How much does it cost to run a game console?
EIA data · June 2026About $3.01 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.
16.4 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 40–250 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
A game console sits mid-table at #44 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 game console uses
A current-generation console draws roughly 160–220 W while playing a demanding title, about 40–70 W streaming video, and 1–15 W in standby depending on whether fast-resume or background download modes are enabled.
- Low
- 40 W
- Typical
- 180 W
- High
- 250 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 180 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $104 |
| California | 34.74 | $68.47 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $58.36 |
| New York | 29.49 | $58.12 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $37.82 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $31.42 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $29.76 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $26.35 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $26.12 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $25.84 |
Worth knowing
- Standby mode is where the surprise lives. A console left in a rest state that keeps the network alive can draw 10–15 W around the clock, which over a year rivals the gaming itself.
- Using a console as a streaming box costs roughly a quarter of what gaming does, but still several times more than a dedicated streaming stick.
- Turning off the rest-mode network features is the single largest saving available, at the cost of slower resume and no overnight downloads.
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.