What's the Difference Between LED and Incandescent Christmas Lights?
- by Joe Weber - updated on 11/8/2024
The holiday season is upon us once again, and it feels like we just packed away last year's Christmas lights and decorations! As stores fill their aisles with festive lighting options, you might be wondering: What's the best type of Christmas lights for my home? To help you decide, let's break down the differences between LED and incandescent Christmas lights—and explain why we recommend going with LED Christmas lights to brighten up your home this year.
LED vs. Incandescent Christmas Lights: Pros and Cons
Both technologies come with their own set of pros and cons. Surprisingly, when you look at the basics, neither emerges as the clear winner. Here's a comparison of LED vs. incandescent Christmas lights to help you choose the right option for your holiday decorations.
LED
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Safer | Fewer lights per string |
| Energy-efficient | More expensive |
| Great for the environment | Difficult to replace if broken |
| Long-Lasting | Can be more difficult to install |
| Very bright lights | |
| Cord and bulb size variety | |
| Cost-effective long-term |
Incandescent
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Gets very hot |
| Easy to install | More expensive |
| More lights per strand | Not energy-efficient |
| Extra long strands available | Lasts only 1,000 hours |
| Very bright lights | |
| Very bright lights | |
Let's take a closer look and show you why we believe LED Christmas lights are the best choice for this holiday season.
Why Choose LED Christmas Lights in 2024?
With both types of Christmas lights offering unique benefits, you may wonder: Why should I spend the extra money on LED lights? The answer lies in their long-term advantages. From energy savings to durability, LED Christmas lights are the most cost-effective and practical choice for your home this holiday season.
Energy Efficient
LED Christmas lights use the latest lighting technology to deliver a highly efficient and reliable solution for all your holiday decorating needs. Traditional incandescent Christmas lights require a significant amount of energy, leading to higher electricity bills.
For example:
- Running 10 strands of 100-bulb incandescent mini lights for just 6 hours a day could cost around up to well over $100 for the holiday season.
- If you're using larger C9 3-inch bulbs, your energy bill could increase by an eye-watering $176 to $200 for the same period.
On the other hand, LED Christmas lights are significantly more energy-efficient:
- Running LED mini lights costs around $2 for the entire holiday season.
- Even large C9 LED bulbs will only add around $2.50 to your energy bill.
When it comes to energy savings, LED lights are the clear winner.
Brightness
With every new generation of LED lights, their brightness improves. In the early days, incandescent lights were often brighter, but today's LED Christmas lights are just as bright—if not brighter—than their incandescent counterparts, while using far less energy.
Durability
One of the biggest advantages of LED Christmas lights is their longevity. While incandescent lights typically last about 1,000 hours, LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours. Using our earlier example of 6 hours per day for the 35 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, LED lights could potentially last for years—or even a lifetime of holiday decorating!
Plus, LED lights are far less likely to short out or pop, saving you the hassle of replacing bulbs. Many modern LED strands are made with durable plastic, making them shatter-resistant and perfect for outdoor use.
Heat and Safety
One of the most important benefits of LED Christmas lights—especially for indoor use—is that they emit significantly less heat, even when left on for long periods. This greatly reduces the risk of fire, a common concern with incandescent lights, especially around Christmas trees. With LED lights, you can enjoy your festive display without worrying about overheating or fire hazards.
Versatility
Thanks to their durability and cool-to-the-touch design, LED Christmas lights offer endless decorating possibilities. Whether you're hanging them indoors, outdoors, on trees, shrubs, or even around the fireplace, LED lights are versatile enough to fit anywhere in your holiday décor.
What Other Kinds of Lights Can I Use for Holiday Decorating?
String lights aren't the only option for holiday decorating. You can take your décor to the next level by replacing your interior or porch lights with red or green LED bulbs for a festive glow. Or, for an even bolder statement, try multi-colored LED strip lights that let you select different colors to fill your entire room with holiday cheer.
Need Holiday Gift Ideas?
Looking for some great gift ideas this holiday season? Check out your local Batteries Plus and explore our blog articles:
These guides will help you find the perfect gifts for your loved ones and make your holiday shopping a breeze!