How Much Does It Cost to Run a Laptop?
A typical Laptop uses 65W and runs about 8 hours/day. At the national average rate of 16.72¢/kWh, that costs approximately $2.61/month.
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What Affects the Cost of Running a Laptop
Laptops Are the Most Energy-Efficient General-Purpose Computers
Laptop processors and GPUs are specifically designed for low power consumption. A laptop doing the same everyday tasks as a desktop uses 65-80% less electricity. A full workday (8 hours) on a laptop costs about $0.04-$0.09 in electricity. Over a year, a laptop saves $50-$100 in electricity compared to a desktop for equivalent tasks.
Charger Draw Varies by Battery State
A laptop charger draws full rated power (45-135W) only while actively charging a depleted battery. Once the battery is full, the charger powers the laptop directly at 20-45W. Leaving a fully charged laptop plugged in does not waste significant electricity; the charger simply supplies whatever the laptop draws for its current workload.
Laptop vs. Alternatives
How the monthly cost of a Laptop compares to other options:
| Alternative | Est. Monthly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop (this page) | $2.61 | At national average rate, 8hrs/day |
| Desktop computer + monitor | ~$8-15 | 3-5x more electricity for similar everyday tasks. |
| Tablet (iPad, etc.) | ~$0.25-0.50 | Uses 50-70% less electricity than a laptop. Limited to tablet apps. |
| Chromebook | ~$0.50-1.50 | Even lower power than a standard laptop. Good for web-based work. |
Laptop Cost by State
What a Laptop costs to run at 65W for 8 hours/day in every state:
| State | Rate | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14.82¢ | $2.31 | $27.74 |
| Alaska | 25.34¢ | $3.95 | $47.44 |
| Arizona | 13.81¢ | $2.15 | $25.85 |
| Arkansas | 12.63¢ | $1.97 | $23.64 |
| California | 31.41¢ | $4.9 | $58.8 |
| Colorado | 15.24¢ | $2.38 | $28.53 |
| Connecticut | 29.35¢ | $4.58 | $54.94 |
| Delaware | 15.24¢ | $2.38 | $28.53 |
| District of Columbia | 15.87¢ | $2.48 | $29.71 |
| Florida | 15.63¢ | $2.44 | $29.26 |
| Georgia | 14.12¢ | $2.2 | $26.43 |
| Hawaii | 43.21¢ | $6.74 | $80.89 |
| Idaho | 10.87¢ | $1.7 | $20.35 |
| Illinois | 16.37¢ | $2.55 | $30.64 |
| Indiana | 15.12¢ | $2.36 | $28.3 |
| Iowa | 14.23¢ | $2.22 | $26.64 |
| Kansas | 14.98¢ | $2.34 | $28.04 |
| Kentucky | 12.87¢ | $2.01 | $24.09 |
| Louisiana | 11.98¢ | $1.87 | $22.43 |
| Maine | 22.87¢ | $3.57 | $42.81 |
| Maryland | 16.12¢ | $2.51 | $30.18 |
| Massachusetts | 28.76¢ | $4.49 | $53.84 |
| Michigan | 18.76¢ | $2.93 | $35.12 |
| Minnesota | 15.34¢ | $2.39 | $28.72 |
| Mississippi | 13.76¢ | $2.15 | $25.76 |
| Missouri | 13.12¢ | $2.05 | $24.56 |
| Montana | 12.45¢ | $1.94 | $23.31 |
| Nebraska | 11.98¢ | $1.87 | $22.43 |
| Nevada | 15.03¢ | $2.34 | $28.14 |
| New Hampshire | 25.34¢ | $3.95 | $47.44 |
| New Jersey | 18.76¢ | $2.93 | $35.12 |
| New Mexico | 14.87¢ | $2.32 | $27.84 |
| New York | 22.87¢ | $3.57 | $42.81 |
| North Carolina | 13.98¢ | $2.18 | $26.17 |
| North Dakota | 11.87¢ | $1.85 | $22.22 |
| Ohio | 15.34¢ | $2.39 | $28.72 |
| Oklahoma | 11.98¢ | $1.87 | $22.43 |
| Oregon | 13.12¢ | $2.05 | $24.56 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.87¢ | $2.63 | $31.58 |
| Rhode Island | 27.12¢ | $4.23 | $50.77 |
| South Carolina | 14.98¢ | $2.34 | $28.04 |
| South Dakota | 13.76¢ | $2.15 | $25.76 |
| Tennessee | 12.87¢ | $2.01 | $24.09 |
| Texas | 14.98¢ | $2.34 | $28.04 |
| Utah | 10.87¢ | $1.7 | $20.35 |
| Vermont | 21.34¢ | $3.33 | $39.95 |
| Virginia | 15.34¢ | $2.39 | $28.72 |
| Washington | 10.76¢ | $1.68 | $20.14 |
| West Virginia | 13.12¢ | $2.05 | $24.56 |
| Wisconsin | 16.98¢ | $2.65 | $31.79 |
| Wyoming | 11.23¢ | $1.75 | $21.02 |
Energy-Saving Tips for Your Laptop
- Laptops use 70-80% less energy than desktops for equivalent tasks
- Reduce screen brightness to extend battery life and reduce draw from the charger
- Unplug the charger when the battery is full; trickle charging wastes a small amount
- Close unused tabs and apps to reduce processor load and energy draw
Frequently Asked Questions
Charging a laptop from 0% to 100% costs about $0.01-$0.03 depending on battery size (40-100Wh). Running the laptop all day on AC power costs $0.05-$0.10. Monthly electricity for daily use is $1.50-$3.00. Laptops are among the cheapest computing devices to operate.
Yes, dramatically. A laptop uses 30-65W for everyday tasks while a desktop uses 150-300W+. Including the desktop's monitor (30-60W extra), the laptop advantage is 3-5x. If electricity cost is a concern and you do not need desktop-class performance, a laptop is always the more efficient choice.
Not significantly. A fully charged laptop plugged in draws only what it needs for its current workload (20-45W). The charger does not push unnecessary power into a full battery. Leaving it plugged in costs about the same as using it on battery and recharging later. The electricity waste of a plugged-in idle laptop is about 1-2 cents per hour.
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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.