You finally scored that cute apartment with a balcony or a small patio. You’re picturing cozy evenings with string lights, a glowing pathway, and maybe a security light for peace of mind. But then, reality hits: Is my landlord going to think I’m running a stadium?
As a renter, every dollar counts, and the last thing you want is to pay for ambiance you can’t afford. I’ve been there staring at the light switch, trying to calculate if the warm glow is worth the cost of a pizza.
Outdoor lights usually add between $1 and $10 to your monthly electricity bill. The exact number depends entirely on the type of bulbs you use and how long they stay on.
Quick Answer: The Real Cost
If you use LED bulbs (which you should), running a set of 100 feet of outdoor string lights (approximately 100 watts total) for 6 hours a day will cost you roughly $2.70 to $3.60 per month. If you are using old incandescent bulbs, that same setup could cost $30 to $45 per month.
For most apartment renters, outdoor lighting accounts for less than 5% of their total electric bill.
The Simple Math of Outdoor Lighting Costs
You don’t need to be an electrician to figure this out. To understand how much outdoor lights increase your electricity bill, you just need to know one formula.
The Formula: (Watts ÷ 1000) x Hours Used x Electricity Rate = Cost
Let’s break that down into a step-by-step guide so you can calculate your specific setup.
Step 1: Find the Wattage
Look at the bulb or the box. If you have string lights, add up the wattage per bulb.
- LED Bulb: Usually 0.5 to 10 watts per bulb.
- Incandescent Bulb: Usually 40 to 100 watts per bulb.
- Floodlight (Security): 10-30 watts (LED) or 100-300 watts (Halogen).
Step 2: Calculate Daily Usage
How many hours are they actually on? Renters often leave lights on from dusk until dawn (roughly 12 hours) or just for evening hours (4-6 hours).
Step 3: Multiply by Your Rate
Check your latest electric bill. The average cost in the US is about $0.16 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). If you live in a state with high rates like California or Hawaii, it might be $0.30 or more.
LED vs. Incandescent: A Cost Comparison
This is where the biggest savings happen. If you moved into an older apartment and the previous tenant left old-school bulbs in the fixture, you are throwing money away.
To illustrate how much outdoor lights increase your electricity bill, let’s look at a common scenario: a balcony with two 100-watt incandescent bulbs running for 6 hours a day.
| Feature | Incandescent Bulbs | LED Bulbs |
|---|---|---|
| Wattage (per bulb) | 100 Watts | 10 Watts |
| Total Wattage | 200 Watts | 20 Watts |
| Daily Usage | 6 Hours | 6 Hours |
| Monthly kWh | 36 kWh | 3.6 kWh |
| Monthly Cost (@ $0.16) | $5.76 | $0.58 |
| Annual Cost | $69.12 | $6.96 |
As you can see, simply swapping to LED bulbs reduces the impact on your bill by nearly 90%.
Common Mistakes That Inflate Your Bill
Even with good intentions, renters often make mistakes that turn cheap ambiance into an expensive habit. Here are five real mistakes to avoid.
1. Using Halogen Bulbs in Security Lights
Many apartments come with a motion sensor floodlight. If it’s an older unit, it likely contains a halogen bulb (150-300 watts). These get hot and drain power.
- The Fix: Check if the bulb is replaceable. If it is a standard screw-in type, swap it for an LED PAR38 bulb. It fits the same fixture but uses 90% less energy.
2. Leaving String Lights on 24/7
It’s easy to forget. You plug in the fairy lights for a party and forget to unplug them for a week. If you are using cheap, non-LED string lights, this is like leaving a toaster on all day.
- The Fix: Use a mechanical or smart outlet timer. Set it to turn on at sunset and off at midnight or sunrise.
3. Ignoring the “Vampire” Effect
Some modern outdoor lights have transformers (the heavy box on the plug). Even if the lights are off, if the transformer is plugged in, it draws a small amount of power.
- The Fix: Unplug outdoor lights when you aren’t using them, especially if you’re going out of town for the weekend.
4. Using High Wattage for Ambiance
You don’t need 100-watt bulbs to read a book on the patio. Using bright, high-wattage bulbs for decorative purposes is overkill.
- The Fix: Match the bulb to the task. Use low-wattage “warm white” LEDs (2-5 watts) for string lights and ambiance.
5. Forgetting About the Landlord’s Fixtures
If your apartment has outdoor fixtures that are tied to your unit’s meter (like a porch light), those are part of your bill. If that fixture uses a 60-watt incandescent and stays on all day, it’s costing you.
- The Fix: Ask your landlord if you can swap the bulb. If they say yes, install a dusk-to-dawn LED bulb that turns itself off during the day.
Pro Tips: How to Slash Your Outdoor Lighting Cost?
You don’t have to sit in the dark to save money. Here are expert insights that go beyond the basic “buy LEDs” advice.
