📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a Game Console (PS5 / Xbox Series X) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) costs about $3.20 per month at typical usage — 3 hours/day.
Per hour
3.3¢
at 70–220 W
Per day
$0.11
3 hours/day
Per month
$3.20
17 kWh
Per year
$38.38
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
$3.02
Per year
$36.27
Uses 16 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 | 2.2¢ | $2.15 | $25.87 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 2.3¢ | $2.26 | $27.12 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 2.4¢ | $2.33 | $27.95 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 2.4¢ | $2.36 | $28.37 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 2.4¢ | $2.36 | $28.37 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 2.4¢ | $2.36 | $28.37 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 2.5¢ | $2.38 | $28.58 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 2.5¢ | $2.45 | $29.41 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 2.5¢ | $2.45 | $29.41 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 2.6¢ | $2.47 | $29.62 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 2.6¢ | $2.50 | $30.04 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 2.6¢ | $2.52 | $30.25 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 2.6¢ | $2.55 | $30.66 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 2.7¢ | $2.57 | $30.87 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 2.7¢ | $2.61 | $31.29 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 2.7¢ | $2.61 | $31.29 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 2.7¢ | $2.62 | $31.50 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 2.7¢ | $2.62 | $31.50 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 2.7¢ | $2.64 | $31.71 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 2.7¢ | $2.64 | $31.71 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 2.8¢ | $2.73 | $32.75 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 2.8¢ | $2.75 | $32.96 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 2.9¢ | $2.81 | $33.79 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 2.9¢ | $2.81 | $33.79 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 2.9¢ | $2.81 | $33.79 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 2.9¢ | $2.83 | $34.00 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 3.0¢ | $2.85 | $34.21 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 3.0¢ | $2.92 | $35.04 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 3.0¢ | $2.92 | $35.04 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 3.1¢ | $2.95 | $35.46 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 3.2¢ | $3.06 | $36.71 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 3.3¢ | $3.16 | $37.96 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 3.5¢ | $3.37 | $40.47 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 3.5¢ | $3.39 | $40.68 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 3.5¢ | $3.42 | $41.09 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 3.9¢ | $3.75 | $45.06 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 3.9¢ | $3.79 | $45.47 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 4.0¢ | $3.82 | $45.89 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 4.2¢ | $4.05 | $48.60 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 4.3¢ | $4.15 | $49.85 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 4.5¢ | $4.33 | $51.94 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 4.6¢ | $4.41 | $52.98 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 4.9¢ | $4.74 | $56.95 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 4.9¢ | $4.76 | $57.16 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 5.1¢ | $4.90 | $58.82 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 5.1¢ | $4.97 | $59.66 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 5.2¢ | $5.00 | $60.08 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 5.3¢ | $5.13 | $61.54 |
| New York | 29.9 | 5.4¢ | $5.19 | $62.37 |
| California | 33.3 | 6.0¢ | $5.79 | $69.46 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 9.4¢ | $9.03 | $108 |
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 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 3.3¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 2.2¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 9.4¢.
How much does a game console (ps5 / xbox series x) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (3 hours/day), expect about $3.20 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $2.15 in Idaho up to $9.03 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 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.