LED Lighting Savings Calculator

Calculate energy savings, cost reductions, and carbon footprint reduction from switching to LED lighting

Calculate LED Savings

See how much you can save by switching to LED lighting

lights

Total number of lights you want to replace

hours/day

Average hours these lights are on each day

Advanced Options
W
W
£/kWh

UK average is around £0.25-0.35/kWh (check your bill)

£

Cost per LED bulb

Why Switch to LED Lighting?

LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology has revolutionized lighting, offering significant advantages over traditional incandescent, halogen, and CFL bulbs.

Key Benefits of LED Lighting

  • Up to 90% Energy Savings - LEDs use a fraction of the energy of incandescent bulbs for the same light output
  • 25,000+ Hour Lifespan - Last 25x longer than incandescent bulbs, reducing replacement costs and maintenance
  • Lower Heat Output - LEDs stay cool, reducing fire risk and air conditioning costs in summer
  • Instant Full Brightness - No warm-up time unlike CFLs
  • Environmentally Friendly - No mercury, reduced CO₂ emissions, and fully recyclable
  • Better Light Quality - Modern LEDs offer excellent color rendering and dimmability
  • Cost Effective - Despite higher upfront cost, savings repay investment within 6-18 months typically

Real-World Savings Example

Typical UK Home (10 lights, 5 hours/day):

  • • Switching from 60W incandescent to 8W LED bulbs
  • • Annual energy savings: ~950 kWh
  • • Annual cost savings: £266 (at £0.28/kWh)
  • • CO₂ reduction: ~221kg per year
  • • Payback period: ~2.5 months
  • • 25-year lifetime savings: £6,000+

LED vs Traditional Bulbs Comparison

FeatureLEDCFLHalogenIncandescent
Power (800 lumens)8-10W14-16W42-50W60W
Lifespan25,000h8,000h2,000h1,000h
Annual Cost (5h/day, £0.28/kWh)£4.63£8.11£25.52£30.71
Typical Bulb Cost£3-8£2-5£1-3£1-2
Heat OutputVery LowLowVery HighVery High
MercuryNone ✓Yes ✗None ✓None ✓
DimmableYes ✓SomeYes ✓Yes ✓

Understanding Bulb Equivalents

Old → LED
  • 25W Incandescent → 3-4W LED
  • 40W Incandescent → 5-6W LED
  • 60W Incandescent → 8-9W LED
  • 75W Incandescent → 10-12W LED
  • 100W Incandescent → 13-15W LED
Halogen → LED
  • 20W Halogen → 2-3W LED
  • 35W Halogen → 4-5W LED
  • 50W Halogen → 6-7W LED
  • 75W Halogen → 9-11W LED

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money can I save by switching to LED lights?

The average UK household can save £40-£100 per year by switching to LED lighting. A 60W incandescent bulb costs approximately £12/year to run (at 24p/kWh, 5 hours/day), while an equivalent 9W LED costs only £4/year - a 67% saving. Commercial buildings typically see savings of 50-80% on lighting electricity costs.

What is the payback period for LED bulbs in the UK?

LED bulbs typically pay for themselves within 6 months to 2 years depending on usage. At 5 hours daily use, a £5 LED bulb replacing a 60W incandescent saves approximately £8/year, giving a 7-month payback. Higher-usage areas like offices or shops see even faster payback periods.

How long do LED bulbs last compared to traditional bulbs?

LED bulbs last 25,000-50,000 hours compared to 1,000 hours for incandescent and 8,000-15,000 hours for CFL bulbs. This means an LED running 5 hours per day will last 13-27 years, compared to 6 months for incandescent. The longer lifespan significantly reduces replacement costs and maintenance.

Are LED lights more energy efficient than halogen?

Yes, LED lights use approximately 85% less energy than halogen bulbs. A 50W halogen spotlight can be replaced by a 5W LED, producing the same 400 lumens of light. With the UK halogen ban phased in since 2021, LED is now the standard energy-efficient replacement.

How do I calculate LED savings for my home?

To calculate LED savings: 1) Count your bulbs and note their wattage, 2) Estimate hours of daily use, 3) Find equivalent LED wattage (roughly 1/6th of incandescent), 4) Calculate: (Old watts - New watts) × hours × days × electricity rate ÷ 1000. Our calculator automates this with current UK electricity prices.

What is the environmental benefit of switching to LED?

Switching one 60W incandescent bulb to a 9W LED saves approximately 25kg of CO₂ per year (at UK grid average). For a typical UK home with 20 bulbs, that is 500kg CO₂ saved annually. LED bulbs also contain no mercury (unlike CFLs) and are fully recyclable.

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Complete Calculation Workflow

Follow this workflow for a complete electrical installation calculation:

Lighting Circuit Calculator

Design lighting circuits

2
LED Savings Calculator

Calculate energy savings

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3
Cable Size CalculatorNext Step

Select lighting cable

4
Voltage Drop Calculator

Verify 3% voltage drop limit