The short answer
A typical LED display of 10 mini-light strings, 4 strings of C9 bulbs and 2 inflatables draws about 179.6 W and costs about $7.83 for a 40-night season at 6 hours a night, at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh (August 2026). The same display with incandescent strings costs about $53.17. Two inflatables are $5.23 of the LED total.
The same display in every state
The example display (179.6 W, 6 hours a night for 40 nights), with LED and with incandescent strings, at each state's average residential rate (August 2026).
| Alabama | $7.04 | $0.18 | $47.81 | 16.33¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $12.68 | $0.32 | $86.11 | 29.41¢ |
| Arizona | $6.49 | $0.16 | $44.07 | 15.05¢ |
| Arkansas | $6.19 | $0.15 | $42.08 | 14.37¢ |
| California | $12.82 | $0.32 | $87.11 | 29.75¢ |
| Colorado | $7.40 | $0.19 | $50.27 | 17.17¢ |
| Connecticut | $10.56 | $0.26 | $71.77 | 24.51¢ |
| Delaware | $8.06 | $0.20 | $54.75 | 18.70¢ |
| District of Columbia | $11.20 | $0.28 | $76.07 | 25.98¢ |
| Florida | $6.46 | $0.16 | $43.89 | 14.99¢ |
| Georgia | $6.85 | $0.17 | $46.56 | 15.90¢ |
| Hawaii | $20.34 | $0.51 | $138.14 | 47.18¢ |
| Idaho | $5.76 | $0.14 | $39.15 | 13.37¢ |
| Illinois | $8.33 | $0.21 | $56.57 | 19.32¢ |
| Indiana | $7.34 | $0.18 | $49.83 | 17.02¢ |
| Iowa | $7.35 | $0.18 | $49.95 | 17.06¢ |
| Kansas | $6.67 | $0.17 | $45.30 | 15.47¢ |
| Kentucky | $5.95 | $0.15 | $40.41 | 13.80¢ |
| Louisiana | $5.55 | $0.14 | $37.68 | 12.87¢ |
| Maine | $13.84 | $0.35 | $94.02 | 32.11¢ |
| Maryland | $9.22 | $0.23 | $62.66 | 21.40¢ |
| Massachusetts | $13.14 | $0.33 | $89.25 | 30.48¢ |
| Michigan | $9.91 | $0.25 | $67.31 | 22.99¢ |
| Minnesota | $7.41 | $0.19 | $50.36 | 17.20¢ |
| Mississippi | $6.22 | $0.16 | $42.25 | 14.43¢ |
| Missouri | $6.91 | $0.17 | $46.91 | 16.02¢ |
| Montana | $6.71 | $0.17 | $45.59 | 15.57¢ |
| Nebraska | $5.84 | $0.15 | $39.65 | 13.54¢ |
| Nevada | $5.48 | $0.14 | $37.24 | 12.72¢ |
| New Hampshire | $11.91 | $0.30 | $80.93 | 27.64¢ |
| New Jersey | $10.61 | $0.27 | $72.06 | 24.61¢ |
| New Mexico | $7.12 | $0.18 | $48.34 | 16.51¢ |
| New York | $12.35 | $0.31 | $83.89 | 28.65¢ |
| North Carolina | $6.44 | $0.16 | $43.77 | 14.95¢ |
| North Dakota | $5.74 | $0.14 | $38.97 | 13.31¢ |
| Ohio | $8.35 | $0.21 | $56.74 | 19.38¢ |
| Oklahoma | $6.39 | $0.16 | $43.39 | 14.82¢ |
| Oregon | $6.86 | $0.17 | $46.61 | 15.92¢ |
| Pennsylvania | $9.38 | $0.23 | $63.74 | 21.77¢ |
| Rhode Island | $12.15 | $0.30 | $82.51 | 28.18¢ |
| South Carolina | $6.79 | $0.17 | $46.15 | 15.76¢ |
| South Dakota | $6.53 | $0.16 | $44.36 | 15.15¢ |
| Tennessee | $5.78 | $0.14 | $39.29 | 13.42¢ |
| Texas | $6.86 | $0.17 | $46.58 | 15.91¢ |
| Utah | $5.74 | $0.14 | $38.97 | 13.31¢ |
| Vermont | $10.28 | $0.26 | $69.80 | 23.84¢ |
| Virginia | $7.60 | $0.19 | $51.65 | 17.64¢ |
| Washington | $6.31 | $0.16 | $42.84 | 14.63¢ |
| West Virginia | $7.03 | $0.18 | $47.76 | 16.31¢ |
| Wisconsin | $8.37 | $0.21 | $56.83 | 19.41¢ |
| Wyoming | $6.22 | $0.16 | $42.25 | 14.43¢ |
How it works
The formula
kWh = watts × hours a night × nights ÷ 1,000
cost = kWh × rate
Assumptions
- Watts per string are typical label figures: LED mini 100-light string 5 W, incandescent mini 40 W, LED C7 or C9 25-bulb string 2.4 W, incandescent C7 125 W (5 W a bulb), incandescent C9 175 W (7 W a bulb). ENERGY STAR certified LED strings draw no more than 0.2 W a bulb. Filament-style LED bulbs and older LED sets can draw several times more; the tag says.
