This $37 Costco Purchase Cuts Your Electric Bill by $269 This Year
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Most people know LED lightbulbs save money, but they don’t realize how much money until they see the actual numbers. Costco’s 18-pack of Feit Electric LED bulbs for $36.99 could slash your electric bill by over $250 annually if you replace the right bulbs in your home.
The math is straightforward, but the savings are anything but small.
The Numbers That Matter
Each Feit Electric LED replaces a 60-watt incandescent bulb while using only 8.8 watts of electricity. That’s 51.2 watts saved per bulb, and with 18 bulbs, you’re looking at nearly 922 watts of reduced power consumption.
Here’s where it gets interesting: If those 18 bulbs run for just five hours daily (think living room, kitchen and bedroom lights), you’ll save about 1,681 kilowatt-hours annually. At the average U.S. electricity rate of 16 cents per kWh, that equals $269 in yearly savings.
The $37 investment pays for itself in less than two months.
Why These Bulbs Are Different
Costco’s Feit Electric LEDs aren’t your basic LED replacements. They come with a unique feature that customers are raving about in reviews: five selectable color temperatures built right into each bulb.
A small switch on each bulb lets you choose between soft white (2700K), bright white (3000K), cool white (4000K), daylight (5000K) or cool daylight (6500K). You can change the lighting mood without buying different bulbs or installing dimmer switches.
One customer explained how this feature worked in their kitchen: “Just this evening we changed the type of light in six bulbs over the kitchen table. We didn’t have to take the bulbs out or anything – just move the little slider.”
The Quality Difference
The 18-pack has earned 4.8 out of 5 stars from 272 Costco customers, with many praising their reliability compared to cheaper alternatives. Several reviewers mentioned switching from store-brand LEDs that failed quickly.
“I previously bought a large package of bulbs by a large store brand for the ‘great value’ and at least one third of those bulbs burned out immediately or flat out didn’t work at all,” one verified purchaser wrote. “But every bulb of these Feit bulbs worked perfectly even in my older fixtures.”
The bulbs are rated for 15,000 hours of use, which translates to about eight to 10 years of typical household usage. That longevity means you’re not just saving on electricity, you’re also avoiding frequent bulb replacements.
Where To Use Them for Maximum Savings
To hit that $269 annual savings target, focus on replacing bulbs in high-usage areas:
Living spaces: Table lamps, overhead fixtures and accent lighting that run four to six hours daily generate the biggest savings.
Kitchen lights: Under-cabinet lighting and pendant fixtures often run longer than people realize, especially during meal prep and cleanup.
Bedrooms: Overhead lights and bedside lamps used for reading add up quickly over a year.
Bathrooms: Vanity lighting that runs during morning and evening routines contributes significant usage hours.
The key is replacing 60-watt incandescents in fixtures you actually use regularly. Swapping out bulbs in storage closets won’t move the needle on your electric bill.
Realistic Expectations
The $269 annual savings assumes you’re replacing 18 sixty-watt incandescent bulbs that run about five hours daily. Your actual savings depend on several factors:
Usage patterns: Bulbs used two hours daily save half as much as those used four hours daily.
Local electricity rates: Higher rates in states like California or Hawaii increase your savings potential.
What you’re replacing: Swapping 40-watt bulbs saves less than replacing 60-watt or 75-watt incandescents.
Fixture compatibility: Some older fixtures or dimmer switches might not work perfectly with LEDs.
The Upfront Investment
At $2.05 per bulb, these LEDs cost more upfront than basic alternatives. But the combination of energy savings, longevity and the color-selection feature justifies the price difference.
Cheaper LEDs often fail within two to three years and don’t offer the same light quality or features. When you factor in replacement costs and the hassle of changing failed bulbs, spending slightly more for quality makes financial sense.
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