Bathroom
Bathroom LED savings: incandescent vs LED
Switching the 4 bulbs in a bathroom from 60W incandescent to 9W LED cuts each bulb draw by 85%. Running them 3 hours a day, that saves about 224 kWh and roughly $43/year at the 2026 US-average rate of 19 cents per kWh, or about $430 over 10 years.
Incandescent vs LED for a bathroom
| Metric | Incandescent | LED |
|---|---|---|
| Watts per bulb | 60 W | 9 W |
| Total wattage (4 bulbs) | 240 W | 36 W |
| Energy per year | 263 kWh | 39 kWh |
| Cost per year | $50 | $7 |
How the savings are calculated
Energy use is bulbs x watts x hours per day x days per year, divided by 1000 for kWh. For this bathroom: 4 x 60W x 3h x 365 days is 263 kWh/year with incandescent, versus 39 kWh/year with LED. The 224 kWh difference times $0.16 is the annual saving. At about $16 for 4 quality LED bulbs, they pay for themselves in roughly 4 months.
Bulb life and replacement savings
A typical LED lasts about 25,000 hours versus roughly 1,000 hours for an incandescent, so one LED outlasts around 25 old bulbs. At 3 hours a day, the LEDs in this bathroom should last well over a decade before replacement, on top of the energy savings above. LEDs also run cool, which slightly reduces summer cooling load.
Frequently asked questions
How much do LED bulbs save in a bathroom?
Switching 4 bulbs from 60W to 9W LED saves about 224 kWh and $43 per year at 16 cents/kWh, based on 3 hours of use per day.
Are LED bulbs worth it for a bathroom?
Yes. The 4 LED bulbs cost about $16 and pay for themselves in roughly 4 months, then keep saving $43 a year while lasting far longer than incandescent bulbs.
How much electricity do the lights in a bathroom use?
With incandescent bulbs, about 263 kWh per year ($50). With LEDs, about 39 kWh per year ($7).
Disclaimer: For reference only. Consult a licensed professional.