Quick answer: A PS5 or Xbox Series X drawing about 200 watts during active gameplay, played 3 hours a day, costs roughly $0.08 per hour, $0.24 per day, or about $7.20 per month in the US at $0.13/kWh. An Xbox Series S (around 75W) is much cheaper to run – about $2.70 per month for the same usage. Standby/rest mode adds only a small amount unless “instant-on” is enabled, which can add $10-15 a year on some consoles.
Gaming Console Electricity Cost Calculator
How the Calculation Works
Consoles draw very different amounts of power depending on what they’re doing: booting a demanding game, streaming video, sitting on the home menu, or resting in standby. The calculator above splits your day into “active” hours (playing) and “standby” hours (console idle or in rest mode) and adds the two together:
Daily kWh = (Active Watts x Active Hours / 1000) + (Standby Watts x Standby Hours / 1000)
Cost = Daily kWh x Electricity Rate
Typical Power Draw by Console
| Console | Active Gaming | Rest/Standby (instant-on) |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 (Disc) | 180-200W | ~1W (off) / higher if instant-on enabled |
| PS5 Digital | 100-120W | ~1W |
| Xbox Series X | 180-200W | 2-3W (energy saver) / 10-15W (instant-on) |
| Xbox Series S | 65-85W | 1-2W (energy saver) / 8-10W (instant-on) |
| PS4 / PS4 Pro | 90-160W | ~8-10W (rest mode) |
| Nintendo Switch (docked) | 10-18W | ~1W |
Worked Examples (US Average, $0.13/kWh)
| Profile | Console | Daily Play | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual gamer | PS5 | 1 hr | ~$0.80 + standby |
| Regular gamer | Xbox Series X | 3 hr | ~$2.34 + standby |
| Heavy gamer | PS5 | 6 hr | ~$4.68 + standby |
| Budget setup | Xbox Series S | 3 hr | ~$0.88 + standby |
Tips to Cut Console Electricity Costs
- Turn off “instant-on” standby and use energy-saving standby mode instead – this alone can save $10-15 a year on Xbox consoles.
- Fully power down the console when going on vacation or not using it for several days.
- Lower screen brightness and disable HDR when not needed – the TV, not the console, is often the bigger power draw.
- Use a smart plug with a schedule to fully cut power overnight.
- Download game updates during active hours instead of leaving the console in rest mode overnight just for background downloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do gaming consoles use a lot of electricity?
Compared to major appliances like an AC or water heater, no – a console played a few hours a day typically costs $2-8 a month. Standby power, especially instant-on modes, is what quietly adds up over a year.
Is PS5 or Xbox Series X cheaper to run?
They draw nearly identical power during active gameplay (about 180-200W), so running costs are almost the same. The bigger cost difference comes from standby settings – Xbox’s instant-on mode uses noticeably more power than PS5’s default off state.
Does the TV use more electricity than the console?
Often yes, especially with large 4K or OLED TVs, which can draw 100-250W depending on size and brightness – sometimes more than the console itself.
How much does leaving a console on standby all year cost?
At 2W standby, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, that’s about 17.5 kWh – roughly $2.30 a year at $0.13/kWh. Instant-on modes drawing 10-15W can push that closer to $15-20 a year.
Does playing demanding games use more electricity than casual games?
Yes. Graphically intensive games push the GPU harder and can increase power draw by 20-40W compared to lighter titles or menu screens.
Is streaming video on a console more or less expensive than gaming?
Less. Streaming apps typically draw 60-90W on a PS5 or Xbox, noticeably lower than active 3D gaming at 180-200W.
Do older consoles like PS4 cost more to run than PS5?
Often yes for equivalent tasks, since older hardware is less power-efficient per unit of performance, though a base PS4 idling can still draw less than a PS5 running a demanding game.
How can I check my exact console’s power draw?
The most accurate way is a plug-in power meter (watt meter) between the wall socket and the console, which shows real wattage during actual use rather than a manufacturer’s rated maximum.
Gaming consoles rarely move the needle on a household electricity bill the way appliances like ACs or water heaters do, but standby settings quietly add up over a year, especially with instant-on features left switched on. Use the calculator above with your own play time and local electricity rate to see your real number, and check the standby settings on your console if you want to trim it further.