The “Solar Hack” for Renters
If you have a balcony that gets direct sunlight for at least 4 hours a day, solar-powered lights are your best friend. They cost $0 to run. Modern solar string lights are brighter than they used to be and often come with removable batteries. Since you are renting, you don’t have to worry about wiring or running extension cords through windows (which can be a safety hazard).
Smart Plugs Are a Game Changer
A $10 smart plug (like Kasa or Amazon Smart Plug) allows you to schedule your lights.
- Expert Tip: Set a schedule for “Sunset to 11:00 PM.” This ensures you never accidentally leave lights on until 3 AM.
- Voice Control: If your hands are full coming home from work, you can ask Alexa or Google to turn the patio lights on without fumbling for a switch.
Motion Sensors vs. Always-On
If you are using lights for security, always-on is inefficient. Motion sensors ensure the light is only on for the 1-3 minutes it takes to walk by. Many apartments already have these, but if yours doesn’t, you can buy an adapter that screws into the light socket and adds motion detection.
Real-Life Scenario: Emily’s Balcony Makeover
To show you how these changes work in the real world, let’s look at Emily. Emily rents a one-bedroom apartment in Austin, Texas. She has a small balcony and a front porch light.
The Problem: After her first month in the apartment, Emily noticed her electric bill was $30 higher than her previous place. She couldn’t figure out why.
The Audit:
- Porch Light: A 60-watt incandescent bulb. The apartment complex leaves this on 24/7 (720 hours/month).
- Balcony String Lights: 48 feet of incandescent bulbs (total 200 watts). She turned them on at 6 PM and often forgot to turn them off until the morning (12 hours/day).
The Math (Old Setup):
- Porch: (60W ÷ 1000) x 720h x $0.12 = $5.18.
- Balcony: (200W ÷ 1000) x 360h x $0.12 = $8.64.
- Total Monthly: $13.82.
The Solution:
- Emily swapped the porch bulb with a 10W LED.
- She replaced the string lights with LED equivalents (20W total).
- She bought a smart plug to ensure the balcony lights turned off at 11:00 PM (5 hours/day instead of 12).
The Math (New Setup):
- Porch: (10W ÷ 1000) x 720h x $0.12 = $0.86
- Balcony: (20W ÷ 1000) x 150h x $0.12 = $0.36
- Total Monthly: $1.22
By spending $30 on new bulbs and a smart plug, Emily saved $12.60 per month. That’s a full tank of coffee (or a streaming subscription) paid for by her lighting efficiency.
Option A vs. Option B: Choosing Your Setup
When setting up your outdoor space, you usually have three paths. Here is how they compare for a renter.
| Setup | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Lights | Zero electricity cost. No wires. Easy to install. | Lower brightness. Dependent on sunlight. Batteries wear out. | Balconies with sun. Decorative ambiance. |
| LED + Timer | High brightness. Reliable cost ($1-2/month). | Requires an outlet (must be GFCI). Need to manage extension cords safely. | Patios, porches. Daily use. Security lighting. |
| Incandescent/ Halogen | Cheap upfront cost (bulbs are $1-2). | High heat. High energy cost ($10-30+/month). Short lifespan. | None. Avoid if possible. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my landlord get mad if I change the light bulbs? Most landlords prefer you use LED bulbs because they are safer (they don’t get hot enough to cause fires) and last longer. However, check your lease. If the outdoor fixture is in a common area (like a hallway), do not touch it. If it’s exclusively for your unit (a porch or balcony light), it’s usually fine to swap.
Do outdoor string lights use a lot of electricity if they are LED? No. LED string lights are incredibly efficient. A typical set of 100 LED bulbs uses about the same amount of electricity as a single old-school nightlight. You can run them all evening for less than the cost of a soda per month.
Is it safe to run an extension cord from my apartment to outdoor lights? It can be safe if done correctly. You must use a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cord (usually orange or green) with a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet. Never run the cord under rugs, across walkways where people trip, or through windows that you close tightly on the cord (this can fray the wires and cause a fire).
Does leaving a porch light on all night deter crime? It can, but you don’t need a 100-watt light to do it. A 10-watt LED provides plenty of illumination for security. Using a motion sensor is often more effective because the sudden movement of the light startles potential intruders and draws attention.
How do I calculate the cost if I have multiple light fixtures? Add up the wattage of all the bulbs. If you have 10 LED bulbs that are 5 watts each, your total is 50 watts. Then, use the formula: (50 ÷ 1000) x hours x rate. If you run them 5 hours a day at $0.16, it’s 0.05 x 5 x 30 = 7.5 kWh, costing about $1.20 per month.
Conclusion
Don’t let the fear of a high electric bill keep you from enjoying your outdoor space. The impact of outdoor lights is entirely in your control. By switching to LED bulbs, using timers or smart plugs, and avoiding the common mistakes we discussed, you can keep your monthly cost well under $5—often under $2.
Take 10 minutes today to walk around your apartment. Check the bulbs in your porch light and balcony fixtures. If they are incandescent or halogen, make the swap.
