Televisions are one of the most fundamental electrical appliance in all homes today. With TV sizes getting larger and larger however, a question that is asked increasingly is how much does it cost in electricity to run a TV? We will look to answer this question and many more today. In addition, we have guides on major TV brands to look at their electricity costs.
What is the electricity cost of a TV?
The electricity cost of using a TV depends on two main things – the display technology and the screen size. Both these factors influence the wattage of the TV which is the amount of energy that it consumes which you end up paying for.
In terms of TV display technology, by far the most common technology used today is LCD or Liquid Crystal Display, we will limit our scope to this technology only. For TV sizes, we will use the most common TV sizes sold in the USA today. Finally, we will use an average value for the wattage for TVs in each size category and get an average value for the cost of electricity in the USA. But for now, lets look at the table below to look at the electricity cost of TVs based on their screen size.
| Size | Average Wattage when in use | Monthly Cost (4 hours/day) | Monthly Cost (6 hours/day) | Monthly Cost (8 hours/day) | Monthly Cost (12 hours/day) | Monthly Cost (16 hours/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 inches | 67W | 1.2$ | 1.8$ | 2.4$ | 3.6$ | 4.8$ |
| 49 inches | 82W | 1.5$ | 2.2$ | 3$ | 4.4$ | 5.9$ |
| 55 inches | 93W | 1.7$ | 2.5$ | 3.3$ | 5$ | 6.7$ |
| 65 inches | 110W | 2$ | 3$ | 4$ | 5.9$ | 7.9$ |
| 75 inches | 125W | 2.3$ | 3.4$ | 4.5$ | 6.8$ | 9$ |
| 85 inches | 141W | 2.5$ | 3.8$ | 5.1$ | 7.6$ | 10.2$ |
So as you can see above the running cost of a TV can be anywhere between 1.2$ per month to 10.2$ per month depending on the size of your TV and the number of hours you use it everyday.
How many watts does a TV use?
The wattage of a TV is dependent on the its specific model as well as the screen size. However, you can use the guidelines below as a useful rule of thumb when thinking about the wattage of your Television.
- 24 Inch TV – 24 Watts
- 32 Inch TV – 29 Watts
- 42 Inch TV – 67 Watts
- 49 Inch TV – 82 Watts
- 55 Inch TV – 93 Watts
- 65 Inch TV – 110 Watts
- 75 Inch TV – 125 Watts
- 85 Inch TV – 141 Watts
Which type of TV is most energy efficient?
LED TVs are the most energy efficient when it comes to their electricity consumption while in use. These TVs utilize a LCD screen that is lit up by LEDs. The good news is that these kinds of TVs are also by far the most popular TV type sold today. So chances are that you might be coming across only LED TVs as you browse your favorite online shop when looking for your next TV set.
Does a TV use electricity when it is switched off?
Yes, all TVs use electricity even when switched off as long as they are plugged in. The good news however is that the amount of electricity they use when switched off is very minimal. Most TVs use less than 0.5 Watts when they are switched off. This amounts to less than half a dollar in electricity cost over an entire year assuming you leave your TV switched off for 23 hours every day. So as a consumer you should not be worried about the electricity cost you will save by unplugging your TV when not in use. Keep it plugged in and be assured that you are not wasting money by doing so.
How can I save on TV electricity costs?
The biggest way to save on electricity costs for your Television is of course to use it for fewer hours everyday. That however is easier said than done. If you are looking for a new TV however, make sure to compare them on the Energy Star Website for Televisions which provides accurate information on the energy consumption of different TV models. This way you can make an informed decision on getting an energy efficient TV.
Below you will find the most frequently asked questions related to the electricity consumption of TVs.
How much electricity does a 50 inch TV use?
50 inch TVs have a wattage between 50 – 100 Watts. This would mean that using a 50 inch TV for 8 hours every day will cost you between $1.8 – $3.6 every month. For every hour of TV watched on a 50 inch TV, that works out to about 0.8c – 1.5c.
How much electricity does a 55 inch TV use?
55 inch TVs have a wattage between 60 – 120 Watts. This would mean that using a 55 inch TV for 8 hours every day will cost you between $2.2 – $4.3 every month. For every hour of TV watched on a 55 inch TV, that works out to about 0.9c – 1.8c.
How much electricity does a 60 inch TV use?
60 inch TVs have a wattage between 70 – 130 Watts. This would mean that using a 60 inch TV for 8 hours every day will cost you between $2.5 – $4.7 every month. For every hour of TV watched on a 60 inch TV, that works out to about 1.0c – 2.0c.
How much electricity does a 65 inch TV use?
65 inch TVs have a wattage between 70 – 140 Watts. This would mean that using a 65 inch TV for 8 hours every day will cost you between $2.5 – $5.0 every month. For every hour of TV watched on a 65 inch TV, that works out to about 1.0c – 2.1c.
How much electricity does a 75 inch TV use?
75 inch TVs have a wattage between 90 – 150 Watts. This would mean that using a 75 inch TV for 8 hours every day will cost you between $3.2 – $5.4 every month. For every hour of TV watched on a 75 inch TV, that works out to about 1.3c – 2.3c.
How much electricity does a 85 inch TV use?
85 inch TVs have a wattage between 100 – 160 Watts. This would mean that using a 85 inch TV for 8 hours every day will cost you between $3.6 – $5.8 every month. For every hour of TV watched on a 85 inch TV, that works out to about 1.5c – 2.4c.
How much does an hour of TV cost in electricity?
A 50 inch TV costs about 1 cent for every hour of TV watched. This could be higher or lower depending upon the exact model of your TV but it should not be more than 1.5 cents/hour.
Does a TV use a lot of electricity?
Most modern LED TVs are quite energy efficient. Even an 85 inch Samsung LED TV has a typical power consumption of just 150 Watts. Compare this with other appliances in your home and you will see that this is not really that high.
- 85 inch LED TV – 150 Watts
- Double Door refrigerator – 200 Watts
- Tumble Dryer – 3000 Watts
- Washing Machine – 800 Watts
- Laptop Computer – 50 Watts
- Playstation Console – 200 Watts
- Space heater – 1000 Watts
So as you can see, your TV is not a very high consumer of electricity. What you do need to remember however is that you are charged electricity based on the running time of each of these appliances. So if we take the example of a TV compared to tumble dryer, running a TV for 5 hours is equivalent to running your dryer for 15 minutes.
If you are looking to reduce your overall electricity consumption, the best bet is to stop using high wattage appliances. Tumble dryers, space heaters are examples for this. When it comes to modern LED TVs, your electricity cost is going to be low unless you run the TV at its highest setting for the entire day.
How much electricity does a TV cost monthly?
A 50 inch Television will cost you between 1.8$ – 3.6$ every month in electricity costs if you run the TV for 8 hours every day. The variation in the cost is due to the model, some brands consume lower amounts of electricity than others.
How much does it cost to leave a TV on all day?
Leaving a 50 inch TV on the entire day will cost you about 27 cents in electricity usage. Over a month this adds up to about $8.1 assuming your TV has a wattage of 75 Watts.
How much does it cost to run a TV for 8 hours?
Running a 50 inch TV for 8 hours will cost you about 9 cents assuming your TV has a wattage of 75 Watts.
Televisions – Electricity Consumption of Different Brands
To help you make an informed decision when you purchase your television, we have compiled statistics related to many major Television Brands