Entertainment · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Gaming PC?
The short answer
A typical 500W gaming PC costs about $0.09 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $11.14 a month at 4 hours a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $7.74/month in Louisiana to $29.20/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
Gaming PC running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 15.2 | $0.09 | $2.78 | $33.42 |
| 2 hours/day | 30.4 | $0.18 | $5.57 | $66.83 |
| 4 hours/day | 60.8 | $0.37 | $11.14 | $134 |
| 8 hours/day | 121.7 | $0.73 | $22.28 | $267 |
| 12 hours/day | 182.5 | $1.10 | $33.42 | $401 |
| 24 hours/day | 365.0 | $2.20 | $66.84 | $802 |
Cost to run a gaming PC in every state
At 4 hours a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.08 | $9.98 | $120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.14 | $17.54 | $210 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.08 | $9.36 | $112 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.07 | $8.72 | $105 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.17 | $20.45 | $245 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.09 | $10.34 | $124 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.12 | $14.70 | $176 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.09 | $11.24 | $135 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.13 | $15.34 | $184 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.08 | $9.14 | $110 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.08 | $9.90 | $119 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.24 | $29.20 | $350 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.07 | $8.35 | $100 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.10 | $11.69 | $140 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.08 | $10.18 | $122 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.08 | $9.73 | $117 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.08 | $9.29 | $111 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.07 | $8.40 | $101 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.06 | $7.74 | $92.86 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.16 | $19.72 | $237 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.11 | $13.03 | $156 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.15 | $18.55 | $223 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.12 | $14.02 | $168 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.09 | $10.62 | $127 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.07 | $8.85 | $106 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.08 | $9.79 | $117 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.07 | $9.12 | $109 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.07 | $8.38 | $101 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.06 | $7.77 | $93.22 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.13 | $16.18 | $194 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.13 | $15.33 | $184 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.08 | $9.79 | $117 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.15 | $18.19 | $218 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.08 | $9.22 | $111 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.07 | $8.16 | $97.89 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.10 | $11.83 | $142 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.07 | $8.73 | $105 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.08 | $9.72 | $117 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.11 | $13.21 | $159 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.14 | $17.21 | $207 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.08 | $9.41 | $113 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.08 | $9.35 | $112 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.07 | $8.34 | $100 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.08 | $9.66 | $116 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.07 | $7.98 | $95.78 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.12 | $14.45 | $173 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.09 | $10.68 | $128 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $8.95 | $107 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.08 | $9.60 | $115 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.10 | $11.60 | $139 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.07 | $8.74 | $105 |
How much electricity does a gaming PC use?
A gaming PC typically draws 300–800W while gaming, depending mainly on the graphics card.
A gaming PC's power draw depends on the GPU and CPU and on how demanding the game is. A mid-range build typically pulls around 400–500W from the wall during gaming, while high-end systems with top-tier graphics cards can exceed 700–800W. Idle and desktop use is much lower, often 60–120W. The monitor adds another 30–80W.
Ways to cut the cost
- Cap frame rates to your monitor's refresh rate — rendering frames you can't see wastes power.
- Use your GPU's power-limit or efficiency settings for a large power cut with a small performance loss.
- Set the PC to sleep after 15–30 minutes of inactivity.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a gaming PC per month?
At 4 hours a day, a typical gaming PC costs about $11.14 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $7.74 and $29.20.
How many watts does a gaming PC use?
Gaming PCs typically draw 300W–800W, with 500W a common figure. A gaming PC typically draws 300–800W while gaming, depending mainly on the graphics card.
Which state is cheapest to run a gaming PC in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $92.86 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $350 a year.
Does a gaming PC use more electricity than a console?
Usually yes. A typical gaming PC draws 2–3 times more than a PS5 or Xbox Series X while gaming.
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).