Can LED Lights Be Left On 24/7?

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is easy to forget about seemingly trivial tasks such as turning the light off when you leave a room.

It’s just a light, right? What difference does it make?

Surely, with LED lights being so much more energy efficient than traditional light bulbs, it’s even less of a problem than it used to be?

Good quality LED lights can be left on 24/7 without causing any real risk to your home. LEDs produce very little heat, even when left running for extended periods.

In this guide, I’ll explain:

• How long can LED lights be left on safely
• Whether LEDs are dangerous when left on
• How long LED strip lights can remain on
• Whether it’s best to switch LED lights off or leave them on

How Long Can A Light Bulb Stay on Safely?

LED lights can be left switched on as long as you wish – leaving them on 24/7 won’t cause any safety risks, provided you’ve bought good quality lights.

Here is a chart how LED lights compare to other types of bulbs.

Type of Bulb	Can Be Left 24/7?	Average Lifespan	Lifespan In Days (24/7 operation)
LED	Yes	35,000 – 50,000 hours	2,083
Incandescent	No	750 – 2,000 hours	83
Halogen	No	2,000 – 4,000 hours	166
CFL*	No	10,000 – 15,000 hours	625

*CFL bulbs are not built to be turned on and off frequently. Doing so will decrease their operating life.

A reputable brand LED bulb is much safer than older halogen and incandescent light bulbs when left on for a long time.

That’s because LEDs produce minimal amounts of heat. Traditional light bulbs get very hot, and over time that heat can accumulate to create a fire hazard.

Should I Leave LED Lights On While On Vacation?

While it’s safe to leave LED bulbs on 24/7, there’s no need to leave them on while you’re on vacation, and it would be a waste of money albeit, not very much, since LED lights are cheap to run.

It also won’t do much from a security perspective. If a burglar is watching your home to determine whether you are there, they’ll soon realize that the lights are left on constantly, so will guess you aren’t there.

If anything, you just make it easier for them to see all your expensive possessions when they do break in!

If you’re concerned, you could either put your lights on a timer, or use smart bulbs that you can switch on and off remotely, to make it seem like you’re at home.

But it’s safe to leave the lights on – I should know because I’ve done it accidentally!

I came back after three weeks and there were literally no issues. I’m very glad they’re so cheap to run, though!

Are LED Lights Dangerous To Leave On?

There are no real dangers to leaving LED lights switched on all the time, provided they are installed in a suitable location.

The risks to LEDs come when they are overheated, which can be caused by poor airflow in a room, installing them close to a heat source such as a radiator, or using LEDs in enclosed or restricted fixtures.

If you do any of these, then leaving the lights on becomes less safe, though it’s rare it would cause any serious risk. It’s more likely to just considerably shorten the lifespan of the LED bulbs.

Can Leaving An LED Light On All The Time Cause Fire?

Leaving your LED lights on all the time won’t cause a fire unless you have cheaper bulbs and fixtures. Even badly-made bulbs shouldn’t overheat to the temperatures to cause melting or to ignite surrounding materials.

How Long Can You Leave An LED Strip Light On?

While the light emitting diodes on LED strip lights can be safely left on as long as you want, the transformer inside the power supply will get hot. Ideally, avoid leaving strip lights on for 6 hours or more, or the transformer will overheat and shorten its life span.

That’s not to say that LED strip light power supplies always overheat after 6 hours – it’s just a safe timescale to stick to.

You might be fine leaving your lights on longer, especially if you’ve bought a high quality brand.

One of the benefits of LED strips is that they can be installed in a wide variety of locations, including the underside of wooden kitchen cabinets or around shelving.

Leaving your LED strip lights on 24/7 won’t damage these materials.

If you install poorly made strip lights in a tightly enclosed space they can overheat just like LED bulbs. The same advice applies – buy a good brand, and ensure there’s good airflow.

Can Christmas Light Stay on All Night?

LED Christmas lights work under the same principle as other LED lights, and so are safe be left on as long as you want – though it is better to switch them off to let the transformer rest for at least a few hours each day.

Many Christmas lights come with a timer you can use, or you can add your own, so that they switch off automatically.

I’m sure your neighbors will appreciate them being turned off overnight at least, if we are talking about outdoor lights.

In the past traditional Christmas tree lights were made using incandescent bulbs. When one bulb blew, the rest of the lights in the strip would take its energy and burn even hotter. From what I’ve described, it’s easy to see why Christmas tree fires were so common.

Is It Better To Leave LED Lights On Or Turn Them Off?

Turning LED lights on and off frequently will shorten their lifespan, because you’re putting the capacitors through extra stress. But, leaving your LED lights on when you don’t need them is wasting electricity too.

It’s generally accepted that, if you’re leaving a room for more than 15 minutes, you should turn your LED lights off. You can leave LED strip light and bulb fixtures on if you prefer, but it’s best to avoid switching them on and off every few minutes.

Before You Go…

It’s fair to say that when it comes to lifespan, LED lights outperform their competitors by a mile.

From Christmas lights to strip lights, no matter what form you buy them in, LED lights are ideal for prolonged use. Certainly much better than older incandescent bulbs.

Although leaving LED lights on 24 hours a day is wasting money – it’s best to save energy and keep those light emitting diodes working for a little while longer by turning off the lights.

It’s also worth reading my guide on whether you can sleep with LED strip lights on – because it might not be good for your health.