How much does it cost to run a desktop computer?
EIA data · June 2026About $6.69 a month at the U.S. average price of 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour — but that figure moves a long way depending on where you live. Set your state below.
36.5 kWh a month at the U.S. average, 18.34¢/kWh for June 2026. Excludes fixed charges, taxes and time-of-use rates, which vary by utility and are on your bill.
Typical 60–300 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
A desktop computer sits mid-table at #25 of 88, which means something else in the house costs more. See whether electronics or something else drives your bill.
This figure covers the hours it is switched on. What it costs while you are not using it.
How many watts a desktop computer uses
An office or home desktop without a discrete graphics card draws roughly 60–120 W at idle and 120–200 W under load. This entry excludes gaming machines, which are covered separately.
- Low
- 60 W
- Typical
- 150 W
- High
- 300 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 150 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $231 |
| California | 34.74 | $152 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $130 |
| New York | 29.49 | $129 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $84.05 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $69.82 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $66.14 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $58.56 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $58.04 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $57.42 |
Worth knowing
- The power supply's rating is a ceiling, not a consumption figure. A 500 W supply in an idle office machine is delivering well under 100 W.
- Sleep draws a few watts; full shutdown draws under one. For a machine idle overnight, sleep captures most of the saving without the restart.
- The monitor is a separate load and is often a third of the total for a desktop setup, which is why it is listed separately here.
Other appliances
Prices are statewide residential averages for June 2026 from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. They exclude fixed monthly charges, taxes and time-of-use rates. See how these figures are calculated.