How Much Do LED Spotlights Cost To Run?

LED spotlights are becoming an increasingly popular choice for lighting in homes around the UK. It is no surprise why. LED lights are more efficient than other options, look more attractive and are significantly better for the environment. As LED lights are more energy-efficient than other options available, installing them in your home can actually save you money! This blog post will discuss the question ‘how much do LED spotlights cost to run?’ Let’s get into it… 

Running Costs for LED Light Bulbs

There are three main factors to consider when calculating the running costs of LED light bulbs, these are:

• The wattage of the bulb determines the brightness of the light and the amount of electricity it uses. So, the brighter the light, the more electricity is used, therefore the higher the wattage. High wattage bulbs cost more to run than low wattage bulbs.  

• How many bulbs you have in your home will determine the overall cost of running LED lights in your home.

• The number of hours per day you have the lights switched on has a huge impact. If you want to save money, you should limit the number of hours you have your lights switched on. 

LED lights are usually a few pounds more expensive than other options available, but they can last you up to 30 times longer! The average LED bulb can last up to 35,000 hours, whereas halogen bulbs typically only last for 1000 hours. Saving you the hassle of regularly replacing bulbs, and the fee of buying new bulbs. Also, it is worth keeping in mind that LED bulbs use approximately 90% less energy than halogen bulbs, which will save you money on your energy bills each month. Read more about the comparison between halogen and LED bulbs here, and why LED lights in your home are an investment. 

How To Calculate LED Spotlight Running Costs

There is a quick sum you can do to work out how much LED spotlights cost to run. Take the following and multiply them together:

• Number of LED spotlights in your home

• How many hours the lights are switched on per day 

• The cost to run the LED light per hour 

You can work out the cost to run LED spotlights per hour by doing the following sum:

Number of kWh x Cost per kWh

For example, take the ‘JET 5W LED Downlight’, which is 5W. This is how you would work it out.

1. Number of kWh = 5 divided by 1000 (0.005)

2. Multiply 0.005 by the number of hours you have the light switch on e.g. 5 hours (0.025) 

3. Multiply the previously calculated number by the cost per kWh of the electricity supplier you are with e.g. 10 pence.

4. This will leave you with the running cost per day. In this case, it is 25 pence. Over a week, this is £1.75. 

Once you have worked out the cost of running LED spotlights for a day, you can work this out for a week, month or year. You can save a lot of money each year by making the switch to LED bulbs from halogen. 

JET 5W LED Fixed Fire Rated IP65 Noise & Flicker Free Downlight Price £9.61

How much does it cost to run a LED spotlight for 1 hour in the UK?

Depending on which energy provider you are with determines the cost of how much a LED spotlight will cost you to run. You can check out the average prices of each company in the UK here, and factor this into the calculations when you are working it out. 

However, on average LED spotlights cost between £0.0002 and £0.0005 to run per hour, whereas halogen bulbs cost approximately £0.008 per hour. 

If you are interested in purchasing LED spotlights, you may want to consider the light temperature. This is the colour of the light that the lights emit. Read our blog ‘A Guide to LED Light Temperature.’