How Much Do Permanent Holiday Lights Cost to Run in Texas?
The #1 question we get from DFW homeowners after 'how much does it cost?' is 'how much will it add to my electric bill?' The honest answer surprises most people.
Our commercial RGBW LEDs draw 0.7 watts per bulb at full brightness, and most homeowners run warm white at 60% — about 0.42 watts per bulb. A typical 200-foot one-story install has roughly 200 bulbs.
The math: 200 bulbs × 0.42W × 6 hours/night × 30 days = 15.1 kWh/month. At the average DFW residential rate of $0.16/kWh (TXU, Reliant, and Green Mountain plans in 2025), that's $2.42/month. Even at peak Christmas with all-color animation at full brightness, the bill is roughly $5–$7/month.
For perspective: a single 100W incandescent porch light left on overnight costs about $4.80/month. Permanent lighting your entire roofline costs less than your porch light.
Two-story installs with 350+ bulbs run about $4–$6/month at warm white, $9–$12/month at full Christmas color. Your annual electricity cost is less than one round of seasonal install fees.
Bonus: the Surplife app shows live wattage and projects monthly cost so you can dial brightness exactly to your comfort level.
