Appliances

TV Running Cost Calculator

By HowMuchWatts Editorial Team Reviewed June 30, 2026 Formula and source method

Modern TVs are fairly efficient, but big screens watched for hours still add up. Enter your TV’s wattage and daily viewing to see the cost.

Change any number below — your result updates instantly, no button to click.

Your details

Results

Energy used per year

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Cost per month

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Cost per year

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Optional next step

Measure or improve the real-world result

These tools are relevant to the numbers above; you do not need them to use the calculator.

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Written & maintained by the HowMuchWatts team · Last updated June 30, 2026 · How we verify our numbers

How it works

Daily energy = watts ÷ 1000 × hours watched. Yearly energy = daily × 365. Yearly cost = energy × rate; monthly = yearly ÷ 12. Lowering screen brightness and enabling eco/auto-dimming modes noticeably cuts a large TV’s draw.

Frequently asked questions

How many watts does a TV use?

A typical 40–55" LED uses 60–120 W. Large OLED, QLED and 8K sets can draw 150–300 W at high brightness.

Does standby cost much?

A little — most TVs use 0.5–3 W on standby. Over a year that is small, but switching off at the wall removes it entirely.

How can I lower my TV’s running cost?

Reduce backlight/brightness, turn off motion-smoothing and “vivid” modes, and enable the energy-saving picture preset.

These calculators provide general estimates for educational purposes only and are not financial advice. Real-world results depend on factors not captured here. Verify figures independently before making any purchase or financial decision.

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