📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a Smart Speaker Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a smart speaker costs about $0.40 per month at typical usage — 24 hours/day (always on).
Per hour
0.1¢
at 2–8 W
Per day
1.3¢
24 hours/day (always on)
Per month
$0.40
2.2 kWh
Per year
$4.81
26 kWh
Smart speakers idle at 2–4 watts while listening for their wake word. Even a houseful of them costs only a dollar or two a month combined — convenience with a genuinely small footprint.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
0.1¢
Per day
1.3¢
Per month
$0.40
Per year
$4.81
Uses 2.2 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 | 0.0¢ | $0.28 | $3.34 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 0.0¢ | $0.28 | $3.36 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 0.0¢ | $0.29 | $3.44 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 0.0¢ | $0.29 | $3.52 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 0.0¢ | $0.30 | $3.60 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 0.0¢ | $0.30 | $3.60 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 0.0¢ | $0.30 | $3.63 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 0.0¢ | $0.30 | $3.63 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 0.0¢ | $0.31 | $3.76 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 0.0¢ | $0.32 | $3.78 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 0.0¢ | $0.32 | $3.78 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 0.0¢ | $0.32 | $3.81 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 0.0¢ | $0.32 | $3.86 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 0.0¢ | $0.33 | $3.94 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 0.0¢ | $0.33 | $3.94 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 0.0¢ | $0.33 | $3.99 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 0.0¢ | $0.33 | $4.02 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 0.0¢ | $0.34 | $4.05 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 0.0¢ | $0.34 | $4.05 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 0.0¢ | $0.34 | $4.07 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 0.0¢ | $0.35 | $4.15 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 0.0¢ | $0.35 | $4.18 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 0.0¢ | $0.35 | $4.20 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 0.0¢ | $0.35 | $4.20 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 0.0¢ | $0.35 | $4.23 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 0.0¢ | $0.35 | $4.23 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 0.0¢ | $0.36 | $4.28 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 0.0¢ | $0.36 | $4.31 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 0.1¢ | $0.37 | $4.39 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 0.1¢ | $0.37 | $4.47 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.38 | $4.60 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 0.1¢ | $0.39 | $4.63 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.40 | $4.86 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 0.1¢ | $0.42 | $5.02 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 0.1¢ | $0.42 | $5.05 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.43 | $5.12 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.47 | $5.62 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 0.1¢ | $0.47 | $5.70 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 0.1¢ | $0.51 | $6.07 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 0.1¢ | $0.52 | $6.25 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 0.1¢ | $0.53 | $6.36 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 0.1¢ | $0.55 | $6.62 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 0.1¢ | $0.55 | $6.62 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 0.1¢ | $0.58 | $6.99 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 0.1¢ | $0.62 | $7.44 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 0.1¢ | $0.63 | $7.57 |
| New York | 29.9 | 0.1¢ | $0.65 | $7.86 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 0.1¢ | $0.67 | $8.02 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 0.1¢ | $0.71 | $8.51 |
| California | 33.6 | 0.1¢ | $0.74 | $8.83 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 0.1¢ | $1.05 | $12.61 |
How to lower the cost
- Disable instant-on standby modes — they can idle at 10–20 watts around the clock.
- Stream on a stick, not a console: the same show can use 10× less power.
- Turn down screen brightness or enable the ambient light sensor.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a smart speaker use?
A typical smart speaker draws about 3 watts in use. At 24 hours/day (always on), that works out to roughly 0.1 kWh per day, or 2.2 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a smart speaker for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.1¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 0.0¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 0.1¢.
How much does a smart speaker cost to run per month?
With typical usage (24 hours/day (always on)), expect about $0.40 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $0.28 in Louisiana up to $1.05 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a smart speaker 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.