Gaming Console electricity cost calculator
In this example, a gaming console at 150W and 100% duty cycle costs $0.027 per scheduled hour. At 3.00 hours per day, that is $2.49 per 30.44 use days, using the August 2026 US average of 18.16¢/kWh. Adjust the calculator for your appliance and electricity bill.
Gaming Console electricity cost calculator
Use watts and running time, or enter energy from a label, meter or completed load. Your inputs stay on this device.
Enter a number within each field’s limits to calculate your cost.
Your estimated energy cost
164 kWh across 365 use days per year
Power mode includes your selected duty cycle. The monthly figure assumes 30.44 use days; the annual total uses your selected use days. These are estimates at the entered rate.
Energy charges only. Fixed utility fees, purchase, installation and maintenance are excluded. See the calculation method and sources.
Running cost at different usage times
These examples hold 150W, 100% duty cycle and 18.16¢/kWh constant. They illustrate the arithmetic, not recommended schedules. Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
| Hours per use day | kWh per day | Cost per day | 30.44 use days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.075 kWh | $0.01 | $0.41 |
| 1 | 0.150 kWh | $0.03 | $0.83 |
| 4 | 0.600 kWh | $0.11 | $3.32 |
| 8 | 1.200 kWh | $0.22 | $6.63 |
How to estimate your gaming console electricity use
Console electricity changes between playing a game, streaming video, downloading in rest mode and being off. The model and power settings matter, so use representative inputs for each task rather than one maximum rating all day.
Example power is not a specification for a particular console. Hardware, games, subscriptions and internet service are separate from electricity.
- Estimate gaming energy from average wall watts during the games you play and the time spent playing. Menu or video-playback draw may not represent gaming draw.
- Calculate rest-mode and off-mode energy separately for the remaining hours. Updates and controller charging can affect what a measurement includes.
- For an illustrative 150W average wall draw over three hours, energy is 0.45 kWh and cost is $0.09 at $0.20/kWh.
- Add the TV, monitor and sound equipment only when they are excluded from the console measurement.
Calculation and data sources
Daily kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × duty cycle ÷ 100. Multiply kWh by your rate in dollars per kWh to get cost. The wattage, hours and duty cycle above are editable example assumptions, not EIA measurements of this appliance.
The US and state average prices come from the EIA for August 2026. A state average is a starting point; your bill is the better source for your tariff.
Electricity running cost by state
Sorted by average electricity price. These reference figures use 3.00 hours per day at 100% duty cycle, for 30.44 days per month and 365 days per year. Seasonal use will cost less than this year-round scenario. Click a state to load its rate.
| State | Rate /kWh | Per month | Per year | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $1.74 | $20.89 | |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $1.76 | $21.14 | |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $1.82 | $21.86 | |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $1.82 | $21.86 | |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $1.83 | $21.96 | |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $1.84 | $22.04 | |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $1.85 | $22.24 | |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $1.89 | $22.67 | |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $1.97 | $23.60 | |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $1.98 | $23.70 | |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $1.98 | $23.70 | |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $2.00 | $24.03 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $2.03 | $24.34 | |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $2.05 | $24.56 | |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $2.05 | $24.62 | |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $2.06 | $24.72 | |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $2.08 | $24.88 | |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $2.12 | $25.41 | |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $2.13 | $25.57 | |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $2.16 | $25.89 | |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $2.18 | $26.12 | |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $2.18 | $26.13 | |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $2.18 | $26.15 | |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $2.19 | $26.31 | |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $2.23 | $26.79 | |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $2.24 | $26.82 | |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $2.26 | $27.12 | |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $2.33 | $27.96 | |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $2.34 | $28.02 | |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $2.35 | $28.20 | |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $2.36 | $28.25 | |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $2.42 | $28.97 | |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $2.56 | $30.71 | |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $2.65 | $31.73 | |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $2.65 | $31.83 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $2.66 | $31.88 | |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $2.93 | $35.15 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $2.98 | $35.76 | |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $3.15 | $37.76 | |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $3.27 | $39.16 | |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $3.36 | $40.26 | |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $3.37 | $40.42 | |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $3.56 | $42.67 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $3.79 | $45.40 | |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $3.86 | $46.29 | |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $3.92 | $47.06 | |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $4.03 | $48.31 | |
| California | 29.75¢ | $4.08 | $48.86 | |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $4.18 | $50.06 | |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $4.40 | $52.74 | |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $6.46 | $77.49 |
Common questions
How much electricity does a gaming console use?
In this example, 150 watts at a 100% duty cycle uses 0.150 kWh per scheduled hour. At 3.00 hours per day, that is 0.450 kWh per use day. Your model and operating conditions can differ.
How much does it cost to run a gaming console for an hour?
The default example costs $0.027 per scheduled hour at the US average of 18.16¢/kWh for August 2026. This includes the selected duty cycle. Enter your watts, duty cycle and electricity price for your own estimate.
Does the annual cost assume I use it every day?
The reference tables use 365 days at the stated daily hours; monthly figures use 30.44 days. These are comparison scenarios, not forecasts. For a heater used on 90 days, enter 90 use days per year in the calculator.
Why does electricity running cost vary by state?
For August 2026, the EIA state averages range from 12.72¢/kWh in Nevada to 47.18¢/kWh in Hawaii. Equal electricity use costs more at a higher rate. Your utility tariff can differ from the state average.
Does rest mode use the same electricity as gaming?
No. These are different operating modes. Use model-specific information or measurements for each, including any network activity or charging that occurs in rest mode.
Does this include the TV used with a console?
Only if your input measurement already includes it. Otherwise estimate the display separately and add its energy to the console total.
How do I estimate the electricity cost of a gaming session?
Multiply average wall kW during play by session hours and by your price per kWh. Add other equipment only if it is outside that wall measurement.