How Many Watts Does a TV Use? (120 W, 2.2¢/hr)

By Abdel Beldy · Figures updated 2026-10-20 from official data

A TV uses about 120 watts. At the U.S. average electricity price of 18.31¢ per kWh in July 2026, that costs 2.2¢ for every hour it runs. This is the U.S. Department of Energy's typical figure for a flat-screen TV; check your model's label for its exact rating.

Calculate what your TV costs

Watts Hours a day How many Electricity price

Per day: $0.02
Per month: $0.67
Per year: $8.02

3.6 kWh a month.

Cost to run a TV

At 120 W and the U.S. average of 18.31¢/kWh
Use	kWh	Cost
One hour	0.12	2.2¢
1 hour a day for a month	3.6	$0.67
4 hours a day for a month	14.6	$2.67
8 hours a day for a month	29.2	$5.34
4 hours a day for a year	175	$32

On average, homes that have a TV use about 211 kWh a year on it (EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey), which costs $39 a year at the U.S. average price.

Cost to run a TV in every state

Yearly cost for 211 kWh a year (EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey), at each state's average home price for July 2026
#
1	Louisiana	12.72¢	$27
2	Nevada	12.77¢	$27
3	Utah	13.12¢	$28
4	North Dakota	13.41¢	$28
5	Tennessee	13.71¢	$29
6	Idaho	13.73¢	$29
7	Nebraska	13.78¢	$29
8	Kentucky	13.81¢	$29
9	Arkansas	14.33¢	$30
10	Oklahoma	14.35¢	$30
11	Wyoming	14.36¢	$30
12	Mississippi	14.54¢	$31
13	Washington	14.71¢	$31
14	Montana	14.99¢	$32
15	Florida	15.03¢	$32
16	North Carolina	15.16¢	$32
17	Kansas	15.27¢	$32
18	South Dakota	15.37¢	$32
19	Arizona	15.38¢	$32
20	South Carolina	15.47¢	$33
21	West Virginia	15.78¢	$33
22	Texas	15.88¢	$34
23	Oregon	15.97¢	$34
24	Iowa	15.99¢	$34
25	Missouri	16.09¢	$34
26	New Mexico	16.09¢	$34
27	Georgia	16.27¢	$34
28	Alabama	16.40¢	$35
29	Indiana	16.73¢	$35
30	Colorado	17.00¢	$36
31	Minnesota	17.45¢	$37
32	Virginia	17.55¢	$37
33	Delaware	18.48¢	$39
34	Wisconsin	19.06¢	$40
35	Illinois	19.22¢	$41
36	Ohio	19.45¢	$41
37	Maryland	21.41¢	$45
38	Pennsylvania	21.72¢	$46
39	Michigan	23.05¢	$49
40	Vermont	23.75¢	$50
41	Connecticut	24.16¢	$51
42	New Jersey	25.19¢	$53
43	District of Columbia	25.21¢	$53
44	New Hampshire	26.60¢	$56
45	Rhode Island	28.29¢	$60
46	Alaska	28.83¢	$61
47	New York	29.90¢	$63
48	Massachusetts	30.49¢	$64
49	Maine	32.41¢	$68
50	California	33.61¢	$71
51	Hawaii	48.00¢	$101

TV energy use FAQ

How many watts does a TV use?

A TV typically uses about 120 watts. Check the label on yours for its exact rating.

How much does it cost to run a TV?

At the U.S. average of 18.31¢ per kWh (July 2026), it costs 2.2¢ an hour. Used one hour a day, that is $0.67 a month at 120 watts.

Where is it cheapest to run a TV?

With electricity at 12.72¢ per kWh, Louisiana is the cheapest state: $27 a year for 211 kWh a year. The same use costs $101 in Hawaii.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey; U.S. Department of Energy typical appliance wattages (via Virginia Cooperative Extension); electricity prices: EIA retail sales data (July 2026). Last updated 2026-10-20.