United States Living room and office
How much does it cost to run a TV?
A modern 55 inch LED TV draws about 80 to 120 watts, a 65 inch OLED around 120 to 200, and a 32 inch set under 50. Five hours a night on a 100 watt TV is 0.5 kWh, a few cents.
A 100 watt TV costs about 1.8 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 5 hours a day comes to about 9.1 cents a day, $2.76 a month and $33.16 a year.
- Prices: EIA, August 2026, every state
- Wattage range with its source
- Checked 26 October 2026
Uses 0.50 kWh a day, 15 kWh a month, at 18.16 cents per kWh (US average).
The dial places the daily cost between a 50 watt fan and a 4.5 kW water heater on 2.5 hours a day.
A 100 watt TV costs about 1.8 cents an hour to run in the US on average at 18.16 cents per kWh. Running it 5 hours a day comes to about 9.1 cents a day, $2.76 a month and $33.16 a year.
What this assumes
The default is a 100 watt TV running 5 hours a day. Published typical ratings run from 40 to 200 watts. Your label or manual gives the exact figure, and the calculator takes it.
The price is the average residential rate in each state from the EIA's Electric Power Monthly for August 2026, released 23 October 2026. The next monthly table is due 24 November 2026. A fixed tariff, a time-of-use plan or a different payment method changes the rate, which is why the rate field is editable.
Cost to run a TV in every state
Same 100 watt TV, 5 hours a day, priced at each state's average residential rate for August 2026. Cheapest: Nevada at 12.72 cents per kWh. Dearest: Hawaii at 47.18. Change the numbers above and the table follows.
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72c | 1.3 cents | 6.4 cents | $1.94 | $23.23 |
| Louisiana | 12.87c | 1.3 cents | 6.4 cents | $1.96 | $23.50 |
| North Dakota | 13.31c | 1.3 cents | 6.7 cents | $2.03 | $24.31 |
| Utah | 13.31c | 1.3 cents | 6.7 cents | $2.03 | $24.31 |
| Idaho | 13.37c | 1.3 cents | 6.7 cents | $2.03 | $24.42 |
| Tennessee | 13.42c | 1.3 cents | 6.7 cents | $2.04 | $24.51 |
| Nebraska | 13.54c | 1.4 cents | 6.8 cents | $2.06 | $24.73 |
| Kentucky | 13.8c | 1.4 cents | 6.9 cents | $2.10 | $25.20 |
| Arkansas | 14.37c | 1.4 cents | 7.2 cents | $2.19 | $26.24 |
| Mississippi | 14.43c | 1.4 cents | 7.2 cents | $2.20 | $26.35 |
| Wyoming | 14.43c | 1.4 cents | 7.2 cents | $2.20 | $26.35 |
| Washington | 14.63c | 1.5 cents | 7.3 cents | $2.23 | $26.72 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82c | 1.5 cents | 7.4 cents | $2.26 | $27.07 |
| North Carolina | 14.95c | 1.5 cents | 7.5 cents | $2.28 | $27.30 |
| Florida | 14.99c | 1.5 cents | 7.5 cents | $2.28 | $27.38 |
| Arizona | 15.05c | 1.5 cents | 7.5 cents | $2.29 | $27.49 |
| South Dakota | 15.15c | 1.5 cents | 7.6 cents | $2.31 | $27.67 |
| Kansas | 15.47c | 1.5 cents | 7.7 cents | $2.35 | $28.25 |
| Montana | 15.57c | 1.6 cents | 7.8 cents | $2.37 | $28.43 |
| South Carolina | 15.76c | 1.6 cents | 7.9 cents | $2.40 | $28.78 |
| Georgia | 15.9c | 1.6 cents | 8 cents | $2.42 | $29.04 |
| Texas | 15.91c | 1.6 cents | 8 cents | $2.42 | $29.06 |
| Oregon | 15.92c | 1.6 cents | 8 cents | $2.42 | $29.07 |
| Missouri | 16.02c | 1.6 cents | 8 cents | $2.44 | $29.26 |
| West Virginia | 16.31c | 1.6 cents | 8.2 cents | $2.48 | $29.79 |
| Alabama | 16.33c | 1.6 cents | 8.2 cents | $2.49 | $29.82 |
| New Mexico | 16.51c | 1.7 cents | 8.3 cents | $2.51 | $30.15 |
| Indiana | 17.02c | 1.7 cents | 8.5 cents | $2.59 | $31.08 |
| Iowa | 17.06c | 1.7 cents | 8.5 cents | $2.60 | $31.16 |
| Colorado | 17.17c | 1.7 cents | 8.6 cents | $2.61 | $31.36 |
| Minnesota | 17.2c | 1.7 cents | 8.6 cents | $2.62 | $31.41 |
| Virginia | 17.64c | 1.8 cents | 8.8 cents | $2.68 | $32.22 |
| Delaware | 18.7c | 1.9 cents | 9.4 cents | $2.85 | $34.15 |
| Illinois | 19.32c | 1.9 cents | 9.7 cents | $2.94 | $35.28 |
| Ohio | 19.38c | 1.9 cents | 9.7 cents | $2.95 | $35.39 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41c | 1.9 cents | 9.7 cents | $2.95 | $35.45 |
| Maryland | 21.4c | 2.1 cents | 11 cents | $3.26 | $39.08 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77c | 2.2 cents | 11 cents | $3.31 | $39.76 |
| Michigan | 22.99c | 2.3 cents | 11 cents | $3.50 | $41.99 |
| Vermont | 23.84c | 2.4 cents | 12 cents | $3.63 | $43.54 |
| Connecticut | 24.51c | 2.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.73 | $44.76 |
| New Jersey | 24.61c | 2.5 cents | 12 cents | $3.75 | $44.94 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98c | 2.6 cents | 13 cents | $3.95 | $47.45 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64c | 2.8 cents | 14 cents | $4.21 | $50.48 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18c | 2.8 cents | 14 cents | $4.29 | $51.46 |
| New York | 28.65c | 2.9 cents | 14 cents | $4.36 | $52.32 |
| Alaska | 29.41c | 2.9 cents | 15 cents | $4.48 | $53.71 |
| California | 29.75c | 3 cents | 15 cents | $4.53 | $54.33 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48c | 3 cents | 15 cents | $4.64 | $55.66 |
| Maine | 32.11c | 3.2 cents | 16 cents | $4.89 | $58.64 |
| Hawaii | 47.18c | 4.7 cents | 24 cents | $7.18 | $86.16 |
Rates: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, residential sector, August 2026, preliminary. All rates with the year-on-year change.
How a TV uses electricity
Brightness is the biggest factor. The "vivid" or shop mode can draw 50% more than a calibrated picture. HDR content pushes the panel to full brightness.
Standby draw is under 1 watt on current sets but a soundbar, streaming box and games console on standby together can add 10 to 20 watts around the clock.
Ways to cut the cost
- Turn down the backlight or use the eco picture mode.
- Switch off the console and soundbar at the wall when not in use.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to run a TV for 24 hours?
A 100 watt TV for 24 hours is 2.4 kWh, about 43 cents at 18 cents per kWh or 63p at 26.32p per kWh.
Does leaving the TV on standby cost much?
The TV itself, almost nothing. The box of accessories around it can add 100 to 150 kWh a year.
Other living room and office costs
More in the US
Sources
The electricity price on this page is read from the data file that also lists the release it came from. The wattage range is a published typical range, not a measurement of your appliance.