Television electricity cost calculator
In this example, a television at 100W and 100% duty cycle costs $0.018 per scheduled hour. At 5.00 hours per day, that is $2.76 per 30.44 use days, using the August 2026 US average of 18.16¢/kWh. Adjust the calculator for your appliance and electricity bill.
Television 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
183 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 100W, 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 | 0.050 kWh | $0.01 | $0.28 |
| 1 | 0.100 kWh | $0.02 | $0.55 |
| 4 | 0.400 kWh | $0.07 | $2.21 |
| 8 | 0.800 kWh | $0.15 | $4.42 |
How to estimate your television electricity use
Television electricity use depends on the model, screen settings and what it displays. Watching, standby and quick-start modes can have different input power, so separate those periods when estimating daily use.
This estimates electricity, not the price of a television or streaming subscription. Display settings and operating mode can make your model differ from the preset.
- Use measured wall power during representative viewing or model-specific on-mode consumption. A maximum input label is not necessarily normal viewing draw.
- At an illustrative steady 100W for five hours, a TV uses 0.5 kWh. At $0.20/kWh that costs $0.10 for the viewing period; these are example inputs, not a typical-TV claim.
- Add standby energy for the remaining hours if you know its draw. Do not also add standby when a full-day energy measurement already includes it.
- An EnergyGuide annual kWh figure can be repriced at your electricity rate, but it retains the label viewing assumptions. Soundbars, streaming boxes and game consoles are separate unless measured together.
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 5.00 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¢ | $1.94 | $23.21 | |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $1.96 | $23.49 | |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $2.03 | $24.29 | |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $2.03 | $24.29 | |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $2.03 | $24.40 | |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $2.04 | $24.49 | |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $2.06 | $24.71 | |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $2.10 | $25.19 | |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $2.19 | $26.23 | |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $2.20 | $26.33 | |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $2.20 | $26.33 | |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $2.23 | $26.70 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $2.26 | $27.05 | |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $2.28 | $27.28 | |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $2.28 | $27.36 | |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $2.29 | $27.47 | |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $2.31 | $27.65 | |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $2.35 | $28.23 | |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $2.37 | $28.42 | |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $2.40 | $28.76 | |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $2.42 | $29.02 | |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $2.42 | $29.04 | |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $2.42 | $29.05 | |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $2.44 | $29.24 | |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $2.48 | $29.77 | |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $2.49 | $29.80 | |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $2.51 | $30.13 | |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $2.59 | $31.06 | |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $2.60 | $31.13 | |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $2.61 | $31.34 | |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $2.62 | $31.39 | |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $2.68 | $32.19 | |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $2.85 | $34.13 | |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $2.94 | $35.26 | |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $2.95 | $35.37 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $2.95 | $35.42 | |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $3.26 | $39.06 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $3.31 | $39.73 | |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $3.50 | $41.96 | |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $3.63 | $43.51 | |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $3.73 | $44.73 | |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $3.75 | $44.91 | |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $3.95 | $47.41 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $4.21 | $50.44 | |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $4.29 | $51.43 | |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $4.36 | $52.29 | |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $4.48 | $53.67 | |
| California | 29.75¢ | $4.53 | $54.29 | |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $4.64 | $55.63 | |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $4.89 | $58.60 | |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $7.18 | $86.10 |
Common questions
How much electricity does a television use?
In this example, 100 watts at a 100% duty cycle uses 0.100 kWh per scheduled hour. At 5.00 hours per day, that is 0.500 kWh per use day. Your model and operating conditions can differ.
How much does it cost to run a television for an hour?
The default example costs $0.018 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.
How do I calculate the cost of watching TV?
Multiply measured or specified viewing watts by viewing hours, divide by 1000, then multiply by your price per kWh. Add separate standby energy if it is not already included.
Does turning a TV off eliminate its electricity use?
A TV in standby may still use power. Check its model specification or measure that mode. Network and quick-start settings can affect standby draw.
Does this include the price of buying a TV?
No. This calculator estimates electricity running cost. Buying the television, paid channels and streaming services are separate costs.