💻 Computers & Office
How Much Does a Security Camera (Wired) Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.8¢/kWh (April 2026), a security camera (wired) costs about $0.69 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
0.1¢
at 3–10 W
Per day
2.3¢
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$0.69
3.6 kWh
Per year
$8.23
44 kWh
Each wired security camera draws 3–10 watts continuously, with infrared night vision at the upper end. A six-camera system plus its recorder can quietly total 50+ always-on watts — worth counting in a standby audit.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
0.1¢
Per day
2.3¢
Per month
$0.69
Per year
$8.23
Uses 3.6 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 | 0.1¢ | $0.45 | $5.43 |
| Idaho | 12.7 | 0.1¢ | $0.46 | $5.56 |
| Nebraska | 13.3 | 0.1¢ | $0.49 | $5.83 |
| Oklahoma | 13.3 | 0.1¢ | $0.49 | $5.83 |
| Utah | 13.3 | 0.1¢ | $0.49 | $5.83 |
| Iowa | 13.9 | 0.1¢ | $0.51 | $6.09 |
| Montana | 13.9 | 0.1¢ | $0.51 | $6.09 |
| Missouri | 14.0 | 0.1¢ | $0.51 | $6.13 |
| Arkansas | 14.2 | 0.1¢ | $0.52 | $6.22 |
| Nevada | 14.3 | 0.1¢ | $0.52 | $6.26 |
| Louisiana | 14.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.53 | $6.31 |
| Washington | 14.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.53 | $6.31 |
| South Dakota | 14.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.53 | $6.35 |
| Wyoming | 14.7 | 0.1¢ | $0.54 | $6.44 |
| Tennessee | 14.9 | 0.1¢ | $0.54 | $6.53 |
| Kentucky | 15.0 | 0.1¢ | $0.55 | $6.57 |
| New Mexico | 15.2 | 0.1¢ | $0.55 | $6.66 |
| Florida | 15.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.56 | $6.75 |
| Georgia | 15.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.56 | $6.75 |
| Arizona | 15.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.57 | $6.79 |
| Kansas | 15.8 | 0.1¢ | $0.58 | $6.92 |
| Oregon | 15.8 | 0.1¢ | $0.58 | $6.92 |
| West Virginia | 16.1 | 0.1¢ | $0.59 | $7.05 |
| North Carolina | 16.3 | 0.1¢ | $0.59 | $7.14 |
| Minnesota | 16.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.60 | $7.18 |
| Colorado | 16.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.60 | $7.23 |
| Mississippi | 16.8 | 0.1¢ | $0.61 | $7.36 |
| Texas | 17.0 | 0.1¢ | $0.62 | $7.45 |
| South Carolina | 17.1 | 0.1¢ | $0.62 | $7.49 |
| Alabama | 17.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.63 | $7.62 |
| Virginia | 17.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.63 | $7.62 |
| Indiana | 17.9 | 0.1¢ | $0.65 | $7.84 |
| Delaware | 18.8 | 0.1¢ | $0.69 | $8.23 |
| Wisconsin | 19.2 | 0.1¢ | $0.70 | $8.41 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.71 | $8.54 |
| Illinois | 20.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.75 | $8.98 |
| Michigan | 21.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.78 | $9.37 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.78 | $9.42 |
| Maryland | 22.1 | 0.1¢ | $0.81 | $9.68 |
| New Jersey | 23.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.86 | $10.29 |
| Vermont | 24.6 | 0.1¢ | $0.90 | $10.77 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.93 | $11.13 |
| New Hampshire | 27.2 | 0.1¢ | $0.99 | $11.91 |
| Alaska | 27.4 | 0.1¢ | $1.00 | $12.00 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 0.1¢ | $1.03 | $12.40 |
| Maine | 28.4 | 0.1¢ | $1.04 | $12.44 |
| Massachusetts | 29.5 | 0.1¢ | $1.08 | $12.92 |
| New York | 29.5 | 0.1¢ | $1.08 | $12.92 |
| Connecticut | 32.2 | 0.2¢ | $1.17 | $14.10 |
| California | 35.3 | 0.2¢ | $1.29 | $15.46 |
| Hawaii | 46.6 | 0.2¢ | $1.70 | $20.41 |
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 security camera (wired) use?
A typical security camera (wired) draws about 5 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 0.1 kWh per day, or 3.6 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a security camera (wired) for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.8¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.1¢. In North Dakota (12.4¢/kWh) it's 0.1¢, while in Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh) it's 0.2¢.
How much does a security camera (wired) cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $0.69 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $0.45 in North Dakota up to $1.70 in Hawaii. Rates are as of April 2026.
Does a security camera (wired) use a lot of electricity?
Not really — at typical usage it's under 1% of an average home's monthly consumption. Heating, cooling, hot water, and drying are the loads that move bills.