TV Running Cost Calculator
Enter your television’s on-mode wattage and daily viewing time to estimate its electricity use and cost. Use the label, model data or a compatible energy meter rather than screen size alone.
Quick answerA 100 W TV watched five hours per day uses 0.5 kWh per day and 182.5 kWh per year. At $0.17/kWh, that costs about $0.09 per viewing day, $2.59 per month and $31.03 per year.
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How it works
Viewing energy per day = on-mode watts ÷ 1,000 × viewing hours. Yearly energy = daily energy × 365. Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 × rate; yearly cost = yearly kWh × rate and monthly cost = yearly cost ÷ 12.
TV electricity-cost examples
These are wattage-and-time scenarios at $0.17/kWh, not typical-use claims for a screen size or display technology.
| On-mode power | Viewing time | Yearly electricity | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 W | 4 h/day | 73.0 kWh | $12.41 |
| 100 W | 5 h/day | 182.5 kWh | $31.03 |
| 150 W | 5 h/day | 273.8 kWh | $46.54 |
| 200 W | 5 h/day | 365.0 kWh | $62.05 |
| 100 W | 24 h/day | 876.0 kWh | $148.92 |
| 250 W | 8 h/day | 730.0 kWh | $124.10 |
The calculator models television on-mode energy only. Add soundbars, game consoles, streaming boxes and standby energy separately if you want the complete entertainment-system cost.
Worked example: 100 W for five hours per day
A 100 W television is 0.1 kW. Multiply by five viewing hours to get 0.5 kWh per day, then by 365 to get 182.5 kWh per year. At $0.17/kWh, the cost is $0.085 per viewing day, $2.59 per month and $31.03 per year.
If the same TV is used for ten hours per day, both energy and cost double. If measured on-mode power falls from 100 W to 75 W after a picture-setting change, the modeled cost falls by 25%.
Find the wattage for the exact TV and mode
Do not estimate wattage from diagonal screen size alone. Display technology, screen area, brightness, HDR content, picture preset and automatic brightness control can change on-mode power. Use the model’s EnergyGuide or local-country energy label, manufacturer documentation or a compatible plug-in energy meter.
A label annual-cost estimate uses standardized assumptions and a specified electricity price. For your bill, use a supported watt figure with your actual viewing time and local rate.
Brightness and picture settings affect power
ENERGY STAR identifies automatic brightness control, local dimming and energy-efficient picture settings as ways televisions manage energy. Its current test criteria measure on-mode power across specified picture settings and lighting conditions.
Use a picture mode that is comfortable and accurate for the room rather than an unnecessarily bright retail or vivid mode. Recheck wattage after changing settings if you want a measured saving.
Add the rest of the entertainment system
The TV result does not include a soundbar, receiver, game console, set-top box, streaming device or network equipment. Calculate each device separately using its own watts and active hours, then add the annual kWh.
Standby behavior varies by model and network features. For a measured estimate, log the complete setup over representative viewing and idle periods with equipment rated for the plugs and loads involved.
Sources used for assumptions: ENERGY STAR — televisions and energy-saving picture features; ENERGY STAR — current television on-mode and standby test criteria; U.S. Federal Trade Commission — EnergyGuide labels and annual energy disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a TV for one hour?
Multiply TV watts ÷ 1,000 by your electricity rate. A 100 W TV at $0.17/kWh costs $0.017 per viewing hour, or about 1.7¢.
How much does it cost to run a TV all day?
At 100 W and $0.17/kWh, 24 hours uses 2.4 kWh and costs about $0.41. Use the exact on-mode watts and rate for your model.
How many watts does my TV use?
Check its EnergyGuide or local energy label, exact model documentation or a compatible energy meter. Screen size alone is insufficient because picture mode, brightness, HDR and display design affect draw.
Does standby energy count?
Not in the viewing result. Add standby watts as a separate scenario using the daily hours the TV is idle. Network-connected standby can differ from passive standby.
Does lowering brightness save electricity?
It can reduce on-mode power. ENERGY STAR criteria explicitly account for automatic brightness control and different picture settings; measure or compare model data to quantify your change.
Does this include a game console or soundbar?
No. Calculate each connected device separately using its active watts and hours, then add the kWh and cost for a complete entertainment-system estimate.
Should I use the annual EnergyGuide cost instead?
Use EnergyGuide to compare models under standardized assumptions. This calculator is more useful for your own rate and viewing time when you have a suitable watt figure.
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