U.S. residential electricity EIA data: July 2026 US average 18.3¢/kWh Updated
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Home Office · US average

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Wi-Fi Router?

The short answer

A typical 10W Wi-Fi router uses about 0.24 kWh a day, which costs about $1.34 a month ($16.04 a year) at the US average electricity rate.

Based on the US average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026). Costs range from $0.93/month in Louisiana to $3.50/month in Hawaii — pick your state below for an exact figure.

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

Wi-Fi Router running cost at the US average rate

Cost at 18.3¢/kWh, the US average (EIA, Jul 2026)
ModelkWh/monthPer dayPer monthPer year
Efficient (6W) 4.4 $0.03 $0.80 $9.62
Typical (10W) 7.3 $0.04 $1.34 $16.04
Older / large (20W) 14.6 $0.09 $2.67 $32.08

Cost to run a Wi-Fi router in every state

At running 24/7 and each state’s average residential rate. Select a state for its full breakdown.

Wi-Fi Router cost by state
Alabama 16.4¢ $0.04 $1.20 $14.37
Alaska 28.8¢ $0.07 $2.10 $25.26
Arizona 15.4¢ $0.04 $1.12 $13.47
Arkansas 14.3¢ $0.03 $1.05 $12.55
California 33.6¢ $0.08 $2.45 $29.44
Colorado 17.0¢ $0.04 $1.24 $14.89
Connecticut 24.2¢ $0.06 $1.76 $21.16
Delaware 18.5¢ $0.04 $1.35 $16.19
District of Columbia 25.2¢ $0.06 $1.84 $22.08
Florida 15.0¢ $0.04 $1.10 $13.17
Georgia 16.3¢ $0.04 $1.19 $14.25
Hawaii 48.0¢ $0.12 $3.50 $42.05
Idaho 13.7¢ $0.03 $1.00 $12.03
Illinois 19.2¢ $0.05 $1.40 $16.84
Indiana 16.7¢ $0.04 $1.22 $14.66
Iowa 16.0¢ $0.04 $1.17 $14.01
Kansas 15.3¢ $0.04 $1.11 $13.38
Kentucky 13.8¢ $0.03 $1.01 $12.10
Louisiana 12.7¢ $0.03 $0.93 $11.14
Maine 32.4¢ $0.08 $2.37 $28.39
Maryland 21.4¢ $0.05 $1.56 $18.76
Massachusetts 30.5¢ $0.07 $2.23 $26.71
Michigan 23.1¢ $0.06 $1.68 $20.19
Minnesota 17.5¢ $0.04 $1.27 $15.29
Mississippi 14.5¢ $0.03 $1.06 $12.74
Missouri 16.1¢ $0.04 $1.17 $14.09
Montana 15.0¢ $0.04 $1.09 $13.13
Nebraska 13.8¢ $0.03 $1.01 $12.07
Nevada 12.8¢ $0.03 $0.93 $11.19
New Hampshire 26.6¢ $0.06 $1.94 $23.30
New Jersey 25.2¢ $0.06 $1.84 $22.07
New Mexico 16.1¢ $0.04 $1.17 $14.09
New York 29.9¢ $0.07 $2.18 $26.19
North Carolina 15.2¢ $0.04 $1.11 $13.28
North Dakota 13.4¢ $0.03 $0.98 $11.75
Ohio 19.5¢ $0.05 $1.42 $17.04
Oklahoma 14.4¢ $0.03 $1.05 $12.57
Oregon 16.0¢ $0.04 $1.17 $13.99
Pennsylvania 21.7¢ $0.05 $1.59 $19.03
Rhode Island 28.3¢ $0.07 $2.07 $24.78
South Carolina 15.5¢ $0.04 $1.13 $13.55
South Dakota 15.4¢ $0.04 $1.12 $13.46
Tennessee 13.7¢ $0.03 $1.00 $12.01
Texas 15.9¢ $0.04 $1.16 $13.91
Utah 13.1¢ $0.03 $0.96 $11.49
Vermont 23.8¢ $0.06 $1.73 $20.81
Virginia 17.6¢ $0.04 $1.28 $15.37
Washington 14.7¢ $0.04 $1.07 $12.89
West Virginia 15.8¢ $0.04 $1.15 $13.82
Wisconsin 19.1¢ $0.05 $1.39 $16.70
Wyoming 14.4¢ $0.03 $1.05 $12.58

How much electricity does a Wi-Fi router use?

A Wi-Fi router draws about 6–20W around the clock — small, but it never turns off.

Routers, modems and mesh nodes run 24/7, so even a 10W device uses about 7 kWh a month. A modem plus router plus two mesh nodes can add up to 30–40W of constant load. It's a good example of how always-on devices quietly add to a bill.

Low6W
Typical10W
High20W
Per month7.30 kWh

Ways to cut the cost

  • Combine modem and router into one device if your provider allows it.
  • Use only as many mesh nodes as you need for coverage.
  • Schedule Wi-Fi off overnight if no one needs it.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a Wi-Fi router per month?

At running 24/7, a typical Wi-Fi router costs about $1.34 a month at the US average rate of 18.3¢/kWh. Depending on your state, the same usage costs between $0.93 and $3.50.

How many watts does a Wi-Fi router use?

Wi-Fi routers typically draw 6W–20W, with 10W a common figure. A Wi-Fi router draws about 6–20W around the clock — small, but it never turns off.

Which state is cheapest to run a Wi-Fi router in?

Louisiana is currently the cheapest at about $11.14 a year for typical use, and Hawaii the most expensive at about $42.05 a year.

Sources & method