- Inflatables are about 60 W for a typical 6 ft one (blower fan plus lights); animated and giant ones can be 160 W or more. Projectors are about 10 to 30 W.
- For anything else, the watts are on the tag near the plug. If it only lists amps, amps × 120 is the most it can draw; LED lights and fans often use less, so the cost shown is an upper bound.
- "With incandescent strings" swaps each LED string for the incandescent one of the same size (mini for mini, C7 for C7, C9 for C9); inflatables, projectors and anything else stay the same.
Worked example: a typical LED display
10 LED mini strings, 4 LED C9 strings, 2 inflatables, 6 hours a night for 40 nights
- Watts: 10 × 5 + 4 × 2.4 + 2 × 60 = 179.6 W
- Hours: 6 × 40 = 240 hours
- Energy: 179.6 × 240 ÷ 1,000 = 43.1 kWh
- Cost: 43.1 × $0.1816 = $7.83 for the season
Ways to cut the cost
- Switch to LED. An LED mini string uses about an eighth of the power of an incandescent one and lasts many seasons.
- Use a timer or smart plug. Lights on from dusk to 11 pm instead of all night cut the bill by half or more.
- Watch the inflatables. Their blower fans draw far more than LED strings; turn them off overnight.
- Check your rate plan. On a time-of-use plan, evening peak hours can cost double.
- Mind the circuit. Keep each 15-amp circuit under 12 amps in total, counting everything else on it, and use outdoor-rated cords on a GFCI outlet.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run Christmas lights?
Less than most people think with LEDs. The example display (10 strings of LED minis, 4 strings of LED C9 bulbs and 2 inflatables, 179.6 W in all) costs about $7.83 for a 40-night season at 6 hours a night, at the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh (EIA, August 2026). That's 20 cents a night. In Nevada the season costs $5.48; in Hawaii, $20.34.
Do LED Christmas lights save money?
Yes, a lot. A 100-light LED mini string draws about 5 W, the incandescent kind about 40 W, so one string costs $0.22 vs $1.74 a season. The example display would cost $53.17 with incandescent strings instead of $7.83. ENERGY STAR certified LED strings use about 92% less energy than incandescent ones.
How much does an inflatable cost to run?
A typical 6 ft inflatable is labelled about 60 W, mostly for its blower fan, so it costs about $2.62 a season at 6 hours a night and the U.S. average rate. Big or animated ones can draw 160 W or more; the label near the plug says. With LED strings, the inflatables are often most of the bill.
How many light strings can I plug into one outlet?
Follow the label: each string says how many sets can be connected end to end (often 3 for incandescent, 20 to 40 or more for LED). On a standard 15-amp household circuit, keep everything on that circuit under 12 amps (80% of 15, because the lights run for hours at a time): add up the amps on the tags, including anything else plugged into the same circuit. Use outdoor-rated cords and a GFCI outlet outside.
Is it cheaper to leave Christmas lights on all night?
No: cost is just watts × hours. Running the example display 12 hours a night instead of 6 doubles its cost to about $15.66 a season. A plug-in timer or smart plug that turns the lights off at bedtime is the easiest saving.