Every December, Christmas lights become part of household routines, but many wonder: how much does this festive display actually cost on the electricity bill? With electricity prices changing monthly and new color-coded tariffs (Green, Yellow, Blue) complicating the picture, confusion is understandable.
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The reality, however, is that especially with LEDs, Christmas lighting is much more economical than most people think.
In the following article, we analyze with real December 2025 data how much electricity LED and old-style lights consume, and exactly how much you’ll pay per electricity tariff. This is the most comprehensive and clear picture of what festive decorations actually cost, and the answer will likely pleasantly surprise you.
How much electricity do LED Christmas lights use?
LED Christmas lights are clearly the most economical choice for holiday lighting, as they consume minimal electricity compared to old incandescent bulbs.
A typical installation, e.g., two LED strings of 10W each, has a total power of about 20W (0.02 kW).
If they operate 6 hours per day for 30 days, total consumption is: 0.02 kW × 180 hours = 3.6 kWh per month
In other words, an entire month of LED Christmas lighting uses as much electricity as a single large electrical appliance in just a few hours. For most households, this translates to less than 1 euro per month, depending on the tariff.
LEDs are economical because they convert almost all energy into light, not heat, and operate at low voltages with very high efficiency.
How much do old Christmas lights consume?
Old Christmas lights (incandescent) consume multiple times more energy than LEDs.
For example, two strings of 60W each have a total power of 120W (0.12 kW).
With 180 hours of monthly use, consumption becomes: 0.12 kW × 180 hours = 21.6 kWh per month
Comparatively, old lights consume about 6 times more than LEDs and can significantly increase bills if used for many hours or in large installations.
How much you’ll pay per electricity tariff
Based on official December 2025 rates for Green, Yellow, and Blue tariffs, the amounts a household will pay are as follows.
(Calculations with 3.6 kWh for LED and 21.6 kWh for old lights.)
Green tariff DEH – December 2025
Rates:
Up to 500 kWh: €0.13928/kWh
Over 500 kWh: €0.16619/kWh
Night rate: €0.12333/kWh
Fixed charge: €5 (not affected by lights)
LED lights (3.6 kWh)
Daytime up to 500 kWh: €0.50
Daytime over 500 kWh: €0.60
Night rate: €0.44
Old lights (21.6 kWh)
Daytime up to 500 kWh: €3.01
Daytime over 500 kWh: €3.59
Night rate: €2.66
Yellow tariff DEH – December 2025
Rates:
Up to 500 kWh: €0.13552/kWh
Over 500 kWh: €0.18424/kWh
Night rate: €0.11290/kWh
Fixed charge: €5
LED lights (3.6 kWh)
Daytime up to 500 kWh: €0.49
Daytime over 500 kWh: €0.66
Night rate: €0.41
Old lights (21.6 kWh)
Daytime up to 500 kWh: €2.93
Daytime over 500 kWh: €3.98
Night rate: €2.44
Blue fixed tariff DEH – €0.145/kWh
Rate: €0.145/kWh
Fixed charge: €5
LED lights (3.6 kWh)
€0.52 for the entire month
Old lights (21.6 kWh)
€3.13
LED Christmas lights cost between €0.40 and €0.60 in December, depending on the tariff.
Old incandescent lights cost between €2.4 and €4 for the same usage time.
The fixed charge (€5) is paid anyway, so it doesn’t affect the additional cost from the lights.
If you want the most economical lighting, LEDs are clearly the best choice.
