About $1 to $2 a month – that’s how much electric a TV uses on average. The exact cost depends on your TV’s size, type, and how many hours you watch it each day.
People often worry about their power bill. They see the TV on for hours and wonder about the cost. I’ve tested many TVs to find real numbers for you.
This guide will break down the costs for all TV types. You’ll learn how to save money without giving up your shows.
How Much Electric Does a TV Use Per Hour?
Let’s start with the hourly cost. It’s the best way to understand your usage.
A modern LED TV uses about 60 to 100 watts per hour. That like having one or two old light bulbs on.
Older plasma TVs were power hogs. They could use 200 to 300 watts every single hour they were on.
To find out how much electric your TV uses, check the label on the back. Look for the wattage number in small print.
My 55-inch LED TV uses 80 watts. I watch about 4 hours a day, so it costs me roughly $1.20 a month.
The U.S. Department of Energy has great tools for this. They help you calculate appliance costs easily.
Remember, standby power also adds up. Many TVs use a little power even when turned “off.”
How Much Electric Does a TV Use Per Month?
Monthly costs give you the full picture. They show your real spending over time.
For a typical family, the TV adds $1 to $3 to the monthly bill. It’s often less than people fear.
How much electric your TV uses per month depends on your habits. Do you leave it on for background noise all day?
My neighbor leaves his TV on for his dog. His bill is $5 higher just from that one habit.
Big screen TVs cost more to run. A 75-inch model can use twice the power of a 42-inch one.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, home electronics use about 7% of household power. TVs are a big part of that.
To calculate your cost, multiply your TV’s watts by your hours watched. Then multiply by your electricity rate.
TV Type Changes Power Use Dramatically
Not all TVs are created equal. The technology inside makes a huge difference.
LED/LCD TVs are the most efficient today. They use about half the power of older types.
OLED TVs are in the middle for power use. They have amazing picture quality but use a bit more juice.
Plasma TVs are mostly gone now. They were famous for great pictures and terrible power bills.
Projectors can be efficient for big screens. But their bulbs need replacement every few years.
CRT tube TVs are ancient history. If you still have one, it’s time for an upgrade to save money.
The ENERGY STAR program labels efficient models. Look for their logo when you shop.
Size Matters for TV Power Consumption
Bigger screen means more power. It’s that simple.
A 32-inch LED TV might use just 30 watts. That’s very little power for decent viewing.
Jump to 65 inches and power use triples. You’re now looking at 90 to 120 watts per hour.
Giant 85-inch TVs are becoming popular. They can use 150 to 200 watts, like a small space heater.
But here’s an interesting fact. Modern big TVs are more efficient than old small ones. Technology keeps improving.
When you ask how much electric does TV use, always consider size first. It’s the biggest factor after TV type.
Measure your viewing distance first. You might not need that giant screen after all.
Settings That Change Power Use
Your TV’s settings change its hunger for power. Brightness is the biggest control.
Turn down the backlight or brightness setting. You’ll save power and reduce eye strain in dark rooms.
Automatic brightness sensors help a lot. They adjust the screen based on your room’s light.
Game mode often increases power use. It turns off some processing to reduce lag.
Motion smoothing and other effects use extra power. They make the picture look weird anyway, in my opinion.
Sound volume affects power too. Those built-in speakers need electricity to make noise.
Experiment with your settings. You might find a picture you like better that also costs less to run.
How Much Electric Does TV Use in Standby Mode?
This is the secret cost many people miss. Your TV is still working when it’s “off.”
Most modern TVs use 0.5 to 3 watts in standby. They’re waiting for your remote control signal.
That might not sound like much. But it adds up to 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Quick start features use more standby power. They keep parts of the TV awake for faster turning on.
Voice control assistants in TVs need constant power. They’re always listening for your commands.
Network connectivity costs power too. Your smart TV checks for updates even when you’re not watching.
Use a power strip with a switch. Turn it off when you go on vacation to save that standby drain.
