The cost of an LED light is higher than your regular light bulb. However, over time the cost of LED light bulbs has continued to drop. The cost of the LED light bulb is expected to drop even further as more companies mass-produce LED bulbs as a result of government bans on the production of regular light bulbs.
LED light bulb operating costs are much less than a regular light bulb. Estimates vary depending on specific brands, but overall, you can expect to save anywhere between 50 and 95 percent on electricity costs. Electricity costs vary anywhere from 10 cents to 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, so you can save considerably more if your electricity rates are higher than average. And because LED light bulbs last anywhere up to 50 times longer than regular light bulbs, maintenance costs are also reduced.
LED light bulbs generate much less heat than regular light bulbs. Unlike incandescent lights, LED lights are cool to the touch even after they have been on for long periods of time. In general, one can expect that LED light bulbs will only generate about 5 percent of the heat of a regular light bulb.
LED lights bulbs don't use mercury, a toxic metal, in the manufacturing process. Because LED light bulbs use less electrical power when they are on, they also create less greenhouse gases and nuclear waste. Also because LED light bulbs have a much longer lifetime than regular light bulbs, dollar, environmental and health costs associated with the shipment of LED light bulbs is less than regular light bulbs.
LEDs on a lumens-per-watt basis, that is brightness-per-watt basis, is higher for LEDs than regular light bulbs. However, the amount of lumens for your typical LED light is lower than what is found on regular light bulbs. And that's because LED light bulbs have lower wattage ratings. Supporters of LED lights claim that LED light is more directional than regular light bulbs, which makes them a better choice for some lighting situations. Whether or not an LED light bulb provides better lighting for reading or for room lighting is open to debate. Manufacturers are continually making improvements in LED light bulbs for reading and general lighting applications.
LED light bulbs are less susceptible to breakage then regular light bulbs. This makes them safer to replace and transport. Also because LED light bulbs don't become hot, a burn or break is less likely to happen when you change an LED light bulb.