How much do cannabis grow lights cost?
US retail prices for one cannabis grow light run from about $20 to $1,500. Most home growers spend $100 to $500 on a single fixture. First-year cost is higher. Electricity, ventilation, and replacement bulbs add to the sticker price.
Cannabis Grow Lights Distance Chart: Optimal Spacing for Efficient Growth
Price by light type
- CFL or spiral fluorescent: $20 to $60 for a bulb and reflector. Used for seedlings and clones.
- T5 fluorescent fixture, 2 ft to 4 ft, 4 to 8 bulbs: $50 to $200.
- HID kit, 400W to 1000W, with ballast, reflector, and bulb: $120 to $350.
- CMH or LEC, 315W: $250 to $450.
- LED board, 100W: $80 to $150. Covers about 2 ft by 2 ft in flower.
- LED bar fixture, 240W to 320W: $200 to $450. Covers about 3 ft by 3 ft.
- LED bar fixture, 480W to 720W: $500 to $1,100. Covers 4 ft by 4 ft to 5 ft by 5 ft.
Electricity cost
The US average residential electricity rate was about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2024 and 2025, per the Energy Information Administration. Run time sets the bill.
how much do cannabis grow lights cost
- 100W LED, 18 hours per day: 1.8 kWh per day, about $0.31 per day, about $9 per month.
- 300W LED, 12 hours per day: 3.6 kWh per day, about $0.61 per day, about $18 per month.
- 600W HPS, 12 hours per day: 7.2 kWh per day, about $1.22 per day, about $37 per month.
- 1000W HPS, 12 hours per day: 12 kWh per day, about $2.04 per day, about $61 per month.
HID lamps add heat. A 600W HPS can raise tent temperature 10 to 15 degrees F. Cooling that heat with an exhaust fan and AC adds $20 to $80 per month in many setups.
Cost per watt
LED fixtures cost $0.80 to $2.00 per watt. HID kits cost $0.25 to $0.60 per watt. CMH runs $0.80 to $1.40 per watt. HID wins on purchase price. LED wins over three to five years when power and bulb replacement are counted.
led vs hps cannabis grow lights
Replacement and accessory costs
- HPS or MH bulb: $20 to $50, replaced every 9 to 12 months.
- Digital ballast replacement: $80 to $150.
- Inline fan and carbon filter: $100 to $250.
- Timer: $10 to $30.
- Adjustable hangers and light spreader: $10 to $40.
What drives the price
Wattage sets the floor. Diode brand moves the number. Fixtures with Samsung LM301 diodes and Mean Well drivers cost more than boards with generic parts. Dimming, far-red channels, UL or ETL listing, and warranty length add $50 to $300. A 5-year warranty fixture can cost twice a 1-year model at the same wattage.
What to check before buying
Watts are marketing. Photon flux, measured as PPF in micromoles per second, is the output number. A 100W board at 2.5 umol/J produces 250 umol/s. LEDs lose 10 to 20 percent output at 5 years in most cases. Ask for a PPFD map, not a wattage claim. A $120 light that covers 2 ft by 2 ft can cost less per gram than a $600 light run in the same 2 ft by 2 ft tent.