Smart Lighting: Complete UK Guide (Types, Costs & Running Costs)

Q: Do smart bulbs use electricity when turned off?

Yes, a small amount. Smart bulbs draw 0.2 to 0.5 watts of standby power to stay connected unless switched off at the wall.

Q: Do smart bulbs save energy compared to normal LED bulbs?

Not directly. Any saving comes from scheduling, dimming and motion control that stops lights being left on.

Q: How can I reduce smart bulb standby costs?

Switch rooms off at the wall when unused for long periods, and consider hub-based systems which can use slightly less standby power.

Quick Answer: What Is the Best Way to Add Smart Lighting to Your Home?

Smart bulbs offer the simplest starting point for smart lighting, screwing directly into existing fittings without any wiring changes, while smart switches suit homeowners wanting to keep standard bulbs but add app and voice control at the wall. Smart plugs provide the cheapest entry point, adding basic smart control to any existing lamp.

Types of Smart Lighting

Smart Bulbs

Smart bulbs replace standard bulbs directly, connecting via WiFi or a hub to enable app control, scheduling, dimming, and often colour changing options, all without any electrical wiring changes needed.

Smart Switches

Smart switches replace the wall switch itself, working with any bulb type fitted to that circuit, useful where you want smart control but prefer to keep existing light fittings or bulb types unchanged.

Smart Plugs

Smart plugs sit between a lamp and the wall socket, adding basic on/off and scheduling control to any plugged-in lighting without needing smart bulbs or switches at all.

Smart Lighting Features to Consider

Feature	What It Offers
Dimming	Adjust brightness via app or voice, without a physical dimmer switch
Colour changing	Adjust colour temperature or full RGB colour range for mood lighting
Scheduling	Automatically turn lights on/off at set times
Geofencing	Trigger lights based on your phone’s location
Scene setting	Save preset lighting combinations for different activities or moods
Voice control	Control via smart speaker without needing the app

Hub-Based vs Direct WiFi Smart Bulbs

Some smart bulb systems require a dedicated hub connecting to your router, while others connect directly to home WiFi without additional hardware. Hub-based systems can offer more reliable connectivity and lower power consumption for the bulbs themselves, while direct WiFi bulbs avoid the extra hub cost and setup step, making them simpler for smaller installations.

Smart Lighting for Security

Scheduled or randomised lighting patterns can make a property appear occupied while residents are away, offering a genuine security benefit alongside everyday convenience. This is one of the most commonly cited practical reasons for adopting smart lighting beyond simple convenience.

Room-by-Room Smart Lighting Ideas

Living room: Colour changing bulbs and scene presets for different activities, from bright task lighting to relaxed evening ambiance
Bedroom: Gradual dimming schedules to support winding down at night and gentle wake-up lighting in the morning
Kitchen: Bright, functional smart lighting with voice control useful when hands are occupied with cooking
Hallway/entrance: Motion-triggered smart lighting for convenience and security
Outdoor/garden: Scheduled or motion-activated smart lighting for security and evening ambiance

Smart Lighting Cost

Item	Typical Cost
Basic smart bulb	£10 to £25
Colour changing smart bulb	£15 to £40
Smart switch	£25 to £50 plus installation if not DIY
Smart plug	£10 to £20
Hub (if required)	£30 to £60

Prices and running costs checked October 2026.

Installing Smart Switches: DIY or Professional?

Smart bulbs and plugs require no electrical work and are straightforward for any homeowner to install. Smart switches, however, involve working with mains wiring behind the wall plate, so unless you have relevant electrical competence, professional installation is the safer choice for this specific upgrade.

Do Smart Bulbs Use a Lot of Electricity? The Honest Maths

Smart bulbs do not use much electricity, but they do use slightly more than a standard LED bulb. The difference is standby power: a smart bulb keeps its radio awake so it can hear your phone or voice assistant, drawing roughly 0.2 to 0.5 watts even when the light looks off. At the July 2026 price cap of 26.11p per kWh, one smart bulb costs about 90p a year in standby alone. A house with twelve smart bulbs quietly pays around £11 a year for lights that are technically switched off.

