How much does it cost to run a TV?
EIA data · June 2026About $2.79 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.
15.2 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 30–300 W. Use the figure on your own label if you have it.
A television sits mid-table at #47 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 television uses
A 55-inch LED TV typically draws 70–120 W. Smaller sets draw well under 50 W; large OLED and full-array LED sets at high brightness reach about 300 W.
- Low
- 30 W
- Typical
- 100 W
- High
- 300 W
What it costs across the country
Same appliance, same usage, different electricity price. Annual cost at 100 W and the default usage above.
| State | ¢/kWh | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 52.72 | $96.21 |
| California | 34.74 | $63.40 |
| Massachusetts | 29.61 | $54.04 |
| New York | 29.49 | $53.82 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $35.02 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $29.09 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $27.56 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $24.40 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $24.18 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $23.93 |
Worth knowing
- Screen brightness is the main variable. Store 'vivid’ or 'dynamic’ picture modes can nearly double draw compared with a calibrated or 'movie’ mode.
- HDR content drives the panel harder than standard content and measurably raises consumption on the same set.
- Modern TVs draw well under 1 W in standby, so unplugging a TV overnight saves very little.
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.