LED Curtain Lights Power Consumption: How Much Do Your Christmas Lights Cost to Run?

LED curtain lights use little power, because LEDs are a low-energy technology. To know the exact cost, multiply the wattage printed on the adapter by the number of hours they're on, divide by 1,000 to get kWh, then multiply by your electricity rate. In practice, how long they're on and the brightness you choose matter more than the model itself: a timer is your best money-saver.

Why LEDs use so little power

An LED turns electricity into light far more efficiently than an incandescent bulb, which wasted most of its energy as heat. That's why almost all modern string and curtain lights are LED. The Glowcony Magic Curtain uses 400 RGB LEDs and runs on low voltage, with a 12 V adapter.

The formula to calculate consumption

You only need three things:

• Wattage (W): printed on the adapter or in the manual.
• Usage time: hours per day × number of days.
• Your rate per kWh: on your electricity bill.

The math: watts × hours ÷ 1,000 = kWh, then kWh × rate = cost.

A sample calculation

Take a hypothetical 20 W device, on 6 hours a night for 40 days (December 1 to January 9): 20 × 6 × 40 = 4,800 Wh, or 4.8 kWh. At a rate of $0.17 per kWh, that's about $0.82 for the whole season. Just swap in your device's wattage and your own rate.

Important: the wattage on an adapter is a maximum. Depending on the colors and brightness displayed, actual use can be lower. For a precise reading, a plug-in watt meter between the outlet and the adapter gives you the exact figure.

What makes consumption vary

• Brightness: at 50%, LEDs use less than at 100%.
• Colors: pure white drives the red, green and blue channels at once, while a single color uses only one or two.
• Animations: an animation where some LEDs are off uses less than a fully lit curtain.
• Hours on: the biggest factor by far.

6 tips to cut consumption

1. Set the timer: on at dusk, off at 11 pm. Our guide to Christmas light timers shows you how.
2. Lower the brightness: at night, 50 to 70% often looks great.
3. Use animations rather than full white all the time.
4. Switch off when you're away: on vacation, a short timer slot is enough to look like someone's home.
5. Retire old incandescent strings if you still have any: they're the real energy hogs.
6. Unplug off-season: an adapter left plugged in can draw a tiny bit of standby power.

What about lifespan?

The LEDs in the Glowcony curtain are rated for around 50,000 hours. Even on for several hours every night all holiday season, it would take a very long time to reach that. Fewer wasted hours also means less wear on the adapter and wiring.

Comparing with classic string lights? Read LED curtain lights vs string lights.

FAQ

Do LED curtain lights use a lot of electricity?

No, LEDs are a low-energy technology. The cost mostly depends on how many hours they're on and the brightness.

How do I find out how much my Christmas lights use?

Check the wattage on the adapter, multiply by hours of use, divide by 1,000 and multiply by your rate per kWh. A watt meter shows actual use.

Is it better to leave lights on or switch them off?

Switch them off when nobody's watching: it saves energy and extends their life. The timer does it for you.