Holiday Lights Cost Calculator

1 Your lights

Type of lights

Number of strings

Watts per string (optional)

From the box or the tag near the plug. Leave blank to use the typical figure for the type.

Hours a day

Days in the season

Thanksgiving weekend to early January is about 40 days.

Your state

Your price per kWh (optional)

cents

Overrides the state average. Divide your bill's electricity charges, delivery included, by the kWh used.

2 What your lights cost

Cost for the season

$17.46

96 kWh

Cost per day

43.7¢

400 W while the lights are on

Same lights in LED

$2.18

LED mini lights, at the same count

Watts per string	40 W (typical; check your box)
All strings together	400 W
Cost per hour	7.28¢
Energy for the season	96 kWh

The watts are printed on the box or the tag near the plug. Your bill's price per kWh can differ from the state average, especially in winter or on a time-of-use plan.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's advice: buy lights tested by a recognized lab, put only outdoor-rated lights outside and plug them into GFCI-protected outlets, run no more than three standard-size sets per extension cord, and turn them off when you go to bed or leave the house.