Tool

LED frame energy cost calculator

Find out what an illuminated frame, LED neon sign or light box costs to run. Most cost a few dollars a year.

Last updated September 21, 2026

Your frame

Power (watts)

Printed on the adapter or label. Watts = volts × amps.

Hours on per day

Electricity price ($ per kWh)

Default: U.S. average residential price, June 2026. Use the rate on your bill.

—per month

—per year

—kWh per year

How the calculation works

Energy use is power multiplied by time. A frame's power in watts, times the hours it's on, gives watt-hours; divide by 1,000 for kilowatt-hours (kWh), the unit on your electricity bill.

Yearly cost = watts × hours per day × 365 ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh

For example, a 12 W frame on for 6 hours a day uses 12 × 6 × 365 ÷ 1,000 = about 26.3 kWh a year. At $0.1834 per kWh that's roughly $4.82 a year, or about 40 cents a month.

Typical power use

Power use depends on size, brightness and how much of the light is on. Colorful or dimmed scenes usually draw less than full-brightness white. These are typical values, not measurements of a particular product:

Example yearly running cost at 6 hours a day and $0.1834 per kWh
Power	kWh per year	Cost per year
5 W	10.9	$2.01
12 W	26.3	$4.82
24 W	52.6	$9.64
36 W	78.8	$14.46
60 W (old incandescent picture light)	131.4	$24.10

Ways to spend less

Dim the frame. Lower brightness uses less power and is easier on the eyes at night.
Use a timer so the frame turns off automatically. Several Lumi Frames include one, like the Lumi Frames Edge.
Choose frames with efficient LEDs and an even diffuser; see edge-lit vs backlit frames.
For a battery frame, charging costs are tiny; running time matters more. See cordless and plug-in power options.

Sources

Default electricity price: Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (average price of electricity to ultimate customers), U.S. Energy Information Administration: 18.34 cents per kWh, residential, June 2026.
Background on LED efficiency: Learn About LED Lighting, ENERGY STAR.