Modern TVs use far less power than people think, but the amount varies widely based on screen size, age, and brightness settings

A typical modern TV draws between 30 and 100 watts while it is on, which is roughly the same as a bright light bulb. An older TV from 10 or 15 years ago might use 150 to 200 watts. The difference matters because a TV left on for 8 hours a day adds up differently depending on which model you own.

The real question most people ask is whether a TV is worth unplugging or turning off. For most households, the answer is no — your TV is not the reason your electric bill is high. Heating, cooling, water heating, and refrigeration consume far more power over the course of a month. But if you want to know exactly what your TV costs to run, you can measure it yourself in a few minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • A modern 55-inch TV uses roughly 50 to 80 watts while playing, which costs between $5 and $15 per year if you watch 5 hours daily.
  • Older plasma and LCD TVs from 2010 or earlier can use 150 to 250 watts, making them significantly more expensive to run than newer models.
  • Screen brightness is the single biggest factor you can control — lowering brightness from maximum to medium cuts power use by 20 to 30 percent.
  • A TV in standby mode (plugged in but off) draws 1 to 3 watts, which costs less than $1 per year and is not worth unplugging for most people.
  • You can measure your exact TV's power draw with a plug-in meter that costs $10 to $20 and takes one minute to set up.

How to find your TV's actual power use

The easiest way is to look at the label on the back of your TV or in the manual. Most manufacturers list the maximum power draw in watts. This number is higher than what your TV actually uses during normal viewing — it represents the absolute peak when the screen is at full brightness and all features are running. Your real power use will be 30 to 50 percent lower during typical watching.

If you want to measure what your TV actually draws right now, buy a plug-in power meter (also called a kill-a-watt meter). Plug it into the wall outlet, plug your TV into the meter, and it will display watts in real time. These meters cost $10 to $25 and work with any device. Turn on your TV, set the brightness to where you normally watch, and read the number after a few minutes. That is your real power draw.

Write down the wattage and the number of hours you watch per day. Multiply them together, then divide by 1,000. That gives you kilowatt-hours per day. Multiply by 365 to get yearly use, then multiply by your local electricity rate (check your power bill — it is usually listed as dollars per kilowatt-hour). That is your annual TV cost.

Why screen size and age matter more than brand

A 32-inch TV uses roughly 30 to 50 watts. A 55-inch TV uses 50 to 80 watts. A 75-inch TV uses 100 to 150 watts. The relationship is not perfectly linear — a TV twice the size does not use twice the power — but larger screens do consume noticeably more electricity. If you are choosing between sizes, the power difference is real but usually small enough that it should not drive your decision.

The year your TV was made matters much more than the brand. LED and QLED TVs made after 2015 are significantly more efficient than older LCD and plasma models. A plasma TV from 2008 might use 200 watts continuously, while a 2023 LED TV the same size uses 60 watts. If you own a TV older than 10 years, replacing it with a modern model will cut your TV electricity cost by 50 to 70 percent — though whether that savings justifies buying a new TV depends on your current set's condition.

The brightness setting makes a real difference

Most TVs ship with brightness set to maximum, which looks impressive in a store but wastes power at home. Lowering brightness from the factory default to a comfortable viewing level cuts power use by 20 to 30 percent. This is the single easiest way to reduce what your TV costs to run.

Start by turning brightness down to 50 percent and watching for a few minutes. If the picture looks dim, raise it to 60 or 65 percent. Most people find a comfortable setting somewhere between 40 and 70 percent. Use your power meter to check the wattage at your chosen brightness level — you will see the difference immediately. This adjustment costs nothing and takes less than a minute.

Standby mode and phantom power drain

When your TV is off but plugged in, it draws 1 to 3 watts to power the remote receiver and any smart features. Over a full year, this costs roughly $0.50 to $1.50 depending on your electricity rate. Some people unplug their TV to eliminate this drain, but the savings are so small that it is rarely worth the inconvenience of unplugging and replugging every day.

If you want to eliminate standby power without unplugging, use a power strip with an on-off switch. Flip the switch when you are done watching, and the TV draws zero power. This approach works well if your TV is in a bedroom or media room where you can easily reach the switch. For living rooms or other high-traffic areas, the hassle usually outweighs the $1 annual savings.

Comparing TV power use to other household devices

To put TV power use in perspective: a TV running 5 hours per day uses roughly the same electricity as a microwave running 10 minutes per day, or a dishwasher running once every three days. Your refrigerator uses 2 to 3 times more power than your TV over the course of a month, and your air conditioner or heater uses 10 to 20 times more. If you are looking to cut your electric bill, focusing on heating, cooling, and water heating will have far more impact than anything you do with your TV.

The only exception is if you own multiple large older TVs. A household with three plasma TVs from 2010 might use 500+ watts just for television, which becomes noticeable. In that case, replacing even one or two of them with modern models will show up on your bill.

Smart TV features and streaming services

Smart TVs with built-in streaming apps (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) use slightly more power than basic TVs because the processor is always running, but the difference is small — usually 5 to 10 watts more than a non-smart TV of the same size. This extra power draw is negligible compared to the convenience of built-in apps, and modern smart TVs are so standard that you will have difficulty finding a non-smart model anyway.

Streaming itself does not increase your TV's power use — the TV draws the same amount of power whether you are watching a streaming service, cable, or a DVD player. The streaming service uses electricity at their data center, not at your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does leaving a TV on all day cost a lot of money?

A modern TV left on 24 hours uses roughly $20 to $40 per year in electricity. An older TV costs $50 to $100 per year. It is not nothing, but it is much less than heating or cooling costs. If you leave your TV on constantly, turning it off when you are not watching will save money, but the savings are modest compared to other household uses.

Are OLED TVs more expensive to run than LED TVs?

OLED and LED TVs use similar amounts of power — usually 50 to 100 watts depending on size and brightness. OLED TVs can be slightly more efficient at lower brightness levels because they do not need a backlight, but the difference is small enough that it should not influence your buying decision. Both are far more efficient than older plasma or LCD models.

Does turning a TV on and off a lot waste electricity?

No. The power surge when you turn a TV on is negligible and lasts only a fraction of a second. Turning your TV off when you are not watching it saves far more electricity than it uses during startup. There is no downside to turning your TV off frequently.

Will unplugging my TV when I am not using it save money?

Unplugging saves roughly $0.50 to $1.50 per year in standby power. If you find it convenient to unplug, go ahead — but the savings are too small to make it worth the effort for most people. A power strip switch is a better compromise if you want to eliminate standby power without the inconvenience of unplugging.

How much does it cost to watch TV for one hour?

A modern 55-inch TV costs roughly $0.01 to $0.02 per hour to run, depending on brightness and your local electricity rate. An older TV costs $0.03 to $0.05 per hour. At 5 hours of daily watching, a modern TV costs $2 to $4 per month, while an older TV costs $5 to $8 per month.