Household · official-source review · reviewed 2026-10-10
LEDs save energy, but the payback depends on how many hours the light is actually on.
Compute the hours to pay back the cost of an LED bulb from electricity savings.
Homeowners replacing old incandescent or halogen bulbs.
Use the source document or official route that applies to your situation. This guide does not contact another person or verify external information.
Find the wattage printed on the old bulb and on the LED replacement.
Check your electric bill for the cost per kilowatt-hour.
Estimate how many hours per day the light stays on.
Replace bulbs in the highest-use fixtures first.
A $2 LED replaces a 60W incandescent at 15 cents per kWh. It pays for itself after about 267 hours of use.
Use your own source and details. The example is not a record about a real person or organization.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star · reviewed 2026-10-10
What this source supports: ENERGY STAR LED bulbs use ~75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last much longer.
Source limit: Exact savings depend on bulb use, local electric rates, and the specific bulb purchased.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
This App computes payback from your electric rate and bulb wattages. It does not choose a bulb for you.
Exact savings depend on bulb use, local electric rates, and the specific bulb purchased.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Calculate hours of use until an LED bulb pays back its cost from electricity savings.
This App estimates savings from your numbers. It does not verify bulb life or your electric rate.
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
Calculate hours of use until an LED bulb pays back its cost from electricity savings.
Free · no account · no upload
Open LED Bulb Payback CalculatorThe App runs in this browser. It does not send or save entries. Copy, download, or print only when you choose.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.
Companion App: LED Bulb Payback Calculator. It runs in this browser and does not upload your entries.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.