Energy costs · October 2026 prices
How much does it cost to run a TV?
A typical TV uses about 120 watts, so it costs about 2.3¢ an hour to run at the U.S. average electricity price of 19.0¢ per kWh (October 2026). Used 5 hours a day, that is about $3.42 a month, or $41.04 a year.
Key figures
- 120 Wtypical wattage (U.S. Department of Energy)
- 2.3¢per hour at 19.0¢/kWh
- $3.42per month, used 5 hours a day
- 18.0 kWhper month at that use
A TV’s power use depends mostly on screen size, technology and brightness; the DOE’s typical figure for a flat screen is 120 watts. Lowering the backlight or picture brightness reduces power use noticeably.
Cost by region
| Region | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month (5 hours a day) | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | 19.0¢ | 2.3¢ | $3.42 | $41.04 |
| Northeast | 26.6¢ | 3.2¢ | $4.79 | $57.46 |
| Midwest | 19.3¢ | 2.3¢ | $3.47 | $41.69 |
| South | 16.2¢ | 1.9¢ | $2.92 | $34.99 |
| West | 20.1¢ | 2.4¢ | $3.62 | $43.42 |
Cost per hour in every state (August 2026)
| State | ¢ per kWh | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.3¢ | 2.0¢ | $2.94 |
| Alaska | 29.4¢ | 3.5¢ | $5.29 |
| Arizona | 15.1¢ | 1.8¢ | $2.71 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | 1.7¢ | $2.59 |
| California | 29.8¢ | 3.6¢ | $5.36 |
| Colorado | 17.2¢ | 2.1¢ | $3.09 |
| Connecticut | 24.5¢ | 2.9¢ | $4.41 |
| Delaware | 18.7¢ | 2.2¢ | $3.37 |
| District of Columbia | 26.0¢ | 3.1¢ | $4.68 |
| Florida | 15.0¢ | 1.8¢ | $2.70 |
| Georgia | 15.9¢ | 1.9¢ | $2.86 |
| Hawaii | 47.2¢ | 5.7¢ | $8.49 |
| Idaho | 13.4¢ | 1.6¢ | $2.41 |
| Illinois | 19.3¢ | 2.3¢ | $3.48 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 2.0¢ | $3.06 |
| Iowa | 17.1¢ | 2.0¢ | $3.07 |
| Kansas | 15.5¢ | 1.9¢ | $2.78 |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢ | 1.7¢ | $2.48 |
| Louisiana | 12.9¢ | 1.5¢ | $2.32 |
| Maine | 32.1¢ | 3.9¢ | $5.78 |
| Maryland | 21.4¢ | 2.6¢ | $3.85 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢ | 3.7¢ | $5.49 |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | 2.8¢ | $4.14 |
| Minnesota | 17.2¢ | 2.1¢ | $3.10 |
| Mississippi | 14.4¢ | 1.7¢ | $2.60 |
| Missouri | 16.0¢ | 1.9¢ | $2.88 |
| Montana | 15.6¢ | 1.9¢ | $2.80 |
| Nebraska | 13.5¢ | 1.6¢ | $2.44 |
| Nevada | 12.7¢ | 1.5¢ | $2.29 |
| New Hampshire | 27.6¢ | 3.3¢ | $4.98 |
| New Jersey | 24.6¢ | 3.0¢ | $4.43 |
| New Mexico | 16.5¢ | 2.0¢ | $2.97 |
| New York | 28.7¢ | 3.4¢ | $5.16 |
| North Carolina | 15.0¢ | 1.8¢ | $2.69 |
| North Dakota | 13.3¢ | 1.6¢ | $2.40 |
| Ohio | 19.4¢ | 2.3¢ | $3.49 |
| Oklahoma | 14.8¢ | 1.8¢ | $2.67 |
| Oregon | 15.9¢ | 1.9¢ | $2.87 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.8¢ | 2.6¢ | $3.92 |
| Rhode Island | 28.2¢ | 3.4¢ | $5.07 |
| South Carolina | 15.8¢ | 1.9¢ | $2.84 |
| South Dakota | 15.2¢ | 1.8¢ | $2.73 |
| Tennessee | 13.4¢ | 1.6¢ | $2.42 |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | 1.9¢ | $2.86 |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | 1.6¢ | $2.40 |
| Vermont | 23.8¢ | 2.9¢ | $4.29 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | 2.1¢ | $3.18 |
| Washington | 14.6¢ | 1.8¢ | $2.63 |
| West Virginia | 16.3¢ | 2.0¢ | $2.94 |
| Wisconsin | 19.4¢ | 2.3¢ | $3.49 |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢ | 1.7¢ | $2.60 |
State prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, residential customers.
Running cost calculator
Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh (the DOE formula). The wattage on your appliance’s label or in its manual gives the most accurate result; appliances that cycle on and off (heaters with a thermostat, dehumidifiers) use less than their rated wattage.
Compared with other appliances
| Appliance | Cost per hour of use |
|---|---|
| TVs | 2.3¢ |
| Clothes dryers | 65¢ |
| Dishwashers | 34¢ |
| Hair dryers | 29¢ |
| Space heaters | 29¢ |
| Electric kettles | 29¢ |
| Clothes irons | 27¢ |
| Toaster ovens | 23¢ |
| Vacuum cleaners | 23¢ |
More about TVs
- Televisions: models and list prices
- Safety: 13 CPSC recalls since 2010 mention TVs or similar products. Search recalls
- Running costs of other appliances
Sources: electricity prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data, “Electricity per kWh” (about the data); U.S. Department of Energy typical wattages (Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use, Virginia Cooperative Extension BSE-301NP, developed with DOE, 2020). Cost = watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. Your own price per kWh, including delivery charges and taxes, is on your electricity bill.