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $0.02 | $3.10 | $37.21 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $0.02 | $3.27 | $39.28 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $0.02 | $3.48 | $41.79 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $0.02 | $3.55 | $42.61 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $0.02 | $3.61 | $43.32 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $0.02 | $3.71 | $44.47 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $0.02 | $3.75 | $44.98 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $0.02 | $3.84 | $46.09 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $0.02 | $4.05 | $48.55 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $0.03 | $5.94 | $71.34 |
How the cost is calculated
The Department of Energy's formula: watts × hours per day ÷ 1,000 = kWh per day. Multiply by the days you use it and by your rate in dollars per kWh. A 1,500 W device running 1 hour uses 1.5 kWh; at 18¢ that is 27¢.
How to lower the cost
- Switch to LED strings: they use far less power and last longer.
- Use a timer so the lights are only on in the evening.
- Count inflatables and projectors too: many use 100 W or more each.
