The short answer
A typical modern TV uses 50-150 watts while on, depending on size and display technology. At the U.S. average residential electricity rate of approximately 17¢/kWh, running a TV for 5 hours daily costs roughly $1.50-$4/month.
That's the ballpark. The exact number depends on your TV's size, the display technology (LED, OLED, or older plasma), your viewing hours, and your local electricity rate.
TV electricity usage by type and size
TV power consumption varies significantly by screen size and display technology. Here's how different TVs compare, assuming 5 hours of daily use and the U.S. average electricity rate of 17¢/kWh:
| Type | Size | Watts | Monthly kWh | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED | 32" | 30-60 | 5-9 | $0.85-$1.50 |
| LED | 50" | 60-100 | 9-15 | $1.50-$2.55 |
| LED | 65" | 90-150 | 14-23 | $2.40-$3.90 |
| OLED | 55" | 100-150 | 15-23 | $2.55-$3.90 |
| OLED | 65" | 150-250 | 23-38 | $3.90-$6.45 |
| Plasma (older) | 50" | 250-350 | 38-53 | $6.45-$9.00 |
Note: Wattage varies by manufacturer and model. Values shown are typical ranges based on manufacturer specifications. Monthly cost assumes 5 hours daily use × 30 days × 17¢/kWh.
The biggest takeaway: modern LED TVs are remarkably efficient. Even a large 65-inch LED costs under $4/month to run. Older plasma TVs — now mostly retired — used 2-3x as much power.
How TV usage affects your monthly bill
Let's walk through the math for a typical scenario.
Example: 55-inch LED TV, 5 hours/day
TV wattage: 80 watts (typical 55" LED)
Daily usage: 80W × 5 hours = 400 Wh = 0.4 kWh
Monthly usage: 0.4 kWh × 30 days = 12 kWh
Monthly cost: 12 kWh × $0.17 = $2.04
Example: 65-inch OLED TV, 6 hours/day
TV wattage: 180 watts (typical 65" OLED)
Daily usage: 180W × 6 hours = 1,080 Wh = 1.08 kWh
Monthly usage: 1.08 kWh × 30 days = 32.4 kWh
Monthly cost: 32.4 kWh × $0.17 = $5.51
Even heavy use of a large, power-hungry OLED TV stays under $6/month at average rates. For most households, the TV is not a major line item on the electricity bill.
How to reduce TV electricity costs
While TV electricity costs are modest, here are ways to reduce them further:
1. Lower the brightness
TVs ship with brightness cranked up for showroom appeal. In a normally-lit room, you can often reduce brightness by 30-50% without noticing a difference. This directly reduces power consumption — sometimes by 20-30%.
2. Enable power-saving mode
Most modern TVs have an “Eco” or power-saving mode that adjusts brightness based on ambient light and content. It typically saves 10-20% on electricity with minimal impact on picture quality.
3. Turn off when not watching
Sounds obvious, but TVs left on as background noise add up. If you're not actually watching, turn it off. A TV running 8 extra hours per day doubles your TV electricity cost.
4. Use a smart power strip
A smart power strip cuts standby power to the TV and connected devices (soundbar, streaming boxes) when the main device is off. This saves the 2-5 watts of standby power that would otherwise run 24/7.
5. Choose LED over OLED if efficiency matters
LED TVs are generally more energy-efficient than OLED at the same screen size. If minimizing energy use is a priority, LED offers better efficiency per dollar. That said, the cost difference is typically $1-$3/month — not enough to drive a buying decision.
6. Retire plasma TVs
If you're still using a plasma TV, it's using 2-3x the electricity of a modern LED. Replacing a 50-inch plasma with a 50-inch LED saves roughly $4-$6/month. Over a few years, the electricity savings offset a portion of the replacement cost.
