📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a Game Console (PS5 / Xbox Series X) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) costs about $3.27 per month at typical usage — 3 hours/day.
Per hour
3.4¢
at 70–220 W
Per day
$0.11
3 hours/day
Per month
$3.27
17 kWh
Per year
$39.22
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
3.4¢
Per day
$0.10
Per month
$3.09
Per year
$37.05
Uses 16 kWh/month at 18.8¢ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.4 | 2.2¢ | $2.15 | $25.87 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | 2.3¢ | $2.21 | $26.49 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | 2.4¢ | $2.31 | $27.74 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | 2.4¢ | $2.31 | $27.74 |
| Utah | 13.3 | 2.4¢ | $2.31 | $27.74 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | 2.5¢ | $2.41 | $29.00 |
| Montana | 13.9 | 2.5¢ | $2.41 | $29.00 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | 2.5¢ | $2.43 | $29.20 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | 2.6¢ | $2.47 | $29.62 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | 2.6¢ | $2.48 | $29.83 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | 2.6¢ | $2.50 | $30.04 |
| Washington | 14.4 | 2.6¢ | $2.50 | $30.04 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | 2.6¢ | $2.52 | $30.25 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | 2.6¢ | $2.55 | $30.66 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | 2.7¢ | $2.59 | $31.08 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 2.7¢ | $2.61 | $31.29 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | 2.7¢ | $2.64 | $31.71 |
| Florida | 15.4 | 2.8¢ | $2.68 | $32.12 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | 2.8¢ | $2.68 | $32.12 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | 2.8¢ | $2.69 | $32.33 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | 2.8¢ | $2.75 | $32.96 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | 2.8¢ | $2.75 | $32.96 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | 2.9¢ | $2.80 | $33.58 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | 2.9¢ | $2.83 | $34.00 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | 3.0¢ | $2.85 | $34.21 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | 3.0¢ | $2.87 | $34.42 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | 3.0¢ | $2.92 | $35.04 |
| Texas | 17.0 | 3.1¢ | $2.95 | $35.46 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | 3.1¢ | $2.97 | $35.67 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | 3.1¢ | $3.02 | $36.30 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | 3.1¢ | $3.02 | $36.30 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | 3.2¢ | $3.11 | $37.34 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | 3.4¢ | $3.27 | $39.22 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | 3.5¢ | $3.34 | $40.05 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 3.5¢ | $3.39 | $40.68 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | 3.7¢ | $3.56 | $42.76 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | 3.9¢ | $3.72 | $44.64 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | 3.9¢ | $3.74 | $44.85 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | 4.0¢ | $3.84 | $46.10 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | 4.2¢ | $4.08 | $49.02 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | 4.4¢ | $4.27 | $51.31 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 4.6¢ | $4.41 | $52.98 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | 4.9¢ | $4.73 | $56.74 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | 4.9¢ | $4.76 | $57.16 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 5.1¢ | $4.92 | $59.03 |
| Maine | 28.4 | 5.1¢ | $4.93 | $59.24 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | 5.3¢ | $5.13 | $61.54 |
| New York | 29.5 | 5.3¢ | $5.13 | $61.54 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | 5.8¢ | $5.59 | $67.17 |
| California | 35.3 | 6.4¢ | $6.13 | $73.63 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | 8.4¢ | $8.10 | $97.21 |
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 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about 3.4¢. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's 2.2¢, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's 8.4¢.
How much does a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (3 hours/day), expect about $3.27 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $2.15 in North Dakota up to $8.10 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 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.