Updated June 29, 2026
TV Electricity Cost Calculator
Estimate how much your TV costs to run per evening, month, and year based on screen power, viewing time, and electricity price.
Live calculator
Calculate your actual running cost
Running this tv for 5 hours a day, 7 days a week uses about 18.2 kWh each month.
Quick answer
How much does a tv cost to run?
A 120 W TV used for 5 hours a day, 7 days a week, consumes about 18.2 kWh per month. At $0.30 per kWh, that is approximately $5.46 per month. Replace these example figures with the wattage and electricity rate from your appliance and bill.
What changes the real running cost?
TV power use varies by screen size, brightness, display technology, picture mode, and whether extra devices such as soundbars or consoles are included.
Use the power figure from the TV energy label or include connected devices if you want the cost of the full viewing setup.
Assumptions used in this example
This page starts with 120 watts, 5 hours of use per day, and 7 days per week. Those defaults are only a practical starting point. Replace them with the number on your product label, energy label, smart plug, or electricity bill.
Example TV costs
These examples use 120 W for 5 hours a day and 7 days per week.
| Electricity rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.15 / kWh | $0.02 | $2.73 | $32.76 |
| $0.25 / kWh | $0.03 | $4.55 | $54.60 |
| $0.35 / kWh | $0.04 | $6.37 | $76.44 |
Ways to reduce the cost
Start with changes that reduce active runtime without compromising safety or the job the appliance needs to do.
- Reduce brightness if the room allows it.
- Enable automatic standby.
- Turn off connected boxes and consoles when not watching.
Estimate only. Actual consumption varies by model, setting, condition, temperature, duty cycle, and tariff. Use a plug-in meter or energy-label figure when accuracy matters.
FAQ
TV running cost questions
How do I calculate TV running cost?
Divide the watts by 1,000 to get kilowatts, multiply by the hours used, then multiply by your electricity price per kWh. This page pre-fills 120 W, 5 hours per day, and 7 days per week as a starting example.
How much does a TV cost per hour?
At 120 W and $0.30 per kWh, the example cost is about $0.04 per hour while it is actively using that power. Change the rate field to match your own bill.
Why might my real TV cost be different?
Use the power figure from the TV energy label or include connected devices if you want the cost of the full viewing setup.
Should I use rated watts or measured watts?
Rated watts are useful for a quick estimate, but measured wall power or an energy-label kWh figure is usually more accurate because many appliances cycle on and off or change power during use.
Does the calculator include standing charges, taxes, or demand charges?
No. The calculator estimates usage cost from kWh only. If your bill includes standing charges, taxes, delivery fees, or demand charges, add those separately.
Can I share my result?
Yes. Use the share or copy button after entering your wattage, hours, days, rate, and currency. The page stores those inputs in the URL so you can revisit the same estimate.