TV vs. other home electronics
How does TV electricity use compare to other devices? Here's context for a typical home entertainment setup:
| Device | Typical Watts | Hours/Day | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55" LED TV | 70-100 | 5 | $1.80-$2.55 |
| Gaming console (active) | 100-200 | 2 | $1.00-$2.00 |
| Gaming PC (active) | 300-500 | 3 | $4.60-$7.65 |
| Streaming device | 3-10 | 5 | $0.08-$0.26 |
| Soundbar | 20-50 | 5 | $0.51-$1.28 |
| Desktop computer | 100-300 | 6 | $3.06-$9.18 |
Gaming PCs and desktop computers typically use more electricity than TVs. A serious gaming setup can easily exceed $10/month in electricity — more than 3-4x a typical TV.
Why your TV bill might be higher than expected
If your TV-related electricity costs seem high, here are common culprits:
- Multiple TVs running simultaneously: A household with three TVs, each running 4 hours daily, triples the electricity use compared to a single-TV household.
- Always-on gaming consoles:Consoles in “instant-on” mode use 10-15 watts continuously — more than the TV in standby. Switch to energy-saving mode when not playing.
- Old plasma or projection TVs: Older display technologies used significantly more power. A plasma TV from 2010 might use 300+ watts.
- Brightness maxed out: Factory brightness settings are designed for showroom visibility, not home viewing. Dial it down.
- Miscounting viewing hours: If the TV runs as background noise 12+ hours daily, costs naturally climb.
How electricity rates affect TV costs
Your location matters as much as your TV choice. The same TV usage costs dramatically different amounts depending on where you live:
Same TV (65" LED, 120W, 5 hr/day = 18 kWh/month):
- Hawaii (~40¢/kWh): $7.20/month
- California (~30¢/kWh): $5.40/month
- Massachusetts (~27¢/kWh): $4.86/month
- Pennsylvania (~17¢/kWh): $3.06/month
- Texas (~14¢/kWh): $2.52/month
- Louisiana (~11¢/kWh): $1.98/month
- Idaho (~10¢/kWh): $1.80/month
In high-rate states like Hawaii, even modest energy reductions have outsized impact. In low-rate states, the same TV is essentially a rounding error on your bill.
In deregulated electricity states, you can often reduce your rate by shopping for a competitive supplier. A 2-3¢/kWh rate reduction won't transform your TV costs, but it compounds across all your electricity usage.
➤Compare electricity rates in PennsylvaniaFrequently asked questions
Does a smart TV use more electricity than a regular TV?
Not significantly. A smart TV uses slightly more power in standby mode (2-5 watts vs. 1-2 watts) because it maintains network connectivity for updates and voice assistants. While watching, the smart features add negligible power draw. The difference amounts to roughly $1-$2 per year at average electricity rates.
How much does it cost to leave a TV on all night?
Leaving a typical 55-inch LED TV on for 8 hours overnight costs about 4-6 cents at the U.S. average rate of 17¢/kWh. Over a month of nightly viewing, that's $1.20-$1.80. The electricity cost is minimal, though there are other reasons (screen wear, sleep quality) you might want to turn it off.
Do larger TVs always use more electricity?
Generally yes, but technology matters more than raw size. A modern 65-inch LED TV uses roughly 90-150 watts. An older 50-inch plasma TV uses 250-350 watts. So a large new TV often uses less power than a smaller old one. When comparing TVs of the same technology and generation, larger screens do use more power.
Is it cheaper to watch TV or stream on a phone?
Streaming on a phone uses far less electricity — roughly 2-5 watts for the phone vs. 50-150 watts for a TV. Over 5 hours, that's 0.01-0.025 kWh (phone) vs. 0.25-0.75 kWh (TV). At 17¢/kWh, the phone costs less than half a cent while the TV costs 4-13 cents. However, the savings are small in absolute terms — maybe $3-$4/month if you watched exclusively on a phone instead of a TV.
Does standby mode still use electricity?
Yes, but not much. Modern TVs in standby mode use 1-3 watts — enough to power the remote sensor and quick-start features. Over a year, that's 9-26 kWh, costing $1.50-$4.50 at average rates. You can eliminate this by using a power strip and switching it off, but the savings are modest compared to other energy-saving measures.
