How Much Electricity Does A TV Use?
Typical tv: 100 W for 5 h a day0.5 kWh/day · $2.82/month
A 55-inch LED TV draws about 60–120 watts while on; older plasma sets can draw 300 W or more. Change the numbers below for your own tv and electricity rate.
W
h
¢/kWh
Default rate: US average residential rate of 18.56¢/kWh (EIA, March 2026, via Jouleio). Your bill shows your own rate per kWh.
Result–
TV running cost by hours
| Hours a day | kWh a month | Cost a month | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | $0.56 | $6.77 |
| 2 | 6.1 | $1.13 | $13.55 |
| 4 | 12.2 | $2.26 | $27.1 |
| 6 | 18.3 | $3.39 | $40.65 |
| 8 | 24.3 | $4.52 | $54.2 |
| 12 | 36.5 | $6.78 | $81.29 |
| 24 | 73 | $13.55 | $162.59 |
At the US average residential rate of 18.56¢/kWh (EIA, March 2026, via Jouleio).
Other appliances
Questions
How much does it cost to run a tv?
About $2.82 a month for 5 hours a day at 100 W and 18.56¢ per kWh.
How can I measure the real usage?
A plug-in energy meter shows the actual kWh an appliance uses over a few days, which is more accurate than the label rating.