As the festive season approaches, twinkling lights begin to adorn our neighborhoods, transforming the ordinary into a winter wonderland. It's a time when our homes and streets get a sparkling makeover, but have you ever wondered about the cost of all that holiday cheer?
We did, too, which is why we took to analyzing data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to map out the cost of holiday lights in every U.S. state. Whether you’re the type to string up a simple strand or two or you transform your home into a beacon of holiday spirit, this data offers insight into not just how we celebrate but the impact it has on our wallets.
In the world of holiday décor, it's not just about making spirits bright, but also about making smart choices for our homes and our budgets. Read on to see what we found!
Key Findings
- It costs about $25 on average for the typical outdoor light decorations to run for just 5 weeks.
- The typical holiday light user will use one to three wreaths, a garland, and about 10 strings of light for wrapping their outdoor trees.
- The heavy holiday light decorator spends about $270 on average for running their outdoor lights from the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.
- The heavy holiday light user is one that lines the roof, walkway, and driveway with Christmas lights, adds a wreath to the front door, and wraps one to two trees as well.
- For those who take holiday light decorations very seriously, it can cost upwards of $730 for just 5 weeks of lights running.
- The enthusiastic holiday light user lines their roof, yard, and driveway as well as wrapping all of their trees, adding lights to nearly every inch of their house.
How Do You Decorate? The Cost of Running Holiday Lights in Every State
Leading the pack in holiday light costs when it comes to incandescent lights is Hawaii. In a state known for its tropical beauty, the price tag for lighting up the holiday season is a bit less paradise-like. Typical usage of incandescent lights in Hawaii can cost around $60.78 each holiday season. However, for those who really go all out, the enthusiastic usage can skyrocket to a substantial $1,754.81, making it a costly affair to bring that festive glow to the Hawaiian shores.
The Golden State, California, follows closely with its own set of high costs for incandescent holiday lighting. A typical Californian household spends about $44.70 on average, but if you're among the heavy users, expect to shell out a notable $478.65. And for the most enthusiastic of decorators? A dazzling $1,290.58 might be on your holiday expenses list, reflecting not just the festive spirit but also the high cost of living in California.
New Hampshire, though quaint, stands third in this list, indicating that the charm of its winter season comes with a notable price. For typical users of incandescent lights, the cost is approximately $44.25. But for those embracing the holiday season with more fervor, the expenses increase significantly to $473.80 for heavy usage and $1,277.49 for the enthusiastic decorators, making it an expensive endeavor to light up those cozy New England nights.
On the other hand, Washington offers the most economical option for incandescent holiday lights. With a typical usage cost of just $16.87, Washingtonians can enjoy the holiday spirit without a significant financial burden. Even the most enthusiastic light users in Washington spend only about $486.91, making it the most budget-friendly state for those looking to light up their homes during the festive season.
Down in Louisiana, the spirit of festivity is alive but doesn't weigh heavily on the wallet. Typical usage of incandescent lights here costs around $16.97. This affordability extends to enthusiastic users as well, with costs capping at a more manageable $489.97.
Known for its stunning natural landscapes, Utah also offers a more budget-friendly holiday lighting experience. A typical light display with incandescent bulbs costs around $17.76, a stark contrast to the higher costs. Even for the most enthusiastic users, the cost remains relatively modest at $512.65, making Utah a more economical choice for holiday decorators.
LED vs. Incandescent? See How Much You Could Be Saving
Clearly, lights can be an expensive part of our holiday festivities, but there are smart decisions we can make to balance the joy of a brightly lit home with the practicality of managing costs. For example, LED lights consume up to 75% less energy than their incandescent counterparts and last up to 25 times longer.
Across the country, holiday light costs vary especially depending on what type and how many lights one uses. To see a full breakdown by state and type of decorator, checkout the full list here.
For the typical holiday light user, those who use a few strands of lights and run them for several hours each night during the holiday season), the switch to LED can significantly reduce the electricity bill — by an average of $21.62, to be exact.
Households that fall into the heavy usage category stand to benefit even more from switching to LED lights. The energy efficiency of LEDs becomes more pronounced with increased usage, saving the average user $235.66 each holiday season. While incandescent bulbs can quickly ramp up the electricity bill with their higher energy demands, LEDs maintain their low energy consumption.
For the most enthusiastic holiday decorators, those who transform their homes into a dazzling showcase of lights, the transition to LED lighting is not just a cost-saving measure but a sustainability choice. The difference amounts to roughly $638, but the switch will save you as much as $1,528.23 in states like Hawaii. This makes LED lights an excellent choice for those who wish to indulge in their love for lavish holiday displays while being eco-conscious and economical over the long term.
Closing Thoughts
It's clear that the choice of lights — whether incandescent or LED — and the intensity of our holiday spirit can have a significant impact on our seasonal expenses. The cost of bringing holiday cheer to our homes varies widely, reflecting the diverse ways in which we celebrate.
As we enter the holiday season, we at Mr. Electric encourage homeowners to take this as an opportunity to reflect on energy usage and safety precautions. For added peace of mind, our dedicated circuit and surge protection offerings are a seasonal necessity to ensure your home’s luminous holiday spirit does not go out.
Happy holidays, and may your homes glow warmly with the lights of the season!
Methodology
Our data comes directly from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). To complete our calculations, we used the government’s average for residential electricity rates in each state and multiplied the kWh hours by those rates. To determine the costs by light user (typical, heavy, or enthusiastic), we referred to Christmas Lights Etc. for these decorator characteristics and estimations.
Additionally, we estimated that the lights would run for seven hours a day, 6 pm to 12 am, and be up for a total of 34 days, the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.
