Entertainment · US average
How Much Does It Cost to Run a TV?
The short answer
A typical 100W TV costs about $0.02 per hour to run at the US average electricity rate, or $2.78 a month at 5 hours a day.
Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $1.93/month in Louisiana to $7.30/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.
Source: U.S. EIA, July 2026 data · Updated
TV running cost at the US average rate
| Daily use | kWh/month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour/day | 3.0 | $0.02 | $0.56 | $6.68 |
| 2 hours/day | 6.1 | $0.04 | $1.11 | $13.37 |
| 4 hours/day | 12.2 | $0.07 | $2.23 | $26.73 |
| 8 hours/day | 24.3 | $0.15 | $4.46 | $53.47 |
| 12 hours/day | 36.5 | $0.22 | $6.68 | $80.20 |
| 24 hours/day | 73.0 | $0.44 | $13.37 | $160 |
Cost to run a TV in every state
At 5 hours a day and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $0.02 | $2.49 | $29.93 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 28.8¢ | $0.03 | $4.39 | $52.61 |
| Arizona | 15.4¢ | $0.02 | $2.34 | $28.07 |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢ | $0.01 | $2.18 | $26.15 |
| California | 33.6¢ | $0.03 | $5.11 | $61.34 |
| Colorado | 17.0¢ | $0.02 | $2.59 | $31.03 |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢ | $0.02 | $3.67 | $44.09 |
| Delaware | 18.5¢ | $0.02 | $2.81 | $33.73 |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢ | $0.03 | $3.83 | $46.01 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | $0.02 | $2.29 | $27.43 |
| Georgia | 16.3¢ | $0.02 | $2.47 | $29.69 |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢ | $0.05 | $7.30 | $87.60 |
| Idaho | 13.7¢ | $0.01 | $2.09 | $25.06 |
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | $0.02 | $2.92 | $35.08 |
| Indiana | 16.7¢ | $0.02 | $2.54 | $30.53 |
| Iowa | 16.0¢ | $0.02 | $2.43 | $29.18 |
| Kansas | 15.3¢ | $0.02 | $2.32 | $27.87 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | $0.01 | $2.10 | $25.20 |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢ | $0.01 | $1.93 | $23.21 |
| Maine | 32.4¢ | $0.03 | $4.93 | $59.15 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | $0.02 | $3.26 | $39.07 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | $0.03 | $4.64 | $55.64 |
| Michigan | 23.1¢ | $0.02 | $3.51 | $42.07 |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $0.02 | $2.65 | $31.85 |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢ | $0.01 | $2.21 | $26.54 |
| Missouri | 16.1¢ | $0.02 | $2.45 | $29.36 |
| Montana | 15.0¢ | $0.01 | $2.28 | $27.36 |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢ | $0.01 | $2.10 | $25.15 |
| Nevada | 12.8¢ | $0.01 | $1.94 | $23.31 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢ | $0.03 | $4.05 | $48.55 |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢ | $0.03 | $3.83 | $45.97 |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢ | $0.02 | $2.45 | $29.36 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.03 | $4.55 | $54.57 |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢ | $0.02 | $2.31 | $27.67 |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢ | $0.01 | $2.04 | $24.47 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.02 | $2.96 | $35.50 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4¢ | $0.01 | $2.18 | $26.19 |
| Oregon | 16.0¢ | $0.02 | $2.43 | $29.15 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $0.02 | $3.30 | $39.64 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $0.03 | $4.30 | $51.63 |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢ | $0.02 | $2.35 | $28.23 |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $0.02 | $2.34 | $28.05 |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢ | $0.01 | $2.09 | $25.02 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $0.02 | $2.42 | $28.98 |
| Utah | 13.1¢ | $0.01 | $2.00 | $23.94 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | $0.02 | $3.61 | $43.34 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.02 | $2.67 | $32.03 |
| Washington | 14.7¢ | $0.01 | $2.24 | $26.85 |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢ | $0.02 | $2.40 | $28.80 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢ | $0.02 | $2.90 | $34.78 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | $0.01 | $2.18 | $26.21 |
How much electricity does a TV use?
Most modern LED TVs use 50–200W depending on screen size, brightness and HDR.
TV power use depends mostly on screen size and brightness. A 50–55 inch LED TV typically draws about 70–100W, while large 75-inch-plus and HDR content at full brightness can exceed 200W. OLED TVs vary with what's on screen. Standby power on modern sets is under a watt. The default here assumes 5 hours of viewing a day.
Ways to cut the cost
- Use the energy-saving or auto-brightness picture mode.
- Turn off quick-start or instant-on features if you don't need them.
- Set a sleep timer so the TV isn't left on overnight.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a TV per month?
At 5 hours a day, a typical TV costs about $2.78 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $1.93 and $7.30.
How many watts does a TV use?
TVs typically draw 50W–200W, with 100W a common figure. Most modern LED TVs use 50–200W depending on screen size, brightness and HDR.
Which state is cheapest to run a TV in?
Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $23.21 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $87.60 a year.
How much does it cost to leave a TV on all day?
A 100W TV left on for 24 hours uses 2.4 kWh — at the US average rate that's roughly 40–45 cents a day.
Related appliances
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).