💻 Computers & Office
How Much Does a NAS (Network Storage) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.4¢/kWh (May 2026), a nas (network storage) costs about $5.37 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
0.7¢
at 20–80 W
Per day
$0.18
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$5.37
29 kWh
Per year
$64.47
350 kWh
A two-to-four-bay NAS idles at 20–40 watts with drives spun down and more under load, around the clock. Enabling scheduled disk hibernation is the main way to keep a home NAS from costing more than the cloud storage it replaced.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
0.7¢
Per day
$0.18
Per month
$5.37
Per year
$64.47
Uses 29 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 | 0.5¢ | $3.62 | $43.45 |
| Utah | 13.0 | 0.5¢ | $3.79 | $45.55 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4 | 0.5¢ | $3.91 | $46.95 |
| Nebraska | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $3.97 | $47.65 |
| Nevada | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $3.97 | $47.65 |
| North Dakota | 13.6 | 0.5¢ | $3.97 | $47.65 |
| Missouri | 13.7 | 0.5¢ | $4.00 | $48.00 |
| Iowa | 14.1 | 0.6¢ | $4.11 | $49.41 |
| New Mexico | 14.1 | 0.6¢ | $4.11 | $49.41 |
| Louisiana | 14.2 | 0.6¢ | $4.14 | $49.76 |
| Arkansas | 14.4 | 0.6¢ | $4.20 | $50.46 |
| Tennessee | 14.5 | 0.6¢ | $4.23 | $50.81 |
| Montana | 14.7 | 0.6¢ | $4.29 | $51.51 |
| Wyoming | 14.8 | 0.6¢ | $4.32 | $51.86 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 0.6¢ | $4.38 | $52.56 |
| Washington | 15.0 | 0.6¢ | $4.38 | $52.56 |
| Kansas | 15.1 | 0.6¢ | $4.41 | $52.91 |
| North Carolina | 15.1 | 0.6¢ | $4.41 | $52.91 |
| Arizona | 15.2 | 0.6¢ | $4.44 | $53.26 |
| Florida | 15.2 | 0.6¢ | $4.44 | $53.26 |
| South Dakota | 15.7 | 0.6¢ | $4.58 | $55.01 |
| Georgia | 15.8 | 0.6¢ | $4.61 | $55.36 |
| Colorado | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $4.73 | $56.76 |
| Mississippi | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $4.73 | $56.76 |
| South Carolina | 16.2 | 0.6¢ | $4.73 | $56.76 |
| Oregon | 16.3 | 0.7¢ | $4.76 | $57.12 |
| Texas | 16.4 | 0.7¢ | $4.79 | $57.47 |
| Alabama | 16.8 | 0.7¢ | $4.90 | $58.87 |
| West Virginia | 16.8 | 0.7¢ | $4.90 | $58.87 |
| Minnesota | 17.0 | 0.7¢ | $4.96 | $59.57 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 0.7¢ | $5.14 | $61.67 |
| Indiana | 18.2 | 0.7¢ | $5.31 | $63.77 |
| Delaware | 19.4 | 0.8¢ | $5.66 | $67.98 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.8¢ | $5.69 | $68.33 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7 | 0.8¢ | $5.75 | $69.03 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6 | 0.9¢ | $6.30 | $75.69 |
| Maryland | 21.8 | 0.9¢ | $6.36 | $76.39 |
| Michigan | 22.0 | 0.9¢ | $6.42 | $77.09 |
| New Jersey | 23.3 | 0.9¢ | $6.80 | $81.64 |
| Illinois | 23.9 | 1.0¢ | $6.97 | $83.75 |
| Vermont | 24.9 | 1.0¢ | $7.27 | $87.25 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 1.0¢ | $7.41 | $89.00 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3 | 1.1¢ | $7.97 | $95.66 |
| Connecticut | 27.4 | 1.1¢ | $8.00 | $96.01 |
| Alaska | 28.2 | 1.1¢ | $8.23 | $98.81 |
| Maine | 28.6 | 1.1¢ | $8.35 | $100 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8 | 1.2¢ | $8.40 | $101 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5 | 1.2¢ | $8.61 | $103 |
| New York | 29.9 | 1.2¢ | $8.73 | $105 |
| California | 33.3 | 1.3¢ | $9.72 | $117 |
| Hawaii | 52.0 | 2.1¢ | $15.18 | $182 |
How to lower the cost
- Enable sleep after 15–20 minutes of idle — modern machines wake in seconds.
- Anything always-on (servers, mining, chargers on strips) deserves a smart plug and a schedule.
- Laptops do the same office work as desktops on a quarter of the power.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a nas (network storage) use?
A typical nas (network storage) draws about 40 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 1.0 kWh per day, or 29 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a nas (network storage) for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.4¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.7¢. In Idaho (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.5¢, while in Hawaii (52¢/kWh) it's 2.1¢.
How much does a nas (network storage) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $5.37 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $3.62 in Idaho up to $15.18 in Hawaii. Rates are as of May 2026.
Does a nas (network storage) use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: roughly 3% of an average U.S. home's monthly consumption at typical usage. Noticeable, but not a bill-driver on its own.