How much does it cost to run a TV?

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “How much does it cost to run a TV?” Whether you’re budgeting for the month or simply curious about the energy consumption of your TV, this TV electricity cost calculator will answer your question.

Fill in your TV’s wattage, your cost per kWh, and the number of hours it’s on per day, and you’ll get an estimated running cost along with an electricity consumption figure.

How many watts does a TV use?

Modern TVs can use between 80-300 watts, depending on the size and type of TV. You should be able to find your TV’s wattage at the back, or in its manual.

Calculating TV Electricity Cost

Here’s how to work out the cost of electricity for running your TV.

Identify the power usage in Kilowatts (kW): Most TVs display this information in their manual or on a label at the back as Watts (W). To convert Watts to Kilowatts (divide by 1,000). Example: A TV using 150W is using 0.15 kW.
Determine the hours of TV viewing: Estimate the average number of hours you watch TV per day and multiply by the days in the year for annual usage (average viewing hours x 365 days).
Electricity cost per kWh: Your energy bill states the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh). If you pay 29p per kWh, that’s your cost per unit.
Annual running cost calculation: Power Usage (kW) x Hours of Viewing x Cost per kWh.

Example for a 0.15 kW TV running for 5 hours daily at 29p per kWh: 0.15 × 5 × 365 × 0.29 = £79.39 per year

Factors affecting TV running cost

The electricity running cost of your TV depends largely on the type of TV you own, its screen size, brightness settings, and its energy efficiency rating.

Type of Television

Your TV’s technology plays a significant role in its power consumption. LED TVs generally use less electricity than older LCD or plasma models.

On the other hand, the newer OLED and QLED TVs, despite their superior picture quality, can consume more power depending on the content being displayed. This is because they often produce brighter images that require more energy.

Energy Efficiency Rating

In the UK, TVs are given an energy efficiency rating from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least. A higher efficiency rating means lower operating costs.

For instance, an E-rated QLED 75-inch TV using 107 watts could cost around £31 per 1,000 hours of viewing, whereas a similar G-rated LED TV using 171 watts may cost about £49.59 over the same period.

Always consider the energy rating when purchasing a new TV to ensure you’re saving as much as possible on running costs.

Screen Size

As you would expect, larger TV screens require more power.

For example, a 40 to 43-inch TV might cost you approximately £27.05 to £30.51 annually to run based on average consumption, while a 65-inch TV could increase your electricity bill by around £49.66 a year.

Of course, these costs are influenced by how often and how long you use the TV.

Screen Resolution

The resolution of your TV screen can also impact its energy consumption. Ultra HD (4K) TVs typically use more power compared to Full HD or HD models, as they require more processing power and have a higher number of pixels to light up.

However, the difference in energy usage between these resolutions is not significant when it comes to overall electricity costs.

The real difference comes into play when comparing OLED and QLED TVs, which can use up to 30% more energy than their LCD counterparts due to the advanced display technology they use.

Brightness Settings

Adjusting your TV’s brightness settings can also make a noticeable difference in power consumption. Lowering the brightness of your TV screen by just 10% can decrease energy usage by around 5%.

Consider adjusting the brightness of your TV depending on the lighting in the room and the content you are watching.

For example, a brightly lit room may require higher brightness settings, while dark scenes in movies can be viewed with lower brightness levels without sacrificing picture quality.

FAQ