How Much Does It Cost to Run a Desktop Computer?
A typical Desktop Computer uses 300W and runs about 8 hours/day. At the national average rate of 17.98¢/kWh, that costs approximately $12.95/month.
Calculate Your Cost
What Affects the Cost of Running a Desktop Computer
Idle vs Active Makes a 3x Difference
A desktop computer idles at 80-120W (web browsing, email, documents) but can draw 200-400W under heavy load (video editing, compiling code, running simulations). If you use your computer 8 hours/day but only do heavy work for 2 hours, your average draw is closer to 150W, not the 300W peak. Sleep mode drops to 2-5W.
The Monitor Is Often Forgotten
A 24-27 inch monitor adds 30-60W to your computer setup. A dual-monitor setup adds 60-120W. The monitor can account for 20-40% of your total desktop computer electricity cost. Turning off the monitor when stepping away (or using auto-sleep) saves $1-3/month.
Desktop Computer vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Desktop Computer compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Computer (this page) | $12.95 | At national average rate, 8hrs/day |
| Laptop | ~$2-4 | Uses 65-135W total including screen. 60-75% less than a desktop for everyday tasks. |
| Desktop + monitor (work use) | ~$6-12 | Add $2-4 for the monitor on top of tower cost. |
| Tablet | ~$0.25-0.50 | 10-15W charging. Cheapest option for basic browsing and email. |
| Thin client / Chromebox | ~$1-3 | 15-30W. Sufficient for cloud-based work. Minimal local processing. |
Desktop Computer Cost by Location
What a Desktop Computer costs to run at typical usage in different parts of the country:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.06¢ | $11.56 | $138.76 |
| Alaska | 25.52¢ | $18.37 | $220.49 |
| Arizona | 15.61¢ | $11.24 | $134.87 |
| Arkansas | 12.35¢ | $8.89 | $106.7 |
| California | 30.29¢ | $21.81 | $261.71 |
| Colorado | 16.44¢ | $11.84 | $142.04 |
| Connecticut | 28.30¢ | $20.38 | $244.51 |
| Delaware | 16.51¢ | $11.89 | $142.65 |
| District of Columbia | 23.72¢ | $17.08 | $204.94 |
| Florida | 15.92¢ | $11.46 | $137.55 |
| Georgia | 14.46¢ | $10.41 | $124.93 |
| Hawaii | 39.79¢ | $28.65 | $343.79 |
| Idaho | 12.07¢ | $8.69 | $104.28 |
| Illinois | 16.36¢ | $11.78 | $141.35 |
| Indiana | 16.19¢ | $11.66 | $139.88 |
| Iowa | 12.83¢ | $9.24 | $110.85 |
| Kansas | 14.29¢ | $10.29 | $123.47 |
| Kentucky | 14.27¢ | $10.27 | $123.29 |
| Louisiana | 12.46¢ | $8.97 | $107.65 |
| Maine | 30.73¢ | $22.13 | $265.51 |
| Maryland | 20.61¢ | $14.84 | $178.07 |
| Massachusetts | 31.16¢ | $22.44 | $269.22 |
| Michigan | 19.52¢ | $14.05 | $168.65 |
| Minnesota | 14.98¢ | $10.79 | $129.43 |
| Mississippi | 14.24¢ | $10.25 | $123.03 |
| Missouri | 11.80¢ | $8.5 | $101.95 |
| Montana | 12.86¢ | $9.26 | $111.11 |
| Nebraska | 11.76¢ | $8.47 | $101.61 |
| Nevada | 13.98¢ | $10.07 | $120.79 |
| New Hampshire | 26.32¢ | $18.95 | $227.4 |
| New Jersey | 23.13¢ | $16.65 | $199.84 |
| New Mexico | 14.70¢ | $10.58 | $127.01 |
| New York | 28.37¢ | $20.43 | $245.12 |
| North Carolina | 13.68¢ | $9.85 | $118.2 |
| North Dakota | 10.92¢ | $7.86 | $94.35 |
| Ohio | 17.59¢ | $12.66 | $151.98 |
| Oklahoma | 12.62¢ | $9.09 | $109.04 |
| Oregon | 14.66¢ | $10.56 | $126.66 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.19¢ | $14.54 | $174.44 |
| Rhode Island | 30.14¢ | $21.7 | $260.41 |
| South Carolina | 15.41¢ | $11.1 | $133.14 |
| South Dakota | 13.60¢ | $9.79 | $117.5 |
| Tennessee | 13.10¢ | $9.43 | $113.18 |
| Texas | 15.69¢ | $11.3 | $135.56 |
| Utah | 12.88¢ | $9.27 | $111.28 |
| Vermont | 23.29¢ | $16.77 | $201.23 |
| Virginia | 15.87¢ | $11.43 | $137.12 |
| Washington | 13.81¢ | $9.94 | $119.32 |
| West Virginia | 14.77¢ | $10.63 | $127.61 |
| Wisconsin | 18.20¢ | $13.1 | $157.25 |
| Wyoming | 12.85¢ | $9.25 | $111.02 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Desktop Computer
- Enable sleep mode for periods of inactivity over 15 minutes
- Use power management settings in your operating system
- An SSD uses less power than a traditional hard drive
- Turn off the monitor separately when stepping away; it draws 30-60W on its own
Frequently Asked Questions
A desktop computer running 8 hours at an average of 200W (mix of idle and active use) costs about $0.27/day or $8/month at the national average rate. If left on 24/7 (including idle overnight), costs reach $14-18/month. Putting the computer to sleep overnight saves $4-6/month.
Yes, significantly. A desktop tower draws 150-400W while a laptop draws 30-65W for comparable everyday tasks. Including monitors, the gap widens further. A desktop with a monitor costs $8-15/month while a laptop costs $2-4/month. If your work does not require desktop-level processing power, a laptop is the more energy-efficient choice.
Sleep mode is the best balance of convenience and savings. A sleeping computer draws 2-5W ($0.50-$1/year) versus 80-120W at idle ($50-$80/year). The startup time from sleep is 2-5 seconds versus 30-60 seconds from a full shutdown. The electricity saved by shutting down completely versus using sleep is about $0.50/year, which is not worth the startup time trade-off for most people.
Related Appliances
50-Inch LED TV
100W typical
65-Inch LED TV
150W typical
Gaming Console
200W 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.