How much does it cost to run a LED strip lighting? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a LED strip lighting rated at 30W costs 0.8p an hour to run and around £11.53 a year assuming 4 hours a day, for a typical 5-metre run.
Per hour
0.8p
Per typical use
3.2p
Per day
3.2p
Per week
22p
Per year
£11.53
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 30W for a LED strip lighting; published figures for this appliance range from 10W to 60W. LED strip lighting is usually rated per metre, commonly 5–12W/m depending on brightness and LED density; a typical 5-metre run used as under-cabinet or accent lighting draws roughly 25–60W in total when fully lit. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 4 hours a day, for a typical 5-metre run, 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 | 0.8p | £12.20 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 0.8p | £11.77 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 0.8p | £11.66 |
| London | 26.60 | 0.8p | £11.65 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 0.8p | £11.64 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 0.8p | £11.63 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 0.8p | £11.60 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 0.8p | £11.59 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 0.8p | £11.54 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 0.8p | £11.44 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 0.8p | £11.21 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 0.8p | £11.21 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 0.8p | £11.15 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 0.8p | £11.11 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 0.8p | £11.53 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £11.11 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £12.20 a year — a gap of £1.09 for identical use.
How a LED strip lighting compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in lighting, GB average:
- LED strip lighting — £11.53 a year (this page)
- LED light bulb — £3.84 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
- Use a dimmer or smart controller — strip lighting run below full brightness draws proportionally less power
- Fit motion sensors for under-stair or wardrobe strips so they are not left on unused
- Choose the lowest LED density that gives the brightness you actually need
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a LED strip lighting for an hour?
- 0.8p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 30W). One typical use — 4 hours a day, for a typical 5-metre run — costs closer to 3.2p.
- How much does a LED strip lighting cost to run per year?
- Around £11.53 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 4 hours a day, for a typical 5-metre run — about 22p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a LED strip lighting in?
- East Midlands, at £11.11 a year, against £12.20 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £1.09 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my LED strip lighting change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 10W–60W, so the top of that range costs about 6.0x the bottom. This page uses 30W; 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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