📺 TV & Entertainment
How Much Does a 55-Inch TV Cost to Run?
At the current U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026), a 55-inch tv costs about $2.28 per month at typical usage — 5 hours/day.
Per hour
1.5¢
at 60–120 W
Per day
7.5¢
5 hours/day
Per month
$2.28
12 kWh
Per year
$27.35
149 kWh
A modern 55-inch LED TV draws 60–120 watts depending on brightness and content. Five hours of nightly viewing costs only a few dollars a month — brightness settings and always-on standby features matter more than screen time.
Calculate it for your home
Per hour
1.5¢
Per day
7.3¢
Per month
$2.23
Per year
$26.72
Uses 12 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 | 1.0¢ | $1.58 | $18.98 |
| Nevada | 12.8 | 1.0¢ | $1.59 | $19.13 |
| Utah | 13.1 | 1.0¢ | $1.63 | $19.58 |
| North Dakota | 13.4 | 1.1¢ | $1.67 | $20.03 |
| Idaho | 13.7 | 1.1¢ | $1.71 | $20.48 |
| Tennessee | 13.7 | 1.1¢ | $1.71 | $20.48 |
| Kentucky | 13.8 | 1.1¢ | $1.72 | $20.63 |
| Nebraska | 13.8 | 1.1¢ | $1.72 | $20.63 |
| Arkansas | 14.3 | 1.1¢ | $1.78 | $21.37 |
| Oklahoma | 14.4 | 1.2¢ | $1.79 | $21.52 |
| Wyoming | 14.4 | 1.2¢ | $1.79 | $21.52 |
| Mississippi | 14.5 | 1.2¢ | $1.81 | $21.67 |
| Washington | 14.7 | 1.2¢ | $1.83 | $21.97 |
| Florida | 15.0 | 1.2¢ | $1.87 | $22.42 |
| Montana | 15.0 | 1.2¢ | $1.87 | $22.42 |
| North Carolina | 15.2 | 1.2¢ | $1.89 | $22.72 |
| Kansas | 15.3 | 1.2¢ | $1.90 | $22.87 |
| Arizona | 15.4 | 1.2¢ | $1.92 | $23.02 |
| South Dakota | 15.4 | 1.2¢ | $1.92 | $23.02 |
| South Carolina | 15.5 | 1.2¢ | $1.93 | $23.17 |
| West Virginia | 15.8 | 1.3¢ | $1.97 | $23.62 |
| Texas | 15.9 | 1.3¢ | $1.98 | $23.77 |
| Iowa | 16.0 | 1.3¢ | $1.99 | $23.91 |
| Oregon | 16.0 | 1.3¢ | $1.99 | $23.91 |
| Missouri | 16.1 | 1.3¢ | $2.00 | $24.06 |
| New Mexico | 16.1 | 1.3¢ | $2.00 | $24.06 |
| Georgia | 16.3 | 1.3¢ | $2.03 | $24.36 |
| Alabama | 16.4 | 1.3¢ | $2.04 | $24.51 |
| Indiana | 16.7 | 1.3¢ | $2.08 | $24.96 |
| Colorado | 17.0 | 1.4¢ | $2.12 | $25.41 |
| Minnesota | 17.5 | 1.4¢ | $2.18 | $26.16 |
| Virginia | 17.6 | 1.4¢ | $2.19 | $26.31 |
| Delaware | 18.5 | 1.5¢ | $2.30 | $27.65 |
| Wisconsin | 19.1 | 1.5¢ | $2.38 | $28.55 |
| Illinois | 19.2 | 1.5¢ | $2.39 | $28.70 |
| Ohio | 19.5 | 1.6¢ | $2.43 | $29.15 |
| Maryland | 21.4 | 1.7¢ | $2.66 | $31.99 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7 | 1.7¢ | $2.70 | $32.43 |
| Michigan | 23.1 | 1.8¢ | $2.88 | $34.53 |
| Vermont | 23.8 | 1.9¢ | $2.96 | $35.57 |
| Connecticut | 24.2 | 1.9¢ | $3.01 | $36.17 |
| Washington, D.C. | 25.2 | 2.0¢ | $3.14 | $37.67 |
| New Jersey | 25.2 | 2.0¢ | $3.14 | $37.67 |
| New Hampshire | 26.6 | 2.1¢ | $3.31 | $39.76 |
| Rhode Island | 28.3 | 2.3¢ | $3.52 | $42.30 |
| Alaska | 28.8 | 2.3¢ | $3.59 | $43.05 |
| New York | 29.9 | 2.4¢ | $3.72 | $44.69 |
| Massachusetts | 30.5 | 2.4¢ | $3.80 | $45.59 |
| Maine | 32.4 | 2.6¢ | $4.03 | $48.43 |
| California | 33.6 | 2.7¢ | $4.18 | $50.22 |
| Hawaii | 48.0 | 3.8¢ | $5.98 | $71.74 |
How to lower the cost
- Turn off 'store demo' or 'vivid' mode — it can nearly double panel power.
- Enable the ambient light sensor so brightness drops in a dark room.
- Disable quick-start/instant-on standby if you don't need voice wake; it can idle at 10–20 watts.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a 55-inch tv use?
A typical 55-inch tv draws about 80 watts in use. At 5 hours/day, that works out to roughly 0.4 kWh per day, or 12 kWh per month.
How much does it cost to run a 55-inch tv for 1 hour?
At the current U.S. average residential rate of 18.3¢/kWh, one hour costs about 1.5¢. In Louisiana (12.7¢/kWh) it's 1.0¢, while in Hawaii (48¢/kWh) it's 3.8¢.
How much does a 55-inch tv cost to run per month?
With typical usage (5 hours/day), expect about $2.28 per month at the U.S. average rate — from $1.58 in Louisiana up to $5.98 in Hawaii. Rates are as of July 2026.
Does a 55-inch tv 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.