How Much Does It Cost to Run a 50-Inch LED TV?
A typical 50-Inch LED TV uses 100W and runs about 5 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $2.51/month.
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What Affects the Cost of Running a 50-Inch LED TV
Brightness Setting Is the Biggest Variable
TVs ship at showroom brightness (often 80-100%), which uses significantly more power than necessary for a dimly lit living room. Reducing brightness to 40-60% can cut power consumption by 20-30% with no perceived difference in picture quality at home. On a TV drawing 100W at full brightness, this saves $1-2/month.
Streaming Device vs Smart TV Apps
Running apps on the TV's built-in smart platform keeps the TV at full power. A dedicated streaming stick (Roku, Fire Stick) draws only 3-5W. If you turn off the TV and use the stick with a cheaper monitor or projector for casual viewing, you save the difference. But for most people, the TV is already on, so using built-in apps does not add incremental cost.
50-Inch LED TV vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a 50-Inch LED TV compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50-Inch LED TV (this page) | $2.51 | At national average rate, 5hrs/day |
| 65-inch LED TV | ~$4-6 | 50% more wattage for 30% larger screen. Bigger costs more. |
| 32-inch LED TV | ~$1.50-3 | 40-50% less electricity. Good for bedrooms and small spaces. |
| Projector | ~$3-8 | 100+ inch image at similar power draw to a 65-inch TV. Higher per-hour cost but bigger picture. |
| Streaming device only (no TV) | ~$0.10-0.25 | Only useful if connected to a monitor or used for audio only. |
50-Inch LED TV Cost by State
What a 50-Inch LED TV costs to run at 100W for 5 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $2.22 | $26.68 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $3.8 | $45.61 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $2.07 | $24.86 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $1.89 | $22.73 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $4.71 | $56.54 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $2.29 | $27.43 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $4.4 | $52.83 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $2.29 | $27.43 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $2.38 | $28.57 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $2.34 | $28.13 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $2.12 | $25.42 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $6.48 | $77.78 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $1.63 | $19.57 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $2.46 | $29.47 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $2.27 | $27.22 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $2.13 | $25.61 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $2.25 | $26.96 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $1.93 | $23.17 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $1.8 | $21.56 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $2.42 | $29.02 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $4.31 | $51.77 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $2.81 | $33.77 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $2.3 | $27.61 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $2.06 | $24.77 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $1.97 | $23.62 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $1.87 | $22.41 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $1.8 | $21.56 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $2.25 | $27.05 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $3.8 | $45.61 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $2.81 | $33.77 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $2.23 | $26.77 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $3.43 | $41.17 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $2.1 | $25.16 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $1.78 | $21.37 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $2.3 | $27.61 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $1.8 | $21.56 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $1.97 | $23.62 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $2.53 | $30.37 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $4.07 | $48.82 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $2.25 | $26.96 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $2.06 | $24.77 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $1.93 | $23.17 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $2.25 | $26.96 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $1.63 | $19.57 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $3.2 | $38.41 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $2.3 | $27.61 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $1.61 | $19.37 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $1.97 | $23.62 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $2.55 | $30.56 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $1.68 | $20.21 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your 50-Inch LED TV
- Reduce brightness; most TVs ship at showroom brightness, which wastes energy at home
- Enable power saving or eco mode in your TV settings
- Turn off the TV instead of leaving it in standby when not watching
- Streaming devices use far less power than keeping the TV on as background noise
Frequently Asked Questions
A 50-inch LED TV at 100W running 24 hours costs about $0.40 at the national average rate. Running 5 hours per day (typical household use) costs about $0.08/day or $2.50/month. Even leaving the TV on 12 hours/day costs only $6/month. TVs are moderate electricity consumers.
Yes. As a rough rule, doubling the screen area increases power consumption by 40-60%. A 50-inch TV uses about 100W, a 65-inch uses about 150W, and a 75-inch uses about 200W. OLED TVs vary more with content: dark scenes use less power, bright scenes use more.
Standby mode draws 0.5-3W compared to 80-150W when on. The standby cost is about $0.50-$3/year, which is negligible. Turning off the TV completely saves the standby power, but the savings are so small that the convenience of instant-on generally outweighs the cost.
Related Appliances
65-Inch LED TV
150W typical
Gaming Console
200W typical
Desktop Computer
300W typical
Laptop
65W typical
Gaming PC
500W typical
Soundbar
100W typical
Wi-Fi Router
12W typical
Cable Box
30W typical
Streaming Device
5W typical
Electricity cost estimates are based on typical wattage and average residential rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Your actual costs may vary based on your appliance's specific wattage, usage patterns, and your utility's rate structure. See our full disclaimer.