How Much Will Outdoor Lighting Affect My Electric Bill?

Okay, so this question comes up literally every single time we’re talking to someone about outdoor lighting. Like, every conversation. Someone’s interested, the design looks amazing, they’re getting excited about it, and then they hit us with: “Yeah but… what’s this actually gonna cost me every month?”

And honestly? It’s the right question to ask. Nobody wants a beautiful yard that comes with an electric bill that makes you wince every time it shows up.

Here’s the thing though, and this is where most people are surprised, outdoor lighting doesn’t have to tank your electricity costs. Actually, it really doesn’t. The way we design systems now with LED technology… it’s kind of a game-changer from what people remember or what their neighbors have.

The real question isn’t so much “will it cost a lot” but more like “what kind of system are we actually talking about here?” Because yeah, there’s a massive difference between slapping up a bunch of old halogen fixtures and designing something smart with modern tech. We’re talking potentially 80% difference in power consumption. THAT’S the kind of difference that actually matters on your bill.

What Actually Makes Your Bill Go Up (Or Not)

When people ask us about costs, they’re usually imagining their backyard lit up like a football stadium or something, right? Like their electric company’s gonna send them a personal thank-you note for all the revenue.

That’s… not really how this works anymore. Not even close.

The Wattage Thing

Okay, so the main factor, like THE main thing, is wattage. A 100-watt fixture running for 12 hours obviously uses more power than a 20-watt fixture. That’s pretty straightforward stuff.

But here’s what blows people’s minds: the fixtures we use now compared to what people had installed 10, 15 years ago? Completely different ballpark. An older halogen light might be 75 to 150 watts. Same job with LED today? Maybe 10 to 20 watts. I’m not exaggerating that number, it’s genuinely that dramatic. You get the same light output, honestly sometimes better light, but you’re using like a fifth of the power. It’s wild once you really think about it.

How Long Your Lights Actually Run

Here’s something I think people get wrong about their own systems. They assume everything’s running all night, every night, and honestly… it’s just not.

Most residential outdoor lighting (ours, anyway) runs:

• During dusk and evening hours, so like 6 to 11 PM most of the year
• That’s roughly 5 hours nightly in winter
• Maybe 7 to 8 hours in summer when it stays light later
• Most people aren’t running lights all night long

Some folks set timers. Some use motion sensors, actually, we recommend that pretty often. Some people just manually turn ’em on and off when they’re outside. All of that affects how many hours per month you’re actually pulling electricity.

When You Design It Right vs. When You Don’t

Okay, so this is where good design actually saves you real money. A properly designed system uses the RIGHT number of fixtures in the right spots. You’re not going overboard. You’re not wasting fixtures on areas that don’t actually need lighting. You’re basically creating an intentional plan that gets you the look you want without excess, which, by the way, also looks better. Weird how that works, right? Less is often more.

A poorly designed system, by contrast… might use twice as many fixtures to get similar results. And honestly, even then it usually looks kinda amateur. So you’re spending more money AND it doesn’t look as good. Lose-lose.

Seasons Matter More Than You’d Think

Here’s something that kinda gets overlooked, your outdoor lighting costs swing seasonally. During winter, the sun’s setting super early, so your lights are running longer. November through February? That’s peak usage. Summer’s the opposite. The sun’s still up at 9 PM, so you’re running less.

If we’re doing a full year’s calculation, you’re looking at roughly five months of heavy usage (winter), then moderate to minimal the rest of the year depending on what you actually want.

The Actual Numbers (Because That’s What Matters)

Let’s get real specific here, because this is where the conversation actually means something to people’s budgets.

Low Voltage LED System (What We Actually Install)

A typical residential setup from us, and I’m talking a nice system, not some bare minimum thing, uses:

• Around 8 to 12 fixtures total
• Each fixture pulls like 10 to 15 watts (some less, some a bit more)
• Total system wattage somewhere in that 80 to 180 watt range
• Average runtime about 6 hours per night when you factor in seasonal changes

So let’s do the math on a middle-ground scenario: 100 watts total, running 6 hours nightly. That’s 1.8 kilowatt-hours per day during peak season. At an average residential rate (and this varies everywhere, but roughly $0.14 per kilowatt-hour in this area), you’re looking at about $0.25 daily.

Per month? Around $7.50 in outdoor lighting costs during moderate months.

Winter months when it’s running longer? Maybe $12 to $15.

Over a full year, you’re spending roughly $100 to $150 in electricity for outdoor lighting. And that’s it. That’s actually the number.