The saving in any modern setup comes from the LED itself, not the smart part. The Energy Saving Trust notes that LED bulbs use around 80 percent less electricity than the halogens they replaced, and swapping a home’s remaining halogen spotlights for LED saves roughly £45 a year. Once you have made that switch, adding smart control does not make the bulb more efficient. As the Energy Saving Trust puts it, smart bulbs are not likely to save energy: buy them for control, scheduling and security, not for cutting your bill.

Setup	Standby draw	Approx. yearly standby cost
1 smart bulb	0.2 to 0.5W	Around 90p
6 smart bulbs	1.2 to 3W	Around £5.50
12 smart bulbs	2.4 to 6W	Around £11

Figures assume the July 2026 price cap of 26.11p per kWh and bulbs left powered at the wall 24 hours a day. You can cut standby waste by switching rooms off at the wall when unused for long stretches, though that also disables remote control until you switch back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do smart bulbs work with existing light fittings?

Yes, smart bulbs are designed to fit standard bulb sockets directly, working with most existing light fittings without any modification needed.

Can smart lighting work without WiFi?

Most smart lighting relies on a WiFi or hub connection for app and voice control, though many bulbs can still be controlled via a standard physical light switch if the smart features are unavailable.

Are smart bulbs more expensive to run than standard bulbs?

Smart bulbs use LED technology, similarly efficient to standard LED bulbs, with only a small amount of additional standby power used to maintain the WiFi or hub connection.

Can I control smart lighting when away from home?

Yes, provided the lighting is connected to your home WiFi and the associated app has remote access enabled, you can control smart lighting from anywhere with an internet connection.

Do smart switches work with dimmable bulbs only?

This depends on the specific switch, some are designed specifically for dimming and require compatible dimmable bulbs, while basic smart on/off switches work with any standard bulb type.

Smart Bulb Running Cost FAQs

Do smart bulbs use a lot of electricity?

No. A smart bulb uses about the same as a standard LED bulb when lit, plus roughly 0.2 to 0.5 watts of standby power to keep its wireless radio awake. That works out at around 90p a year per bulb at current UK electricity prices.

Do smart bulbs use electricity when turned off?

Yes, a small amount. Unless you switch them off at the wall, smart bulbs draw standby power of 0.2 to 0.5 watts to stay connected to your WiFi or hub. This is what lets you turn them back on remotely.

Will smart lighting increase my energy bill?

Barely. Twelve smart bulbs cost around £11 a year in standby power at the July 2026 price cap. If they replace halogen bulbs, the LED efficiency saving of roughly £45 a year for a full house dwarfs the standby cost.

Do smart bulbs save energy compared to normal LED bulbs?

Not directly. The Energy Saving Trust notes smart bulbs are not likely to save energy versus standard LEDs. Any saving comes from behaviour: scheduling lights off, dimming, and motion-triggered control that stops lights being left on.

How can I reduce smart bulb standby costs?

Switch rooms off at the wall when unused for long periods, such as spare bedrooms. Choose hub-based systems, which can sip slightly less standby power per bulb than direct WiFi models, and avoid over-buying colour bulbs for rooms where plain white would do.

Expert Insight

Smart home installers frequently highlight that scheduling and away-from-home security benefits are the features homeowners actually use most consistently over time, more so than colour-changing novelty features that often see heavy initial use but less ongoing engagement.

Final Thoughts

Smart lighting offers a flexible, gradually expandable upgrade path, from simple smart bulbs requiring no installation through to fully integrated smart switches across the home. Starting with a few key rooms and expanding based on genuine daily use tends to deliver better long-term satisfaction than a large upfront investment across every room at once.

Starting with smart lighting? Begin with bulbs in one or two frequently used rooms before expanding, so you can confirm the ecosystem and features suit your household before a larger investment.