Kitchen
Kitchen LED savings: incandescent vs LED
Switching the 6 bulbs in a kitchen from 75W incandescent to 11W LED cuts each bulb draw by 85%. Running them 5 hours a day, that saves about 701 kWh and roughly $133/year at the 2026 US-average rate of 19 cents per kWh, or about $1,330 over 10 years.
Incandescent vs LED for a kitchen
| Metric | Incandescent | LED |
|---|---|---|
| Watts per bulb | 75 W | 11 W |
| Total wattage (6 bulbs) | 450 W | 66 W |
| Energy per year | 821 kWh | 120 kWh |
| Cost per year | $156 | $23 |
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 kitchen: 6 x 75W x 5h x 365 days is 821 kWh/year with incandescent, versus 120 kWh/year with LED. The 701 kWh difference times $0.16 is the annual saving. At about $24 for 6 quality LED bulbs, they pay for themselves in roughly 2 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 5 hours a day, the LEDs in this kitchen 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 kitchen?
Switching 6 bulbs from 75W to 11W LED saves about 701 kWh and $133 per year at 16 cents/kWh, based on 5 hours of use per day.
Are LED bulbs worth it for a kitchen?
Yes. The 6 LED bulbs cost about $24 and pay for themselves in roughly 2 months, then keep saving $133 a year while lasting far longer than incandescent bulbs.
How much electricity do the lights in a kitchen use?
With incandescent bulbs, about 821 kWh per year ($156). With LEDs, about 120 kWh per year ($23).
Disclaimer: For reference only. Consult a licensed professional.