A standard LED bulb that replaces a 60-watt incandescent (about 800 lumens) uses roughly 8-10 watts, about 9 W. A 40 W equivalent uses about 6 W and a 100 W equivalent about 16-20 W.
- Running watts
- 9 WTypical; 5–20 W across models
- Starting watts
- NoneNo motor surge
- Per day
- 0.03 kWh3 h of use
- Current
- 0.1 AAt 120 V while running
Figures checked against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer data on . Your model's label is the final word.
Watts by model and setting
Most led light bulb models draw between 5 and 20 W while running; a typical one draws about 9 W. 9 W x 3 h/day per bulb.
- Brightness (lumens): 450 lm replaces 40 W, 800 lm replaces 60 W, 1,100 lm replaces 75 W, 1,600 lm replaces 100 W
- Bulb efficiency varies by brand; check the watts on the Lighting Facts label
- Smart bulbs draw a little standby power when 'off'
- ENERGY STAR LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescents
Running an LED light bulb on a generator or power station
- Generator: at least 9 running watts. A generator rated 1,000 W or more covers it with room to spare.
- Power station: continuous output of at least 9 W. Pure sine wave output is the safe choice for motors and electronics.
| Power station capacity | Estimated runtime |
|---|---|
| 500 Wh | 47.2 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 94.4 h |
| 2,000 Wh | 188.9 h |
| 3,000 Wh | 283.3 h |
Based on 9 W average draw and 85% usable capacity.
- Lighting is one of the cheapest outage loads: ten 9 W LEDs total only 90 W
- Swap any remaining incandescents before an outage to stretch battery runtime about six-fold
- Some LEDs flicker on modified sine wave inverters; pure sine wave avoids this
Add it to the generator calculator
Questions people ask
How many watts is a 60 watt equivalent LED?
About 8-10 W for 800 lumens; the FTC cites roughly 9 W.
How much does it cost to run an LED bulb?
A 9 W bulb on 3 hours a day uses about 10 kWh a year, roughly $1.50-2 at typical US rates.