📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a AV Receiver Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a av receiver costs about $3.58 per month at typical usage — 4 hours/day.
Per hour
2.8¢
at 80–400 W
Per day
$0.12
4 hours/day
Per month
$3.58
19 kWh
Per year
$42.98
234 kWh
AV receivers draw 80–400 watts depending on volume and channels driven, and older units can idle high in standby. If your receiver stays warm when 'off,' it's still drawing — a power strip fixes that.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
2.8¢
Per day
$0.11
Per month
$3.36
Per year
$40.30
Uses 18 kWh/month at 18.4¢ per kWh.
Cheapest and most expensive states
Monthly cost at typical usage, using each state's current average residential rate.
Cost in every state
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.4 | 1.9¢ | $2.41 | $28.97 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 1.9¢ | $2.53 | $30.37 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 2.0¢ | $2.61 | $31.30 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 2.0¢ | $2.65 | $31.77 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 2.0¢ | $2.65 | $31.77 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 2.0¢ | $2.65 | $31.77 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 2.1¢ | $2.67 | $32.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 2.1¢ | $2.74 | $32.94 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 2.1¢ | $2.74 | $32.94 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 2.1¢ | $2.76 | $33.17 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 2.2¢ | $2.80 | $33.64 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 2.2¢ | $2.82 | $33.87 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 2.2¢ | $2.86 | $34.34 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 2.2¢ | $2.88 | $34.57 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 2.3¢ | $2.92 | $35.04 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 2.3¢ | $2.92 | $35.04 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 2.3¢ | $2.94 | $35.27 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 2.3¢ | $2.94 | $35.27 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 2.3¢ | $2.96 | $35.51 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 2.3¢ | $2.96 | $35.51 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 2.4¢ | $3.05 | $36.68 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 2.4¢ | $3.07 | $36.91 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 2.4¢ | $3.15 | $37.84 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 2.4¢ | $3.15 | $37.84 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 2.4¢ | $3.15 | $37.84 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 2.4¢ | $3.17 | $38.08 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 2.5¢ | $3.19 | $38.31 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 2.5¢ | $3.27 | $39.24 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 2.5¢ | $3.27 | $39.24 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 2.6¢ | $3.31 | $39.71 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 2.6¢ | $3.42 | $41.11 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 2.7¢ | $3.54 | $42.52 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 2.9¢ | $3.77 | $45.32 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 2.9¢ | $3.79 | $45.55 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 3.0¢ | $3.83 | $46.02 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 3.2¢ | $4.20 | $50.46 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 3.3¢ | $4.24 | $50.92 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 3.3¢ | $4.28 | $51.39 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 3.5¢ | $4.53 | $54.43 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 3.6¢ | $4.65 | $55.83 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 3.7¢ | $4.84 | $58.17 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 3.8¢ | $4.94 | $59.33 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 4.1¢ | $5.31 | $63.77 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 4.1¢ | $5.33 | $64.01 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 4.2¢ | $5.49 | $65.88 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 4.3¢ | $5.56 | $66.81 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 4.3¢ | $5.60 | $67.28 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 4.4¢ | $5.74 | $68.91 |
| New York | 29.9 | 4.5¢ | $5.82 | $69.85 |
| California | 33.3 | 5.0¢ | $6.48 | $77.79 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 7.8¢ | $10.12 | $121 |
How to lower the cost
- Disable instant-on standby modes — they can idle at 10–20 watts around the clock.
- Stream on a stick, not a console: the same show can use 10× less power.
- Turn down screen brightness or enable the ambient light sensor.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a av receiver use?
A typical av receiver draws about 150 watts in use. At 4 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.6 kWh per day, or 19 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a av receiver for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 2.8¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 1.9¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 7.8¢.
How much does a av receiver cost to run per month?
With typical usage (4 hours/day), expect about $3.58 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $2.41 in Idaho up to $10.12 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a av receiver use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 2% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.