Garage
Garage LED savings: incandescent vs LED
Switching the 4 bulbs in a garage from 100W incandescent to 14W LED cuts each bulb draw by 86%. Running them 3 hours a day, that saves about 310 kWh and roughly $58/year at the 2026 US-average rate of 19 cents per kWh, or about $580 over 10 years.
Incandescent vs LED for a garage
| Metric | Incandescent | LED |
|---|---|---|
| Watts per bulb | 100 W | 14 W |
| Total wattage (4 bulbs) | 400 W | 56 W |
| Energy per year | 360 kWh | 50 kWh |
| Cost per year | $68 | $10 |
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 garage: 4 x 100W x 3h x 300 days is 360 kWh/year with incandescent, versus 50 kWh/year with LED. The 310 kWh difference times $0.16 is the annual saving. At about $16 for 4 quality LED bulbs, they pay for themselves in roughly 3 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 garage 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 garage?
Switching 4 bulbs from 100W to 14W LED saves about 310 kWh and $58 per year at 16 cents/kWh, based on 3 hours of use per day.
Are LED bulbs worth it for a garage?
Yes. The 4 LED bulbs cost about $16 and pay for themselves in roughly 3 months, then keep saving $58 a year while lasting far longer than incandescent bulbs.
How much electricity do the lights in a garage use?
With incandescent bulbs, about 360 kWh per year ($68). With LEDs, about 50 kWh per year ($10).
Disclaimer: For reference only. Consult a licensed professional.