Lighting technology has shifted dramatically in the past decade. Incandescent bulbs are being phased out under federal standards. CFLs are largely obsolete. LEDs have won on every metric — cost, efficiency, lifespan, and versatility. This comparison shows why.
Incandescent: High Energy Use, Low Upfront Cost
A 60W incandescent bulb costs $0.50–1.00 and produces 800 lumens of light. It lasts about 1,000–2,000 hours. At 13¢/kWh running 3 hours/day: $0.023/day, $8.60/year per bulb. After 25,000 hours (the lifespan of one LED), you'd need 15–25 incandescent replacements. Incandescent bulbs are banned in new production in the U.S. since August 2023.
CFL: Better Than Incandescent, Now Obsolete
A 13W CFL produces 800 lumens (equivalent to a 60W incandescent), uses 78% less energy, and lasts 8,000–10,000 hours. Cost: $2–4. Annual energy cost: $1.85/year (3 hrs/day, 13¢/kWh). Limitations: slow warm-up time, poor performance in cold temperatures, contains mercury (requires special disposal), and doesn't dim well. CFLs are largely discontinued as LEDs have surpassed them on all metrics.
LED: Best on Every Metric
A 9W LED produces 800 lumens, uses 85% less energy than incandescent, and lasts 15,000–25,000 hours. Cost: $2–8. Annual energy cost: $1.28/year (3 hrs/day, 13¢/kWh). LEDs dim smoothly, work in cold temperatures, contain no mercury, turn on instantly, and are available in all color temperatures from warm white (2700K) to daylight (5000K).
25,000 Hour Total Cost Comparison (Per Bulb)
- Incandescent (replacing every 1,500 hrs): ~17 bulbs × $0.75 + 1,500W × 25,000hrs × $0.13/kWh = $500+
- CFL: ~3 bulbs × $3 + 325W × 25,000hrs × $0.13/kWh = $115
- LED: 1 bulb × $5 + 225W × 25,000hrs × $0.13/kWh = $78
Use our LED vs Incandescent Calculator to calculate savings for your specific number of bulbs.