Standard Voltage Systems (The Older Stuff)

Okay, so if someone had, or wanted, older technology with standard voltage fixtures, it’d look more like:

• Same number of fixtures basically
• But each one’s pulling 50 to 75 watts (yeah, way higher)
• Total system wattage sitting around 300 to 600 watts
• Same runtime, 6 hours nightly

At 400 watts for 6 hours, you’re consuming 2.4 kilowatt-hours daily. That translates to like $0.34 daily or roughly $10 monthly during moderate seasons, jumping to $18 to $20 during winter.

Annually? You’re looking at $150 to $250 just in electricity. Maybe more.

The Gap

So the difference between a smart LED system and older tech? Honestly, $50 to $150 per year. I know that doesn’t SOUND huge, right? But stretch that over 10 or 15 years, which is realistically how long you’re gonna have these systems, and suddenly you’re talking $500 to $1,500 in extra costs just for electricity. And that doesn’t even count maintenance, fixture replacements, or all the repair calls. The difference really adds up.

Why the Fixtures You Pick Actually Matter

This is something, and I’m gonna be real here, a lot of homeowners don’t realize until it’s too late: the fixtures you choose DIRECTLY impact your electric bill, and the difference is significant enough that it matters.

LED vs. Halogen (It’s Not Even Close)

A modern LED outdoor fixture that produces the same light as a halogen? Uses roughly 80% less electricity. Not approximately, not kinda close, literally 80% less. A 50-watt halogen becomes a 10-watt LED. Same brightness. One-fifth the energy consumption. It’s… actually ridiculous when you think about it.

When you’re multiplying that across 10 or 12 fixtures running 5 to 8 hours nightly, the cumulative effect is real. It’s not theoretical, it shows up on your bill.

Not All LED Fixtures Are Created Equal, Though

And this is something we talk about a lot because, honestly, people don’t always get it. Some LED fixtures are designed for maximum efficiency, and some look nice but waste power through mediocre optical design. Kinda the difference between a Prius and a pickup truck, basically.

When we’re recommending specific fixtures, part of what we’re evaluating, scratch that, a BIG part, is efficiency. A well-chosen fixture produces the light you need without wasting wattage. A cheap fixture might cost less upfront, but it’s gonna consume more electricity over its lifetime. A quality fixture costs more initially but operates efficiently for 15+ years. So… you’re actually saving money long-term. It’s one of those things that just makes sense once you do the math.

How to Actually Keep Costs Down

If you’re concerned about this stuff, and you should be, because why wouldn’t you, here’s what you can actually control:

Pick LED!

This is genuinely the single biggest lever. LED fixtures consume a fraction of the energy that older tech requires. If you’re installing new outdoor lighting, LED should be non-negotiable. Like, there’s no scenario where the older stuff makes sense anymore.

Design It Thoughtfully

A well-designed system uses the right fixtures in the right places. More fixtures doesn’t equal better lighting, it just means higher bills and honestly, usually worse-looking results. Work with someone (ahem) who understands efficiency, not just making things look pretty.

Use Timers or Smart Controls

If your system has a timer that kicks on at dusk and shuts off at, say, 11 PM, you’re controlling consumption. Some newer systems use motion sensors or smart controls that only activate when needed. It’s kind of genius, actually.

Adjust Seasonally

You could literally just adjust your system’s runtime based on the season. Winter runs longer, summer runs shorter. Some systems let you make simple adjustments to account for this. It’s not complicated.

Keep Your Fixtures Maintained

A dirty or damaged fixture becomes less efficient. Like, legitimately. Proper maintenance keeps everything running at peak efficiency throughout its life. Seems obvious, but people kinda forget about it.

The Real Bottom Line Here

So, “How much will outdoor lighting affect my electric bill?”

The actual answer, assuming you’re doing this right with modern LED technology and thoughtful design, is genuinely not that much. We’re talking $8 to $15 monthly during peak seasons, maybe $3 to $5 during lighter months. Over a year, you’re looking at $100 to $150 in electricity costs for a system that basically transforms your property after dark.

Think about what you’re getting for that, a safe outdoor space that looks amazing, extends your usable living area, improves security, makes your home look better. The electricity cost is… honestly pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things.

Where homeowners really get hurt is by choosing outdated technology or just settling for poor design. THAT’S when outdoor lighting becomes expensive. That’s when you question the decision every time the bill shows up.

But with modern low voltage LED outdoor lighting systems and intelligent design that actually considers efficiency? You get all the benefits of beautiful exterior lighting without the sticker shock. You get a system that looks intentional, performs reliably, and fits comfortably within your budget. That’s really what it’s about.

If you’re thinking about what custom outdoor lighting could look like for your property… honestly, the numbers are actually on your side. And that’s not me just saying something nice, that’s just the reality of how this technology works now.