A red light therapy panel tends to use a lot less electricity than people expect.

Even a fairly powerful panel is normally only used for short sessions, often around 10 to 20 minutes at a time. So the monthly electricity cost is usually quite low compared with bigger household appliances like heaters, tumble dryers, geysers, air fryers, ovens, or pool pumps.

In South Africa, where electricity costs, load-shedding, inverters, and power surges are part of daily life, it’s worth understanding true electricity costs before buying a panel.

The important thing is to look at actual power draw, not only the watt number in the product name.

For example, our red light panel is a 300W LED-rated panel, but the actual power draw is approximately 90W. That means it uses about the same power as a bright old light bulb while it is running.

That brings us to the first point we’d like to cover, wattage versus actual power draw.

LED-rated watts vs actual power draw

A red light therapy panel may be advertised as:

• 300W
• 600W
• 900W
• 1200W

But that number often refers to the LED-rated power, not the actual electricity used.

The actual power draw is usually lower. Keep in mind, the following are examples only. Always check the actual specification for the panel you are buying. However, it gives you a good overview:

Panel description	Example actual power draw
300W LED-rated panel	Around 90W
600W LED-rated panel	Around 180W
900W LED-rated panel	Around 270W
1200W LED-rated panel	Around 360W
Large full-body setup	Around 500W–800W or more

If a product only says “600W” but does not list actual power draw, you do not really know how much electricity it uses.

How can a 300W panel only draw around 90W?

This sounds confusing at first, but it usually comes down to the difference between the rated capacity of the LED chips and the power the device actually uses when running.

For example, a 300w panel may have 60 LEDs. If each LED chip is rated up to 5W, the manufacturer may describe the panel as:

60 LEDs × 5W = 300W LED-rated power

But that does not mean the panel is actually pulling 300W from the wall during normal use.

In many LED devices, the chips are not driven at their absolute maximum rating. They are often run at a lower operating current. This helps to manage heat, improve lifespan, keep the device stable, and avoid overdriving the LEDs. So a 5W-rated LED chip may only use around 1W to 2W in normal operation, depending on the design.

If the panel has separate red and near-infrared channels, the power draw may also change depending on which mode you use. For example, if only the red LEDs are on, it may use less power than when both red and near-infrared LEDs are on. But this still depends on the specific panel design.

Even when all LEDs are switched on, it does not automatically mean the panel uses the full LED-rated number. So with a 300W LED-rated panel with all lights switched on, it may still be around 90W actual draw, not 300W.

There is also energy loss. The electricity used by the panel is not converted 100% into therapeutic light. Some energy becomes heat, some is used by the internal electronics, and some may be used by fans or the power supply. This is normal for LED devices.

For electricity cost, actual power draw is the number that matters most.

How to calculate electricity cost

Electricity is charged in kilowatt-hours, written as kWh.

The formula is:

Power in watts ÷ 1000 × hours used = kWh used

Then:

kWh used × electricity price per kWh = cost

Example:

A 90W panel used for 15 minutes:

90W ÷ 1000 = 0.09kW
15 minutes = 0.25 hours
0.09 × 0.25 = 0.0225kWh

If electricity costs around R3.22 per kWh:

0.0225 × R3.22 = about R0.07

So one 15-minute session with a 90W panel costs only a few cents in electricity.

Estimated monthly electricity cost by panel size

The table below uses a simple example:

• 15-minute sessions
• 5 sessions per week
• around 20 sessions per month
• estimated electricity price: R3.22/kWh

Your actual tariff may be higher or lower depending on whether you buy directly from Eskom, your municipality, prepaid structure, blocks, fixed charges, time-of-use tariff, and location. This following table will give you a rough estimation of costs.

Panel type	Example actual power draw	kWh per 15-min session	kWh per month	Estimated monthly cost at R3.22/kWh
Small 300W LED-rated panel	90W	0.0225 kWh	0.45 kWh	R1.45
Medium 600W LED-rated panel	180W	0.045 kWh	0.90 kWh	R2.90
Large 900W LED-rated panel	270W	0.0675 kWh	1.35 kWh	R4.35
Large 1200W LED-rated panel	360W	0.09 kWh	1.80 kWh	R5.80
Full-body setup	600W	0.15 kWh	3.00 kWh	R9.66

As you can see, even a large panel does not usually cost much to run because sessions are short.

The bigger cost difference between panel sizes is usually the purchase price and not the electricity cost.

How does this compare to other appliances?

A red light therapy panel is normally a low-cost appliance to run because it does not run for hours.

