LED vs CFL vs Incandescent Bulb Cost in North Carolina

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Per bulb, over 10 years at 3 hrs/day and North Carolina’s 16.25¢/kWh: an LED costs about $16.73, a CFL costs $29.13, and an incandescent costs $121.76. Switching to LED saves $105.03 per bulb.

Bulb	Energy use (10 yr)	Energy cost	Bulb replacements	Total 10-yr cost
LED (8W, ~25,000 hr life)	87.6 kWh	$14.24	1 × $2.50	$16.73
CFL (13W, ~8,000 hr life)	142.3 kWh	$23.13	2 × $3.00	$29.13
Incandescent (60W, ~1,200 hr life)	657.0 kWh	$106.76	10 × $1.50	$121.76

All three bulbs produce equivalent light (~800 lumens, “60W-equivalent”). Differences are entirely electricity + replacement bulbs.

Whole-house impact in North Carolina

A typical home has about 40 light bulbs. Replacing 40 incandescent bulbs with LEDs in North Carolina saves roughly $4201 over 10 years, plus you avoid 360 trips up a ladder.

How we calculated this

Each bulb is assumed to run 3 hours per day for 10 years. Energy cost = watts × hours × rate. Replacement bulbs use rated lamp life (LED 25,000 hr, CFL 8,000 hr, incandescent 1,200 hr). Prices: LED $2.5, CFL $3.0, incandescent $1.5 — typical 60W-equivalent prices at major U.S. retailers.

North Carolina’s residential rate of 16.25¢/kWh comes from the U.S. EIA Electric Power Monthly (April 2026).

LED bulbs worth buying

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Philips 60W-equivalent LED 24-pack — soft white standard A19
GE Reveal HD+ LED — high color rendering for living areas
Philips Hue smart bulbs — smart + LED if you want both
Feit BR30 LED flood — recessed ceiling replacement

FAQ

Are LEDs really worth it if I already have incandescent bulbs at home?

For bulbs that are on 1+ hour/day, switching pays back within 6–18 months even after throwing the old bulb away. For rarely-used bulbs (closets, attics), wait for the old one to die.

What about smart bulbs?

Smart LEDs draw about the same energy as regular LEDs (8–10W) but cost 3–6× more up front. They’re a convenience purchase, not an energy purchase.

What if my electricity rate is different?

Use the figures above as a baseline. The energy-cost column scales linearly with your actual rate — if your rate is half North Carolina’s, halve those numbers. The replacement-bulb column doesn’t change.