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LED Strip Power & Cost Calculator

Calculate total power draw, PSU requirements, and annual electricity cost for your LED strip installation — room by room.

Quick Start

Step 1. Add zones
kitchen, living room, etc.
Step 2. Set density
W/m for each strip
Step 3. Enter
hours & electricity price
Step 4. Get
cost & PSU size

Tip: Always add 20% headroom to your PSU — running a power supply at full load shortens its lifespan.

Project

LED Strip Zones

Zone / Room Length (m)
Low = accent/cove, Mid = task/kitchen, High = commercial/high-CRI
Halogen ~40 W/m equivalent · Fluorescent ~20 W/m equivalent
Power & Cost Results
Based on your zones and usage pattern.
Total power draw Watts
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PSU required with 20% headroom
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Annual cost electricity
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Savings vs alternative per year
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Select comparison above
Total metres:–
Daily cost:–
Monthly cost:–
Annual kWh:–

Note: PSU sizing includes 20% safety headroom. For 12V strips, divide wattage by 12 to get amperage. Use separate PSUs per zone for runs over 5 m.

Want to reduce your total energy bill?

→ Try the Electricity Cost Calculator
LED strip guide: power, PSU sizing & cost explained

How to calculate LED strip power consumption

LED strip power consumption depends on two things: the length of the strip and its watt-per-metre rating. A 5-metre strip at 10 W/m draws 50 W — the same as a single halogen bulb, but lighting an entire room.

Understanding W/m ratings

Low density (5 W/m): Ideal for cove lighting, under-cabinet accent, or mood lighting where you don't need high brightness. Very low running cost.
Mid density (10 W/m): The most common choice for kitchen worktops, shelving, and general ambient lighting.
High density (14 W/m+): Used in commercial applications, high-CRI colour-accurate setups, or anywhere needing maximum brightness from a strip.

PSU sizing — why 20% headroom?

Running a power supply at 100% load generates excess heat and shortens its lifespan significantly. The industry standard is to size your PSU at no more than 80% of its rated capacity — meaning a 50 W load needs at least a 62.5 W PSU. This calculator rounds up to the nearest practical PSU size.

Multiple zones and long runs

For runs longer than 5 metres, voltage drop becomes a problem — the far end of the strip will be dimmer than the near end. The solution is either to inject power at both ends, or to use separate PSUs per zone. This calculator's zone-by-zone breakdown makes it easy to plan individual PSUs per room.

Pro tip: LED strips typically last 25,000–50,000 hours. At 6 hours per day, that's 11–22 years. The electricity cost over that lifetime far exceeds the purchase price — always choose a higher-efficiency strip if given the choice.
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