U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Laptop?

The short answer

A typical 60W laptop costs about $0.01 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $2.67 a month at 8 hours a day.

Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $1.86/month in Louisiana to $7.01/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.

Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated

Laptop running cost at the US average rate

Cost at 18.3¢/kWh, the US average (EIA, Jul 2026)
Daily usekWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
1 hour/day 1.8 $0.01 $0.33 $4.01
2 hours/day 3.7 $0.02 $0.67 $8.02
4 hours/day 7.3 $0.04 $1.34 $16.04
8 hours/day 14.6 $0.09 $2.67 $32.08
12 hours/day 21.9 $0.13 $4.01 $48.12
24 hours/day 43.8 $0.26 $8.02 $96.24

Cost to run a laptop in every state

At 8 hours a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.

Laptop cost by state
Alabama 16.4¢ $0.01 $2.39 $28.73
Alaska 28.8¢ $0.02 $4.21 $50.51
Arizona 15.4¢ $0.01 $2.25 $26.95
Arkansas 14.3¢ $0.01 $2.09 $25.11
California 33.6¢ $0.02 $4.91 $58.88
Colorado 17.0¢ $0.01 $2.48 $29.78
Connecticut 24.2¢ $0.01 $3.53 $42.33
Delaware 18.5¢ $0.01 $2.70 $32.38
District of Columbia 25.2¢ $0.02 $3.68 $44.17
Florida 15.0¢ $0.01 $2.19 $26.33
Georgia 16.3¢ $0.01 $2.38 $28.51
Hawaii 48.0¢ $0.03 $7.01 $84.10
Idaho 13.7¢ $0.01 $2.00 $24.05
Illinois 19.2¢ $0.01 $2.81 $33.67
Indiana 16.7¢ $0.01 $2.44 $29.31
Iowa 16.0¢ $0.01 $2.33 $28.01
Kansas 15.3¢ $0.01 $2.23 $26.75
Kentucky 13.8¢ $0.01 $2.02 $24.20
Louisiana 12.7¢ $0.01 $1.86 $22.29
Maine 32.4¢ $0.02 $4.73 $56.78
Maryland 21.4¢ $0.01 $3.13 $37.51
Massachusetts 30.5¢ $0.02 $4.45 $53.42
Michigan 23.1¢ $0.01 $3.37 $40.38
Minnesota 17.5¢ $0.01 $2.55 $30.57
Mississippi 14.5¢ $0.01 $2.12 $25.47
Missouri 16.1¢ $0.01 $2.35 $28.19
Montana 15.0¢ $0.01 $2.19 $26.26
Nebraska 13.8¢ $0.01 $2.01 $24.14
Nevada 12.8¢ $0.01 $1.86 $22.37
New Hampshire 26.6¢ $0.02 $3.88 $46.60
New Jersey 25.2¢ $0.02 $3.68 $44.13
New Mexico 16.1¢ $0.01 $2.35 $28.19
New York 29.9¢ $0.02 $4.37 $52.38
North Carolina 15.2¢ $0.01 $2.21 $26.56
North Dakota 13.4¢ $0.01 $1.96 $23.49
Ohio 19.5¢ $0.01 $2.84 $34.08
Oklahoma 14.4¢ $0.01 $2.10 $25.14
Oregon 16.0¢ $0.01 $2.33 $27.98
Pennsylvania 21.7¢ $0.01 $3.17 $38.05
Rhode Island 28.3¢ $0.02 $4.13 $49.56
South Carolina 15.5¢ $0.01 $2.26 $27.10
South Dakota 15.4¢ $0.01 $2.24 $26.93
Tennessee 13.7¢ $0.01 $2.00 $24.02
Texas 15.9¢ $0.01 $2.32 $27.82
Utah 13.1¢ $0.01 $1.92 $22.99
Vermont 23.8¢ $0.01 $3.47 $41.61
Virginia 17.6¢ $0.01 $2.56 $30.75
Washington 14.7¢ $0.01 $2.15 $25.77
West Virginia 15.8¢ $0.01 $2.30 $27.65
Wisconsin 19.1¢ $0.01 $2.78 $33.39
Wyoming 14.4¢ $0.01 $2.10 $25.16

How much electricity does a laptop use?

Laptops use about 30–100W while charging and working — often less than half of a desktop.

Laptops are designed to run on batteries, so they're inherently efficient. Typical use draws 30–60W from the charger, with gaming laptops and mobile workstations reaching 100–200W under load. Even working full time on a laptop costs only a few dollars a month in most states.

Low30W
Typical60W
High100W
Per month14.6 kWh

Ways to cut the cost

  • Use battery-saver mode and lower screen brightness.
  • Unplug once charged if your laptop lacks charge-limiting features.
  • Put it to sleep instead of leaving it idle overnight.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a laptop per month?

At 8 hours a day, a typical laptop costs about $2.67 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $1.86 and $7.01.

How many watts does a laptop use?

Laptops typically draw 30W–100W, with 60W a common figure. Laptops use about 30–100W while charging and working — often less than half of a desktop.

Which state is cheapest to run a laptop in?

Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $22.29 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $84.10 a year.

Comparisons

Sources & method