The Real Cost of Running Christmas Lights
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Understanding the Cost of Running Christmas Lights
Many Americans look forward to the glow of holiday lights each December. The sparkle on the tree and the glow along the rooftops create an atmosphere of joy and warmth. Yet, the electricity behind that beauty adds up.
The average U.S. electricity rate is about 17.62 cents per kilowatt-hour. A home using several strings of incandescent Christmas lights for seven hours a night through December can see a noticeable bump in its electric bill. Each bulb type, the total wattage, and the length of display time determine how much energy your holiday décor uses.
Utah Holiday Lighting helps homeowners plan lighting setups that balance brightness and cost, so you can enjoy the holiday season without worrying about your power bill.
Incandescent vs. LED Christmas Lights
Incandescent bulbs were once the standard choice for Christmas lighting. They create a warm glow but require far more energy than modern LED lights. A single string of incandescent mini lights may draw 40 watts, while LED string lights use only about five watts for the same brightness.
Running incandescent lights for several hours a day uses more electricity and increases your overall cost. For example, a display that costs around $15 a month with incandescent bulbs might only cost $3 using LED lights. LED Christmas lights use up to 90 percent less energy and last longer.
Utah Holiday Lighting uses premium LED bulbs designed to deliver consistent color and brightness while consuming less power. The difference is visible both in your electric bill and in the long-term durability of your holiday light display.
How to Calculate the Cost of Running Christmas Lights
Understanding how much your lights use helps you plan a display that fits your budget. To estimate cost, follow this simple approach:
- Find the total wattage of your lights by checking the packaging or label.
- Divide the total watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts.
- Multiply that number by the hours your lights run per day.
- Multiply again by your local electricity rate per kilowatt hour.
For instance, a 200-watt display running five hours a night for 30 days uses 30 kilowatt hours. At $0.13 per kilowatt hour, the total cost is about $3.90 for the month. The same setup with LED bulbs might use only 50 watts and cost less than $1.00.
The more lights you install, the more power your home uses. Utah Holiday Lighting helps homeowners choose efficient LED bulbs and plan display hours to minimize energy usage while maintaining the brilliance of the season.
Comparing Common Holiday Light Displays
Each holiday light display uses energy differently. A few mini lights on a Christmas tree have a small impact on your electric bill, while an entire roofline, trees, and yard lighting package draws far more power. Understanding these cost differences helps you plan your display more effectively.
Estimated Costs for Different Displays (per season):
- Standard outdoor display: Around $2 with LED lights and about $10 with incandescent bulbs.
- Heavy-duty outdoor display: Around $27 with LED lights and about $208 with incandescent bulbs.
These numbers highlight how efficiently LED bulbs perform compared to traditional incandescent lights. LED holiday lights provide the same festive brightness using a fraction of the total watts, helping you save money while maintaining a vibrant, professional look.
For Utah homeowners, where electricity rates are often lower than the national average, LED string lights make the holiday season more affordable without sacrificing holiday cheer.
Factors That Influence Energy Costs
The cost to run Christmas lights depends on more than just bulb type. Several other factors influence total electricity use:
- Total wattage: More lights or high-watt bulbs increase total energy consumption.
- Lighting hours: Running lights all night uses more electricity than setting timers for evening hours.
- Electricity rate: The price per kilowatt hour varies by location and provider.
- Weather: Cold temperatures can impact outdoor lighting performance, especially with older incandescent lights.
- Design layout: Strategic placement along the roof, trees, and walkways can maximize brightness while using fewer strings.
Utah Holiday Lighting designs each display with these factors in mind, helping homeowners and business owners maintain stunning lighting while saving money on power.
LED Lights and Long-Term Savings
LED holiday lights offer value beyond lower electricity costs. They last longer, emit less heat, and require less maintenance. Many LED string lights can last 50,000 hours or more, meaning your investment continues to pay off for many years.
At Utah Holiday Lighting, we use professional-grade LED bulbs and fixtures from trusted partners like Gemstone Lights. These products are built to withstand Utah’s winter weather and keep their brilliance year after year. Permanent LED systems, such as Gemstone’s track lighting, can even be used beyond the holiday season for year-round accent lighting.
With LED technology, the average household can save significant money over time compared to replacing broken incandescent bulbs or dealing with increased energy usage.
How Much Energy Your Lights Really Use
Energy use varies by the scale of your display, but most modern LED setups are surprisingly efficient. For example:
- A single 25-foot string of LED icicle lights draws about 20 watts.
- A traditional 25-foot incandescent string draws about 175 watts.
When you multiply those differences across multiple rooflines and trees, the savings become clear. If your lights run seven hours a night, LED lights can reduce your seasonal energy consumption by hundreds of kilowatt hours. That translates directly to lower electricity costs and a smaller environmental footprint.
Tips to Save Money When You Run Christmas Lights
There are simple ways to keep costs down without sacrificing brightness or beauty:
- Set timers: Automatic timers turn your lights on at dusk and off before morning, helping you control how many hours a day your lights run.
- Limit all-night displays: Seven hours a night typically offers the perfect balance between visibility and efficiency.
- Focus lighting: Highlight key areas like the roofline, large trees, and entryways instead of lighting every surface.
- Upgrade to LED string lights: They last longer, use less power, and produce vivid colors.
- Choose professional installation: Utah Holiday Lighting technicians use the right connections, wiring, and layout to ensure your display runs safely and efficiently.
These small adjustments make a big difference in your electric bill while maintaining the magic of the holidays.
Why Utah Holiday Lighting is the Trusted Choice
Utah Holiday Lighting has designed and installed displays for homes, businesses, and even Hallmark Christmas movie sets across the state. Our team manages everything—design, installation, maintenance, takedown, and storage—so you can simply enjoy your lights.
Our clients count on us to use high-quality LED bulbs and energy-efficient lighting systems that last through the toughest winter nights. Each project is custom-fitted to your space, using materials that match the size and shape of your home or business.
When you work with Utah Holiday Lighting, you’re not just getting a beautiful display. You’re investing in expert craftsmanship, premium products, and a worry-free experience that keeps your holiday season bright and efficient.
Light Up Your Holidays With Confidence
A well-planned holiday light display doesn’t have to mean high electricity bills. The right design, bulbs, and professional installation create lasting holiday cheer while managing energy usage. Utah Holiday Lighting brings years of experience and trusted expertise to every project.
If you’re ready to create a bright and efficient holiday light display for your home or business, contact Utah Holiday Lighting today to schedule a consultation.
