How much does it cost to run a led christmas lights (10 strands) in North Carolina?
A 70-watt led christmas lights (10 strands) costs about 1¢ an hour in North Carolina, or about $1.88 a month at 6 hours a day.
A 100-bulb LED strand draws about 7 watts.
North Carolina electricity averages 14.94¢ per kWh, about 18% less than the U.S. average of 18.19¢. It ranks 17 of 51 from cheapest to most expensive.
Your cost
Cost by wattage
| Wattage | Hour | Day | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (40 W) | 1¢ | 4¢ | $1.08 | $13.09 |
| Typical (70 W) | 1¢ | 6¢ | $1.88 | $22.90 |
| High (100 W) | 1¢ | 9¢ | $2.69 | $32.72 |
Day, month and year assume 6 hours of use a day.
Other holiday costs
| Appliance | Typical | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Incandescent Christmas lights (10 strands) | 400 W | $10.76 |
| Inflatable yard decoration | 150 W | $4.03 |
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¢ | $1.56 |
| Nebraska | 12.90¢ | $1.63 |
| Idaho | 12.96¢ | $1.63 |
| Utah | 13.16¢ | $1.66 |
| Louisiana | 13.35¢ | $1.68 |
| Nevada | 13.53¢ | $1.70 |
| Oklahoma | 13.58¢ | $1.71 |
| Arkansas | 13.61¢ | $1.71 |
| Tennessee | 13.87¢ | $1.75 |
| Montana | 13.95¢ | $1.76 |
| Wyoming | 13.95¢ | $1.76 |
| Missouri | 13.96¢ | $1.76 |
| Iowa | 14.20¢ | $1.79 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | $1.80 |
| Washington | 14.40¢ | $1.81 |
| South Dakota | 14.50¢ | $1.83 |
| North Carolina | 14.94¢ | $1.88 |
| New Mexico | 15.08¢ | $1.90 |
| Mississippi | 15.19¢ | $1.91 |
| Kansas | 15.21¢ | $1.92 |
| Florida | 15.30¢ | $1.93 |
| Georgia | 15.40¢ | $1.94 |
| Oregon | 15.40¢ | $1.94 |
| Arizona | 15.44¢ | $1.95 |
| West Virginia | 15.47¢ | $1.95 |
| South Carolina | 15.93¢ | $2.01 |
| Texas | 16.06¢ | $2.02 |
| Minnesota | 16.25¢ | $2.05 |
| Alabama | 16.54¢ | $2.08 |
| Colorado | 16.72¢ | $2.11 |
| Virginia | 16.83¢ | $2.12 |
| Indiana | 17.04¢ | $2.15 |
| Delaware | 17.86¢ | $2.25 |
| Ohio | 18.70¢ | $2.36 |
| Wisconsin | 19.00¢ | $2.39 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $2.42 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.04¢ | $2.65 |
| Maryland | 21.30¢ | $2.68 |
| Michigan | 21.53¢ | $2.71 |
| Vermont | 23.95¢ | $3.02 |
| New Jersey | 23.98¢ | $3.02 |
| District of Columbia | 24.66¢ | $3.11 |
| New Hampshire | 26.79¢ | $3.38 |
| Alaska | 27.09¢ | $3.41 |
| Connecticut | 27.97¢ | $3.52 |
| Rhode Island | 29.22¢ | $3.68 |
| New York | 29.38¢ | $3.70 |
| Maine | 29.99¢ | $3.78 |
| Massachusetts | 30.14¢ | $3.80 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $4.19 |
| Hawaii | 46.28¢ | $5.83 |
At 70 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.