How much does it cost to run a TV?
We've pre-filled a typical TV below. Set your electricity rate and adjust the hours to match how you use yours — the cost updates instantly.
This is about the electricity cost of running a TV, not the price of buying one — a 55-inch LED typically retails for $300–$800.
A modern 55-inch LED TV draws ~50–200W — far less than people expect.
Running a television at 90W for 5 h a day costs about
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A modern flat-screen TV is cheap to run. A 55-inch LED draws somewhere around 60–120W — less than an old incandescent bulb or two — so even hours of watching every evening costs only a few dollars a month.
The two things that move the number are size and brightness: a big, bright OLED or a wall-sized set in 'vivid' mode pulls several times what a modest screen in a normal picture mode does.
What drives the cost of running a TV
- Screen size and type — bigger and brighter (and OLED/8K) means more watts.
- Picture mode: 'vivid'/'dynamic' and high brightness pull noticeably more than 'standard'/'eco'.
- Hours watched, plus a sliver of standby when it's 'off'.
How to cut it
- Switch to the 'eco' or 'standard' picture mode and turn brightness down a notch.
- Turn on the ambient-light sensor so it dims in a dark room.
- Don't leave it playing to an empty room; use the sleep timer.
Common questions
How much does it cost to run a TV per month?
At a typical 90W and about 5 hours a day, a TV costs roughly $2.29 a month at $0.17/kWh. Set your own rate and hours above for an exact figure.
How can I cut the cost of running a TV?
Switch to the 'eco' or 'standard' picture mode and turn brightness down a notch.
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