💻 Computers & Office
How Much Does a Desktop Computer Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a desktop computer costs about $6.91 per month at typical usage — 6 hours/day.
Per hour
3.7¢
at 100–400 W
Per day
$0.23
6 hours/day
Per month
$6.91
38 kWh
Per year
$83.01
451 kWh
A typical office desktop draws 100–200 watts in use, more under load. Left running around the clock, an ordinary PC can cost more per year than a refrigerator — sleep settings are the single biggest lever.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
3.7¢
Per day
$0.22
Per month
$6.71
Per year
$80.59
Uses 36 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 | 2.5¢ | $4.66 | $55.94 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 2.6¢ | $4.88 | $58.65 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 2.7¢ | $5.03 | $60.45 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 2.7¢ | $5.11 | $61.36 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 2.7¢ | $5.11 | $61.36 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 2.7¢ | $5.11 | $61.36 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 2.7¢ | $5.15 | $61.81 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 2.8¢ | $5.30 | $63.61 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 2.8¢ | $5.30 | $63.61 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 2.8¢ | $5.34 | $64.06 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 2.9¢ | $5.41 | $64.96 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 2.9¢ | $5.45 | $65.42 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 2.9¢ | $5.52 | $66.32 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 3.0¢ | $5.56 | $66.77 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 3.0¢ | $5.64 | $67.67 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 3.0¢ | $5.64 | $67.67 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 3.0¢ | $5.67 | $68.12 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 3.0¢ | $5.67 | $68.12 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 3.0¢ | $5.71 | $68.57 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 3.0¢ | $5.71 | $68.57 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 3.1¢ | $5.90 | $70.83 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 3.2¢ | $5.94 | $71.28 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 3.2¢ | $6.09 | $73.08 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 3.2¢ | $6.09 | $73.08 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 3.2¢ | $6.09 | $73.08 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 3.3¢ | $6.12 | $73.54 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 3.3¢ | $6.16 | $73.99 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 3.4¢ | $6.31 | $75.79 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 3.4¢ | $6.31 | $75.79 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 3.4¢ | $6.39 | $76.69 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 3.5¢ | $6.61 | $79.40 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 3.6¢ | $6.84 | $82.11 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 3.9¢ | $7.29 | $87.52 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 3.9¢ | $7.33 | $87.97 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 3.9¢ | $7.40 | $88.87 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 4.3¢ | $8.12 | $97.45 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 4.4¢ | $8.19 | $98.35 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 4.4¢ | $8.27 | $99.25 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 4.7¢ | $8.75 | $105 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 4.8¢ | $8.98 | $108 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 5.0¢ | $9.36 | $112 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 5.1¢ | $9.54 | $115 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 5.5¢ | $10.26 | $123 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 5.5¢ | $10.30 | $124 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 5.6¢ | $10.60 | $127 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 5.7¢ | $10.75 | $129 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 5.8¢ | $10.82 | $130 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 5.9¢ | $11.08 | $133 |
| New York | 29.9 | 6.0¢ | $11.23 | $135 |
| California | 33.3 | 6.7¢ | $12.51 | $150 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | $0.10 | $19.54 | $235 |
How to lower the cost
- Set sleep after 15–20 minutes idle; modern PCs wake in seconds.
- Skip screensavers — they keep the GPU and monitor fully powered.
- If it must stay on for remote access, enable wake-on-LAN and let it sleep anyway.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a desktop computer use?
A typical desktop computer draws about 200 watts in use. At 6 hours/day, that works out to roughly 1.2 kWh per day, or 38 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a desktop computer for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 3.7¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 2.5¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's $0.10.
How much does a desktop computer cost to run per month?
With typical usage (6 hours/day), expect about $6.91 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $4.66 in Idaho up to $19.54 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a desktop computer use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 4% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.