← All appliances
How Much Does a Laptop Cost to Run?
Laptops are designed for battery efficiency and typically draw 30-60 watts while plugged in. Even gaming laptops under load rarely exceed 180 watts.
watts
hrs/day
$/kWh
Daily Cost
$0.06
0.4 kWh
Monthly Cost
$1.92
12.0 kWh
Yearly Cost
$23.36
146.0 kWh
For perspective...
At $23.36/year, this costs about the same as 4 streaming service months. A minor line item.
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Laptop
- Unplug the charger when the battery is full to avoid trickle draw
- Lower screen brightness — it's the biggest single power consumer on a laptop
- Close background apps and browser tabs to reduce CPU power draw