Yes, most plugged-in devices draw power even when turned off

Devices left plugged in consume electricity in two ways. Some draw power continuously to stay ready — a coffee maker waiting for you to press brew, a TV in standby mode, a phone charger sitting in the wall. Others draw almost nothing when off but still use a tiny amount to detect when you press the power button. The difference between these two is significant for your electric bill.

The amount varies wildly by device. A modern laptop charger plugged in but not charging uses roughly 0.5 watts. A cable box or older TV in standby mode uses 10 to 20 watts continuously. A microwave with a clock display uses 3 to 5 watts all day and night. A device with a remote control needs power to listen for the signal, so it stays partially awake. Over a year, that adds up — a 10-watt device running 24 hours a day costs roughly $10 to $15 annually in electricity, depending on your local rates.

Key Takeaways

  • Devices in standby mode or with clocks and remote receivers draw power continuously, even when you think they are off.
  • The amount varies by device type — modern chargers use almost nothing, but older cable boxes and TVs use 10 to 20 watts constantly.
  • A single 10-watt device left plugged in costs $10 to $15 per year in electricity.
  • Power strips with on-off switches let you cut power to multiple devices at once, which is more practical than unplugging each one individually.
  • Unplugging devices that charge (phones, laptops) after they reach full charge prevents overcharging and saves a small amount of power.

Which devices use the most power when plugged in

Cable boxes and satellite receivers are among the worst offenders. These devices stay powered on constantly to receive signals and maintain a guide, so they draw 15 to 30 watts whether you are watching or not. Older flat-screen TVs in standby mode use 10 to 20 watts. Newer smart TVs use less but still draw 5 to 10 watts. Game consoles in rest mode draw 10 to 15 watts to stay ready for voice commands and downloads.

Microwave ovens with clocks and displays use 3 to 5 watts continuously. Printers in sleep mode use 2 to 5 watts. Computer monitors in sleep mode use 1 to 3 watts. Phone chargers and laptop chargers plugged in but not charging use 0.5 to 2 watts — modern chargers are far more efficient than older ones. A device with a remote control needs to stay partially awake to listen for signals, which adds 1 to 3 watts.

The pattern is clear: anything with a clock, a display, a remote receiver, or a standby light uses measurable power. Devices that are purely mechanical or have no indicator of any kind use almost nothing when off.

How much money this actually costs per year

The math is straightforward. Multiply the device's wattage by the number of hours it runs per year, then divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours. Multiply that by your local electricity rate. Most U.S. households pay between 10 and 15 cents per kilowatt-hour, though rates vary by state and utility.

A 10-watt cable box running 24 hours a day uses 87.6 kilowatt-hours per year. At 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, that costs $10.51 annually. A 5-watt microwave clock costs $5.26 per year. A 2-watt phone charger costs $2.10 per year. A 1-watt device costs $1.05 per year. These numbers seem small individually, but a typical home has 10 to 20 devices plugged in at any given time, so the total can reach $50 to $100 per year.

The highest-impact devices to unplug are cable boxes, satellite receivers, and older TVs. Unplugging a 20-watt cable box saves roughly $20 per year. Unplugging a 15-watt TV saves roughly $15 per year. Unplugging a 5-watt microwave saves roughly $5 per year. Unplugging a 1-watt charger saves roughly $1 per year.

Power strips and surge protectors as a practical solution

Unplugging devices one at a time is inconvenient, which is why most people do not do it. A power strip with an on-off switch solves this problem. Plug your TV, cable box, and gaming console into a single power strip, then flip the switch when you are done watching. This cuts power to all three devices at once instead of reaching behind the entertainment center three times.

Surge protectors with on-off switches work the same way and add protection against power spikes. They cost $15 to $30 and pay for themselves in a year or two if you use them to cut power to high-draw devices. Smart power strips that detect when a device is off and cut power automatically are also available, though they cost more ($30 to $60) and add complexity.

The key is grouping devices by use. Plug entertainment devices into one strip, office equipment into another, and kitchen appliances into a third. Turn off the strips when you are not using those areas. This approach saves money without requiring you to unplug anything.

Devices where unplugging actually matters

Focus your effort on the devices that draw the most power. Cable boxes and satellite receivers are the top priority — they draw 15 to 30 watts continuously and are often left on even when the TV is off. If you have one, plugging it into a power strip and turning off the strip when you are not watching saves $15 to $30 per year.

Older flat-screen TVs (anything more than 10 years old) in standby mode use 10 to 20 watts. Newer TVs use less, so the payoff is smaller. Game consoles in rest mode draw 10 to 15 watts, so turning off the power strip when you are done gaming saves money. Microwave ovens with clocks use 3 to 5 watts, which is low enough that unplugging is not worth the inconvenience unless you have many of them.

Phone chargers and laptop chargers plugged in but not charging use so little power (under 2 watts) that unplugging them saves less than $2 per year. The time and wear on the outlet is not worth it. Unplug them if you are already reaching behind the TV, but do not make a special trip.

When to leave things plugged in

Some devices should stay plugged in. Refrigerators and freezers must run continuously, so unplugging them is not an option. Water heaters, furnaces, and air conditioning systems need to stay powered. Security systems and carbon monoxide detectors need constant power to function. Devices that charge (phones, tablets, laptops) should stay plugged in until they reach full charge, then unplugging them prevents overcharging and saves a small amount of power.

Devices with important data or settings — like a modem or router — should stay plugged in unless you are troubleshooting a connection problem. Unplugging them disrupts your internet and can cause data loss if you do it during a transfer. Smart home devices like smart speakers and smart lights need to stay powered to respond to voice commands and automation schedules.

The rule is simple: unplug high-draw devices that you control (TVs, cable boxes, game consoles) and leave everything else alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a phone charger use electricity if nothing is plugged into it?

Yes, but very little. A modern phone charger plugged into the wall but not charging a phone uses 0.5 to 2 watts, depending on the charger's age and design. This costs less than $2 per year. Older chargers use slightly more. If you want to save money, unplug chargers after your phone reaches full charge, but the savings are small enough that it is not a priority.

Does turning off a device with a remote control save power?

No. A device with a remote control must stay partially awake to listen for the signal, so it draws power whether the screen is on or off. The only way to stop this is to unplug it or use a power strip to cut power completely. Pressing the power button on the remote does not save electricity.

Can unplugging devices damage them?

Unplugging most devices does not cause damage. However, unplugging a computer, printer, or external hard drive during a file transfer can corrupt data. Unplugging a modem or router disrupts your internet connection. Unplugging a security system or carbon monoxide detector disables safety features. For these devices, use a power strip so you can cut power safely when needed, rather than unplugging during operation.

Is it better to unplug devices or use a power strip?

A power strip is more practical because you can turn off multiple devices at once without reaching behind furniture or unplugging cables repeatedly. A power strip with an on-off switch costs $15 to $30 and saves money faster than unplugging individual devices. The convenience makes you more likely to actually use it.

How much electricity does a TV use when plugged in but off?

A modern TV in standby mode uses 5 to 10 watts, costing roughly $5 to $10 per year. Older flat-screen TVs use 10 to 20 watts, costing $10 to $20 per year. The age and model of your TV determine the exact amount. Plugging your TV into a power strip and turning off the strip when you are done watching saves this cost.