Running costs
How much does a candle warmer lamp cost to run?
Roughly 5 pence for a four-hour evening with a 50 W bulb at today's typical UK prices. Here is the maths, a chart you can share, and a calculator for your own tariff.
The formula
Running cost is simple: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. A 50 W bulb for 4 hours is 50 ÷ 1,000 × 4 = 0.2 kWh. At 26p per kWh that is 5.2p.
Work out your own cost
Cost per evening, by bulb and hours
| Bulb | 2 hours | 4 hours | 8 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 W | 1.3p | 2.6p | 5.2p |
| 35 W | 1.8p | 3.6p | 7.3p |
| 50 W | 2.6p | 5.2p | 10.4p |
Prices are rounded and based on 26p per kWh. Your own tariff will differ, so check your latest bill.
Easy ways to spend even less
- Use the dimmer. Once the room smells right, turn it down. A dimmed bulb draws less power.
- Use the timer. A 2, 4 or 8-hour timer stops the lamp running after you have gone to bed.
- Pick the right clearance. A lamp set at the right height warms the wax with less time and less brightness.
- Warm only when you are there. The scent lingers a while after the lamp is switched off.
Don't forget the candle
The electricity is small. The candle is the bigger cost, and it is where a warmer lamp saves money, because a candle that is softened rather than burned lasts much longer. See our full comparison with a lit candle, or find a good value jar in our scented candles.
Lamps with a timer or dimmer to keep costs down
Questions people ask
How much electricity does a candle warmer lamp use?
A lamp with a 50 W bulb uses 0.05 kWh per hour, or 0.2 kWh over a four-hour evening. A 35 W bulb uses 0.035 kWh an hour.
Is a candle warmer lamp cheaper than burning candles?
In electricity it costs pence an evening, and because the candle is not being burned it lasts much longer, so you buy fewer candles. Total running cost is usually lower, though it depends on how much you use each.
What should I use for the price per kWh?
Use the unit rate on your latest bill. The chart on this page assumes 26p per kWh, a typical recent UK figure; your own may be higher or lower.