Home Office · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Desktop Computer?
The short answer
A typical 150W desktop computer costs about $0.03 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $6.68 a month at 8 hours a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $4.64/month in Louisiana to $17.52/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Desktop Computer running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 4.6 | $0.03 | $0.84 | $10.02 |
| 2 hours/day | 9.1 | $0.05 | $1.67 | $20.05 |
| 4 hours/day | 18.3 | $0.11 | $3.34 | $40.10 |
| 8 hours/day | 36.5 | $0.22 | $6.68 | $80.20 |
| 12 hours/day | 54.8 | $0.33 | $10.03 | $120 |
| 24 hours/day | 109.5 | $0.66 | $20.05 | $241 |
Cost to run a desktop computer in every state
At 8 hours a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.02 | $5.99 | $71.83 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.04 | $10.52 | $126 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.02 | $5.61 | $67.36 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.02 | $5.23 | $62.77 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.05 | $12.27 | $147 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.03 | $6.21 | $74.46 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.04 | $8.82 | $106 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.03 | $6.75 | $80.94 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.04 | $9.20 | $110 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.02 | $5.49 | $65.83 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.02 | $5.94 | $71.26 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.07 | $17.52 | $210 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.02 | $5.01 | $60.14 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.03 | $7.02 | $84.18 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.03 | $6.11 | $73.28 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.02 | $5.84 | $70.04 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.02 | $5.57 | $66.88 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.02 | $5.04 | $60.49 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.02 | $4.64 | $55.71 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.05 | $11.83 | $142 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.03 | $7.82 | $93.78 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.05 | $11.13 | $134 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.03 | $8.41 | $101 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.03 | $6.37 | $76.43 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.02 | $5.31 | $63.69 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.02 | $5.87 | $70.47 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.02 | $5.47 | $65.66 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.02 | $5.03 | $60.36 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.02 | $4.66 | $55.93 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.04 | $9.71 | $117 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.04 | $9.20 | $110 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.02 | $5.87 | $70.47 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.04 | $10.91 | $131 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.02 | $5.53 | $66.40 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.02 | $4.90 | $58.74 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.03 | $7.10 | $85.19 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.02 | $5.24 | $62.85 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.02 | $5.83 | $69.95 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.03 | $7.93 | $95.13 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.04 | $10.33 | $124 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.02 | $5.65 | $67.76 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.02 | $5.61 | $67.32 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.02 | $5.00 | $60.05 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.02 | $5.80 | $69.55 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.02 | $4.79 | $57.47 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.04 | $8.67 | $104 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.03 | $6.41 | $76.87 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.02 | $5.37 | $64.43 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.02 | $5.76 | $69.12 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.03 | $6.96 | $83.48 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.02 | $5.24 | $62.90 |
How much electricity does a desktop computer use?
A typical office desktop with a monitor draws about 100–200W during normal work.
Everyday desktop use — browsing, documents, video calls — is light work for a modern PC, so most office desktops plus a monitor draw around 100–200W. Workstations rendering video or running heavy software use more. Sleep mode drops consumption to just a few watts, so letting the computer sleep when you step away makes a real difference over a year.
Ways to cut the cost
- Set the computer to sleep after 15–30 minutes and the display after 5–10 minutes.
- Turn off the whole setup with a power strip at the end of the day.
- Lower monitor brightness — it often accounts for a big share of the total.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a desktop computer per month?
At 8 hours a day, a typical desktop computer costs about $6.68 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $4.64 and $17.52.
How many watts does a desktop computer use?
Desktop computers typically draw 60W–300W, with 150W a common figure. A typical office desktop with a monitor draws about 100–200W during normal work.
Which state is cheapest to run a desktop computer in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $55.71 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $210 a year.
Related appliances
Comparisons
Sources & method
- Electricity rates: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly — average residential retail price, July 2026 (latest available). Retrieved .
- CO₂: EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024 emissions rate of in-state power generation.
- Formulas, duty cycles and limitations: methodology. Data download: open data (CC BY 4.0).