How Much Does An Incandescent Bulb Cost to Run in Illinois?
An incandescent bulb typically uses 60 watts. At 5 hours a day and $0.17/kWh in Illinois, it costs about $0.051 per day, $1.53 per month and $18.62 per year.
Calculate your own cost
- Per hour
- $0.010.06 kWh
- Per day
- $0.0510.3 kWh
- Per week
- $0.3572.1 kWh
- Per month (30 days)
- $1.539 kWh
- Per year
- $18.62110 kWh
Formula: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate. Edit any box and every number updates instantly.
People also ask
How much does a 60-watt incandescent bulb cost per hour?
At $0.17/kWh, it costs $0.01 per hour. The maths: 60 W ÷ 1,000 = 0.06 kWh per hour, × $0.17 = $0.01.
How much does it cost per month?
Used 5 hours a day for 30 days, it costs about $1.53 per month and uses 9 kWh. Change the hours in the calculator above to match how you use it.
How many kWh does it use?
0.3 kWh per day, 9 kWh per month and 110 kWh per year at 5 hours a day. A kWh is one kilowatt (1,000 W) used for one hour. It is the unit on your electricity bill.
How can I lower the cost?
Replace it with a 9 W LED and keep the same brightness. Check your bill for the exact rate and enter it above.
Does my electricity rate change the answer?
Yes, a lot. At 10¢ per kWh the monthly cost is $0.90 and at 30¢ it is $2.70. Find your rate on your bill (total cost ÷ kWh used) and type it into the calculator.
Cost by hours of use in Illinois
| Used per day | Energy per day | Cost per day | Cost per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.06 kWh | $0.01 | $0.306 | $3.72 |
| 2 hours | 0.12 kWh | $0.02 | $0.612 | $7.45 |
| 3 hours | 0.18 kWh | $0.031 | $0.918 | $11.17 |
| 4 hours | 0.24 kWh | $0.041 | $1.22 | $14.89 |
| 5 hours | 0.3 kWh | $0.051 | $1.53 | $18.62 |
| 6 hours | 0.36 kWh | $0.061 | $1.84 | $22.34 |
| 7 hours | 0.42 kWh | $0.071 | $2.14 | $26.06 |
| 8 hours | 0.48 kWh | $0.082 | $2.45 | $29.78 |
| 9 hours | 0.54 kWh | $0.092 | $2.75 | $33.51 |
| 10 hours | 0.6 kWh | $0.102 | $3.06 | $37.23 |
| 11 hours | 0.66 kWh | $0.112 | $3.37 | $40.95 |
| 12 hours | 0.72 kWh | $0.122 | $3.67 | $44.68 |
| 13 hours | 0.78 kWh | $0.133 | $3.98 | $48.40 |
| 14 hours | 0.84 kWh | $0.143 | $4.28 | $52.12 |
| 15 hours | 0.9 kWh | $0.153 | $4.59 | $55.85 |
| 16 hours | 0.96 kWh | $0.163 | $4.90 | $59.57 |
| 17 hours | 1.02 kWh | $0.173 | $5.20 | $63.29 |
| 18 hours | 1.08 kWh | $0.184 | $5.51 | $67.01 |
| 19 hours | 1.14 kWh | $0.194 | $5.81 | $70.74 |
| 20 hours | 1.2 kWh | $0.204 | $6.12 | $74.46 |
| 21 hours | 1.26 kWh | $0.214 | $6.43 | $78.18 |
| 22 hours | 1.32 kWh | $0.224 | $6.73 | $81.91 |
| 23 hours | 1.38 kWh | $0.235 | $7.04 | $85.63 |
| 24 hours | 1.44 kWh | $0.245 | $7.34 | $89.35 |
How we worked it out
- Energy per hour: 60 W ÷ 1,000 = 0.06 kWh
- Cost per hour: 0.06 kWh × $0.17 = $0.01
- Cost per day: × 5 hours = $0.051
- Month and year: × 30 days = $1.53, × 365 days = $18.62
Illinois electricity prices
Illinois pays about $0.17 per kWh, which is 3% lower than the US average of $0.175. The same incandescent bulb would cost $1.58 a month at the national average.
What it costs in different places
Same 60-watt incandescent bulb, 5 hours a day. Only the local electricity rate changes.
| Place | Rate per kWh | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.175 | $1.58 |
| California | $0.32 | $2.88 |
| Texas | $0.155 | $1.40 |
| New York | $0.25 | $2.25 |
| Florida | $0.155 | $1.40 |
| Illinois | $0.17 | $1.53 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.18 | $1.62 |
| Ohio | $0.17 | $1.53 |
| Washington | $0.115 | $1.04 |
About incandescent bulb running costs
Incandescent bulbs turn most of their power into heat, not light, which makes them 6 to 8 times as costly as LEDs.
Typical sizes: 40 W, 60 W, 75 W, 100 W.
How to spend less: Replace it with a 9 W LED and keep the same brightness.
What this estimate assumes
- The appliance draws its full stated wattage the whole time it is on. Real units with a thermostat cycle off and cost less.
- Wattage is the typical label value, not a measured value. Check the label on your own appliance.
- The rate is an approximate residential average in Illinois. Your bill may include fixed fees, tiers or time-of-use pricing. Edit the rate above.
- A month is 30 days and a year is 365 days.