Real World Examples of TV Power Costs
Let’s look at some real numbers. I’ve measured these with a power meter.
My living room TV is a 55-inch LED. It costs about $14 a year to run with my viewing habits.
My old bedroom TV was a 32-inch LCD. It used $8 worth of electricity each year.
A friend has a 65-inch OLED. His yearly TV electricity cost is around $25.
Another friend still uses a 50-inch plasma. He pays over $40 a year just for that one TV.
The Natural Resources Defense Council studied this. They found huge differences between the best and worst TVs.
When you calculate how much electric your TV uses, be honest about hours. We often watch more than we think.
Keep a viewing diary for one week. You might be surprised by the total hours.
Comparing TV Power to Other Home Devices
Is your TV a big energy user? Let’s compare it to other things in your house.
A refrigerator uses 10 to 20 times more power than a TV. It runs 24 hours a day, after all.
Air conditioning is the real power hog. One hour of AC use equals 20 hours of TV watching.
Incandescent light bulbs use about the same as a small TV. That’s why LED bulbs save so much money.
A gaming PC can use 5 times more than a TV. Those powerful graphics cards need lots of electricity.
Your cable box or streaming device adds to the cost. Don’t forget to include those in your calculations.
When you ask how much electric does TV use, remember it’s usually not your biggest worry. But savings still add up over time.
Focus on the big energy users first. Then tackle the smaller ones like your TV.
How to Reduce Your TV’s Power Use
Want to save money without missing your shows? Here are my best tips.
First, enable the power saving mode in your TV’s menu. It automatically optimizes settings for efficiency.
Turn off the TV when nobody is watching. Sounds obvious, but many homes have “background TV” all day.
Use sleep timers for bedtime viewing. The TV will turn itself off if you fall asleep.
Lower the brightness in dark rooms. Your eyes will thank you, and your wallet will too.
Unplug the TV when you go on long trips. Standby power adds up over weeks.
Consider a smaller TV for secondary rooms. Do you really need a 50-inch screen in the kitchen?
The Consumer Reports website has great efficiency ratings. Check them before your next TV purchase.
Future TV Technology and Power Use
TVs keep getting more efficient. What can we expect next?
MicroLED technology promises great pictures with low power. It’s still expensive but coming down in price.
Manufacturers compete on efficiency now. It’s a selling point alongside picture quality.
Solar-powered TVs exist for off-grid use. They’re niche products but show where things could go.
Always-on displays for smart homes use more power. Your TV might show weather or photos when not in use.
8K TVs use more power than 4K models. All those extra pixels need electricity to light up.
When you next ask how much electric does TV use, the answer might be lower. Technology keeps improving.
But bigger screens offset some gains. We keep buying larger TVs, which uses more power.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much electric does a TV use per day?
A typical LED TV uses 0.5 to 1 kilowatt-hour per day. That’s about 5 to 10 cents for most people.
Does a smart TV use more electricity?
Yes, but not much more. The smart features add a little to both active and standby power use.
How much electric does TV use compared to lights?
A modern TV uses about the as two or three LED bulbs. Old incandescent bulbs used more than most TVs.
Do larger TVs use a lot more power?
Yes, size affects power use directly. A 75-inch TV can use twice the power of a 40-inch model of the same type.
How much electric does TV use in standby mode?
Most use 0.5 to 3 watts on standby. Over a year, this can add $1 to $5 to your bill.
Should I unplug my TV to save money?
For long trips, yes. For daily use, a power strip switch is easier than unplugging every time.
Conclusion
So how much electric does TV use? Less than most people worry about, but enough to matter.
The average home spends $15 to $30 per year on TV power. You can cut this with simple habit changes.
Check your TV’s settings today. Lower the brightness and enable power saving features.
Remember that TV power is just one part of your bill. But every bit of savings helps over time.
Now you know exactly how much electric your TV uses. You can make smart choices about your viewing habits.