For perspective:

Appliance	Typical power use	Why it costs more
Electric heater	1000W–2000W	High wattage and often used for hours
Kettle	1500W–2200W	Very high power, but short use
Air fryer	1200W–1800W	Medium-high power for 15–30 minutes
Tumble dryer	2000W+	High power and long cycles
Geyser	2000W–4000W	High power and frequent heating
Red light therapy panel	90W–600W+	Usually short sessions

A small panel is closer to a light bulb or laptop charger than a major appliance. A large full-body panel will use more electricity, but it is still usually only used for short sessions.

Can you run a red light therapy panel during load-shedding?

It depends on your backup power setup.

A small 90W panel is not a huge load. Many inverters or portable power stations could technically run it, depending on their capacity and what else is plugged in.

A larger full-body panel may be more demanding.

Before using a panel on backup power, check:

• actual power draw of the panel
• inverter capacity
• battery capacity
• whether other appliances are running
• whether the inverter provides stable power
• whether the panel manufacturer allows inverter use

For example, if your panel uses 90W and you use it for 15 minutes, that is only 0.0225kWh. In theory, that is a small amount of energy.

But in real life, inverter efficiency, battery state, and other devices matter.

If your backup system is mainly for Wi-Fi, lights, and laptops, I would be cautious about adding unnecessary appliances during load-shedding.

Here’s a good discussion about what can be run on an inverter at MyBroadband.

How to protect your panel from power surges

Load-shedding can create problems when power returns, especially if there are spikes, unstable voltage, or repeated on/off cycles.

For a red light therapy panel, I would treat it like other electronic equipment.

Practical tips:

• use a good-quality surge protector
• switch the panel off at the wall when not in use
• avoid leaving it plugged in during load-shedding if you are concerned
• wait a few minutes after power returns before switching it on
• do not plug it into overloaded multi-plugs
• avoid using damaged extension cords
• keep the panel away from moisture
• make sure ventilation for the fan is not blocked
• do not run it unattended

A surge protector will not keep the panel running during load-shedding. It is not a UPS. Its job is to help reduce damage from voltage spikes.

How to save power when using a panel

The good news is that there is not much to save because the running cost is already low.

But good habits still help.

To avoid wasting electricity:

• use the timer if the panel has one
• do not leave the panel running after your session
• position the panel properly before switching it on
• use the right distance instead of running very long sessions
• do shorter, consistent sessions rather than unnecessarily long ones
• choose a panel size that matches your actual routine
• switch it off at the plug when finished

Is a bigger panel more expensive to run?

Yes, but not dramatically for normal use.

A bigger panel usually has more LEDs and a higher actual power draw. So it will use more electricity per minute.

But because red light therapy sessions are short, the difference may still only be a few Rand per month.

A 300W LED-rated panel is usually a more practical starting point for many South African homes because it is smaller, cheaper to ship, easier to store, and uses very little electricity.

A full-body panel may make sense if you want maximum coverage and have the space and budget for it.

Conclusion

A red light therapy panel usually does not use much electricity.

A small 300W LED-rated panel with an actual power draw of around 90W may cost only around R1.45 per month if used for 15 minutes, 5 times per week, at an example electricity rate of R3.22/kWh.

Larger panels use more electricity, but even a 600W actual-draw full-body setup may only cost around R9.66 per month with the same usage pattern.

FAQ

How much does a red light therapy panel cost to run?

It depends on actual power draw, session length, frequency, and your electricity tariff. A 90W panel used for 15 minutes, 5 times per week, may cost only a few Rand per month.

Will a red light therapy panel increase my electricity bill?

Not by much. The running cost is normally low because sessions are short.

Can I run a red light therapy panel on an inverter?

Possibly, depending on the panel’s actual power draw and your inverter or battery capacity. A small 90W panel is a much lighter load than a heater, kettle, or air fryer, but you should still check your backup system’s limits.

Should I unplug my panel during load-shedding?

If you are concerned about surges when power returns, switching it off and unplugging it is a sensible precaution. You can also use a good surge protector.

Is a bigger panel much more expensive to run?

It uses more electricity, but the monthly cost may still be low because sessions are short.

What is the best way to calculate my own cost?

Find your panel’s actual power draw in watts. Divide by 1000. Multiply by the number of hours used. Then multiply by your electricity rate per kWh.

Disclaimer

This article gives general electricity-use estimates only. Actual costs depend on your panel’s actual power draw, your usage routine, your electricity tariff, your municipality or Eskom account type, fixed charges, prepaid structure, and future tariff changes. For electrical safety, follow the product manual and consult a qualified electrician if you are unsure about surge protection, inverter compatibility, extension cords, or home wiring.