How much does it cost to run a incandescent christmas lights (10 strands) in Pennsylvania?
A 400-watt incandescent christmas lights (10 strands) costs about 8¢ an hour in Pennsylvania, or about $15.15 a month at 6 hours a day.
A 100-bulb incandescent mini-light strand draws about 40 watts.
Pennsylvania electricity averages 21.04¢ per kWh, about 16% more than the U.S. average of 18.19¢. It ranks 37 of 51 from cheapest to most expensive.
Your cost
Cost by wattage
| Wattage | Hour | Day | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (300 W) | 6¢ | $0.38 | $11.36 | $138 |
| Typical (400 W) | 8¢ | $0.50 | $15.15 | $184 |
| High (500 W) | $0.11 | $0.63 | $18.94 | $230 |
Day, month and year assume 6 hours of use a day.
Other holiday costs
| Appliance | Typical | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| LED Christmas lights (10 strands) | 70 W | $2.65 |
| Inflatable yard decoration | 150 W | $5.68 |
Ways to spend less
- Put lights on a timer so they don't run all night.
- Switching incandescent strands to LED cuts their running cost by about 80 to 90 percent.
Monthly cost in every state
| State | Rate | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.36¢ | $8.90 |
| Nebraska | 12.90¢ | $9.29 |
| Idaho | 12.96¢ | $9.33 |
| Utah | 13.16¢ | $9.48 |
| Louisiana | 13.35¢ | $9.61 |
| Nevada | 13.53¢ | $9.74 |
| Oklahoma | 13.58¢ | $9.78 |
| Arkansas | 13.61¢ | $9.80 |
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | $9.99 |
| Montana | 13.95¢ | $10.04 |
| Wyoming | 13.95¢ | $10.04 |
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | $10.05 |
| Iowa | 14.20¢ | $10.22 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | $10.27 |
| Washington | 14.40¢ | $10.37 |
| South Dakota | 14.50¢ | $10.44 |
| North Carolina | 14.94¢ | $10.76 |
| New Mexico | 15.08¢ | $10.86 |
| Mississippi | 15.19¢ | $10.94 |
| Kansas | 15.21¢ | $10.95 |
| Florida | 15.30¢ | $11.02 |
| Georgia | 15.40¢ | $11.09 |
| Oregon | 15.40¢ | $11.09 |
| Arizona | 15.44¢ | $11.12 |
| West Virginia | 15.47¢ | $11.14 |
| South Carolina | 15.93¢ | $11.47 |
| Texas | 16.06¢ | $11.56 |
| Minnesota | 16.25¢ | $11.70 |
| Alabama | 16.54¢ | $11.91 |
| Colorado | 16.72¢ | $12.04 |
| Virginia | 16.83¢ | $12.12 |
| Indiana | 17.04¢ | $12.27 |
| Delaware | 17.86¢ | $12.86 |
| Ohio | 18.70¢ | $13.46 |
| Wisconsin | 19.00¢ | $13.68 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $13.84 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.04¢ | $15.15 |
| Maryland | 21.30¢ | $15.34 |
| Michigan | 21.53¢ | $15.50 |
| Vermont | 23.95¢ | $17.24 |
| New Jersey | 23.98¢ | $17.27 |
| District of Columbia | 24.66¢ | $17.76 |
| New Hampshire | 26.79¢ | $19.29 |
| Alaska | 27.09¢ | $19.50 |
| Connecticut | 27.97¢ | $20.14 |
| Rhode Island | 29.22¢ | $21.04 |
| New York | 29.38¢ | $21.15 |
| Maine | 29.99¢ | $21.59 |
| Massachusetts | 30.14¢ | $21.70 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $23.94 |
| Hawaii | 46.28¢ | $33.32 |
At 400 watts for 6 hours a day, 30 days a month. Rates are average residential prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, January–July 2026 (EIA Electric Power Monthly). Your bill's rate may differ, so enter your own in the calculator.