📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a Soundbar Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a soundbar costs about $0.89 per month at typical usage — 5 hours/day.
Per hour
0.5¢
at 15–60 W
Per day
2.9¢
5 hours/day
Per month
$0.89
4.8 kWh
Per year
$10.65
58 kWh
Soundbars draw 15–60 watts at normal listening volume and under a watt in modern standby. As a bill item they round to zero next to the TV they sit beneath.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
0.5¢
Per day
2.7¢
Per month
$0.83
Per year
$10.02
Uses 4.6 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 | 0.4¢ | $0.62 | $7.39 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 0.4¢ | $0.62 | $7.45 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 0.4¢ | $0.64 | $7.63 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 0.4¢ | $0.65 | $7.80 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 0.4¢ | $0.66 | $7.98 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 0.4¢ | $0.66 | $7.98 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 0.4¢ | $0.67 | $8.03 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 0.4¢ | $0.67 | $8.03 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 0.4¢ | $0.69 | $8.33 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 0.4¢ | $0.70 | $8.38 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 0.4¢ | $0.70 | $8.38 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 0.4¢ | $0.70 | $8.44 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 0.4¢ | $0.71 | $8.56 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 0.4¢ | $0.73 | $8.73 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 0.4¢ | $0.73 | $8.73 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 0.5¢ | $0.74 | $8.85 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 0.5¢ | $0.74 | $8.91 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 0.5¢ | $0.75 | $8.97 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 0.5¢ | $0.75 | $8.97 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 0.5¢ | $0.75 | $9.02 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 0.5¢ | $0.77 | $9.20 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 0.5¢ | $0.77 | $9.26 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 0.5¢ | $0.78 | $9.31 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 0.5¢ | $0.78 | $9.31 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 0.5¢ | $0.78 | $9.37 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 0.5¢ | $0.78 | $9.37 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 0.5¢ | $0.79 | $9.49 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 0.5¢ | $0.80 | $9.55 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 0.5¢ | $0.81 | $9.72 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 0.5¢ | $0.82 | $9.90 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 0.5¢ | $0.85 | $10.19 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 0.5¢ | $0.85 | $10.25 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 0.6¢ | $0.90 | $10.77 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 0.6¢ | $0.93 | $11.12 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 0.6¢ | $0.93 | $11.18 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 0.6¢ | $0.95 | $11.35 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 0.6¢ | $1.04 | $12.46 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 0.7¢ | $1.05 | $12.63 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 0.7¢ | $1.12 | $13.45 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 0.7¢ | $1.15 | $13.86 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 0.7¢ | $1.17 | $14.09 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 0.8¢ | $1.22 | $14.67 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 0.8¢ | $1.22 | $14.67 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 0.8¢ | $1.29 | $15.49 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 0.8¢ | $1.37 | $16.48 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 0.9¢ | $1.40 | $16.77 |
| New York | 29.9 | 0.9¢ | $1.45 | $17.41 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 0.9¢ | $1.48 | $17.76 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 1.0¢ | $1.57 | $18.86 |
| California | 33.6 | 1.0¢ | $1.63 | $19.56 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 1.4¢ | $2.33 | $27.94 |
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 soundbar use?
A typical soundbar draws about 30 watts in use. At 5 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.1 kWh per day, or 4.8 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a soundbar for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 0.5¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 0.4¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 1.4¢.
How much does a soundbar cost to run per month?
With typical usage (5 hours/day), expect about $0.89 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $0.62 in Louisiana up to $2.33 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a soundbar 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.