📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a Game Console (PS5 / Xbox Series X) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) costs about $3.18 per month at typical usage — 3 hours/day.
Per hour
3.3¢
at 70–220 W
Per day
$0.10
3 hours/day
Per month
$3.18
17 kWh
Per year
$38.17
209 kWh
Current-generation consoles draw 150–220 watts in demanding games but only 30–70 watts streaming video. Rest mode with fast wake can add a constant trickle — the difference between standby modes is real money over a year.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
3.3¢
Per day
$0.10
Per month
$3.00
Per year
$36.07
Uses 16 kWh/month at 18.3¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.7 | 2.3¢ | $2.21 | $26.49 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 2.3¢ | $2.22 | $26.70 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 2.4¢ | $2.28 | $27.33 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 2.4¢ | $2.33 | $27.95 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 2.5¢ | $2.38 | $28.58 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 2.5¢ | $2.38 | $28.58 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 2.5¢ | $2.40 | $28.79 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 2.5¢ | $2.40 | $28.79 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 2.6¢ | $2.48 | $29.83 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 2.6¢ | $2.50 | $30.04 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 2.6¢ | $2.50 | $30.04 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 2.6¢ | $2.52 | $30.25 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 2.6¢ | $2.55 | $30.66 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 2.7¢ | $2.61 | $31.29 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 2.7¢ | $2.61 | $31.29 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 2.7¢ | $2.64 | $31.71 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 2.8¢ | $2.66 | $31.92 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 2.8¢ | $2.68 | $32.12 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 2.8¢ | $2.68 | $32.12 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 2.8¢ | $2.69 | $32.33 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 2.8¢ | $2.75 | $32.96 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 2.9¢ | $2.76 | $33.17 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 2.9¢ | $2.78 | $33.38 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 2.9¢ | $2.78 | $33.38 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 2.9¢ | $2.80 | $33.58 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 2.9¢ | $2.80 | $33.58 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 2.9¢ | $2.83 | $34.00 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 3.0¢ | $2.85 | $34.21 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 3.0¢ | $2.90 | $34.84 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 3.1¢ | $2.95 | $35.46 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 3.1¢ | $3.04 | $36.50 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 3.2¢ | $3.06 | $36.71 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 3.3¢ | $3.21 | $38.59 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 3.4¢ | $3.32 | $39.84 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 3.5¢ | $3.34 | $40.05 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 3.5¢ | $3.39 | $40.68 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 3.9¢ | $3.72 | $44.64 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 3.9¢ | $3.77 | $45.27 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 4.2¢ | $4.01 | $48.19 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 4.3¢ | $4.13 | $49.65 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 4.4¢ | $4.20 | $50.48 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 4.5¢ | $4.38 | $52.57 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 4.5¢ | $4.38 | $52.57 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 4.8¢ | $4.62 | $55.49 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 5.1¢ | $4.92 | $59.03 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 5.2¢ | $5.00 | $60.08 |
| New York | 29.9 | 5.4¢ | $5.19 | $62.37 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 5.5¢ | $5.30 | $63.62 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 5.8¢ | $5.63 | $67.59 |
| California | 33.6 | 6.0¢ | $5.84 | $70.09 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 8.6¢ | $8.34 | $100 |
How to lower the cost
- Use energy-saver standby instead of instant-on; overnight fast-wake costs add up all year.
- Streaming apps on the console burn far more power than a streaming stick doing the same job.
- Enable auto-off timers for controllers and the console itself.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) use?
A typical game console (ps5 / xbox series x) draws about 180 watts in use. At 3 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.5 kWh per day, or 17 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 3.3¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 2.3¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 8.6¢.
How much does a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (3 hours/day), expect about $3.18 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $2.21 in Louisiana up to $8.34 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) use a lot of electricity?
Not really — at typical usage it's under 2% of an average home's monthly consumption. Heating, cooling, hot water, and drying are the loads that move bills.