How much does it cost to run a LED light bulb? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a LED light bulb rated at 8W costs 0.2p an hour to run and around £3.84 a year assuming 5 hours a day.
Per hour
0.2p
Per typical use
1.1p
Per day
1.1p
Per week
7.4p
Per year
£3.84
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 8W for a LED light bulb; published figures for this appliance range from 5W to 12W. An LED bulb produces the same brightness as a 60W incandescent bulb using around 8W — roughly an 85% reduction in the electricity needed for the same light output. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 5 hours a day, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 0.2p | £4.07 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 0.2p | £3.92 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 0.2p | £3.89 |
| London | 26.60 | 0.2p | £3.88 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 0.2p | £3.88 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 0.2p | £3.88 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 0.2p | £3.87 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 0.2p | £3.86 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 0.2p | £3.85 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 0.2p | £3.81 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 0.2p | £3.74 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 0.2p | £3.74 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 0.2p | £3.72 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 0.2p | £3.70 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 0.2p | £3.84 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £3.70 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £4.07 a year — a gap of 36p for identical use.
How a LED light bulb compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in lighting, GB average:
- LED light bulb — £3.84 a year (this page)
- LED strip lighting — £11.53 a year
- halogen light bulb — £20.17 a year
- incandescent light bulb — £28.82 a year
- Christmas lights — £28.82 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Switch remaining incandescent or halogen bulbs to LED — usually the single cheapest, fastest lighting upgrade available
- Use warm-white LEDs in living spaces — colour temperature affects how bright a room feels, not the running cost
- Fit dimmable LED bulbs with a dimmer switch where full brightness is not needed
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a LED light bulb for an hour?
- 0.2p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 8W). One typical use — 5 hours a day — costs closer to 1.1p.
- How much does a LED light bulb cost to run per year?
- Around £3.84 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 5 hours a day — about 7.4p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a LED light bulb in?
- East Midlands, at £3.70 a year, against £4.07 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — 36p apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my LED light bulb change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 5W–12W, so the top of that range costs about 2.4x the bottom. This page uses 8W; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- Heatable — how much energy do household appliances use — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
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