At One Place

How long does a street light last?

Typical lifespan
12–25 yr

A luminaire on a pole lighting a road, now overwhelmingly LED.

LED heads are rated for 100,000 hours or so.

How that compares

Street light against things of a similar time.

Street light 12–25 yr
Giant panda 15–30 yr
American bison 15–25 yr
Bald eagle 15–38 yr
Spotted hyena 12–25 yr
Cow 15–25 yr
Red kangaroo 12–25 yr
American black bear 18–30 yr

What that means over time

Assuming the typical lifespan above and immediate replacement.
Period How many you would buy
Per year 0.05 replacements
Over 10 years 1 of them
Over a 30-year mortgage 1.5 of them

Lifespans are medians under ordinary use, not guarantees. Maintenance, how hard it is used, and build quality move individual examples a long way in both directions — which is why the range above is as wide as it is.

More about a street light

Common questions

How long does a street light last?
A street light lasts 12–25 yr. LED heads are rated for 100,000 hours or so.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked