Cost and Life Span of Common Light Bulbs
Lighting expert Randall Whitehead gives a quick rundown of bulb life expectancies.
 
Do you have a quick cost comparison of bulb replacement and life spans that I can use with customers?
Cost-wise, a standard household bulb (such as a 60A19IF) retails for around 85 cents, a standard reflector bulb (such as a 50R20) costs around $5.50 and an MR16 (such as the GE Precise brand) will run around $8. Replacement-wise, if you left the lights on 8 hours a day for 7 days a week, the household bulb would need to be replaced every 13 days, the standard reflector bulb would need to be replaced every 35 days and the MR16 would need to be replaced every 107 days. Of course, if I left the lights on in our house 8 hours a day every day of the week, I would be shot.
randall_whitehead
Randall Whitehead, IALD

Randall Whitehead, IALD, is a professional lighting designer and author. His books include "Residential Lighting, A Practical Guide." Whitehead has worked on projects worldwide, appeared on the Discovery Channel, HGTV and CNN, and he is regular guest on Martha Stewart Living Radio. Visit his website www.randallwhitehead.com and follow his blog www.lightmakesright.com for more information on books, upcoming seminars and the latest lighting trends.

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