How Much Does a Under-cabinet lighting Cost to Run? (2026 Calculator)
Typical setup: 40 W · 4 h/day · $0.180/kWh
Daily
$0.03
Monthly
$0.86
Yearly
$10.50
Quick rate
Daily cost
$0.03
Monthly cost
$0.86
+$0.00 vs typical
Yearly cost
$10.50
kWh / month
4.8 kWh
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ad-after-calculator Quick answer
A typical under-cabinet lighting uses about 40 W and costs about $0.03/day or $0.81/month at the U.S. average rate of $0.17/kWh, assuming 4 hours of use per day. At the same rate, costs range from about $0.01/day (20 W) to $0.05/day (80 W).
State explorer
Quickly spot cheapest, highest, and near-average monthly costs.
Top 10 cheapest
Top 10 highest
- Hawaii $1.91
- Massachusetts $1.50
- Maine $1.48
- California $1.45
- Rhode Island $1.45
- New York $1.36
- Connecticut $1.36
- New Hampshire $1.26
- Alaska $1.22
- District of Columbia $1.14
Cost by state (monthly)
At typical 40 W and 4 h/day. Rates from our dataset (see methodology ). Open a state for a dedicated calculator page.
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ad-after-state-table Wattage range
| Level | Watts | Est. monthly @ avg rate |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 20 W | $0.43 |
| Typical | 40 W | $0.86 |
| High | 80 W | $1.73 |
Energy saving tips
- Avoid running this appliance longer than you need each day.
- Use built-in eco or energy-saving modes whenever available.
- Shift usage to off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use rates.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room.
- Use motion sensors or smart controls for outdoor and hallway lighting.
FAQ
- Most under-cabinet lighting units fall between 20 W and 80 W, with 40 W as a typical operating value for estimates.
- Our estimates use 40 W as the typical wattage, within a reported range of 20–80 W.
- At typical use (4 hours/day at 40 W), the estimate is about 0.16 kWh/day and 4.8 kWh/month at the U.S. average rate.
- With 4 hours/day and 40 W, this appliance uses about 0.16 kWh per day.
- At 4 hours/day, the monthly estimate is about 4.8 kWh per month.
- Per hour, the typical draw is about 0.040 kWh (at 40 W).
- At the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.17/kWh, the typical daily cost is about $0.03/day for 4 hours/day.
- At the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.17/kWh, the typical monthly cost is about $0.81/month at 4 hours/day.
- Running for one hour at 40 W costs about $0.01/hour (using 0.17 $/kWh as the U.S. average).
- With typical use (4 hours/day at 40 W), the estimate is about $0.03/day or $0.81/month at the U.S. average rate.
- The estimate is about 4.8 kWh per month, which corresponds to roughly $0.81/month at the U.S. average rate. Your real bill depends on your rate and runtime.
- Use energy-saving tips tailored to this appliance. For example: Avoid running this appliance longer than you need each day. — reducing kWh reduces the bill at your local rate.