💻 Computer

How much electricity does a computer use? Laptop, desktop and gaming PC

Laptop, desktop and gaming PC power use per hour and per year, with the running cost and tips to reduce it.

Typical power

90 W

Cost per hour

$0.016 · £0.023

Per year · 164 kWh

$30 · £43

With 5 hours a day, electricity at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh all-in.

A laptop uses 30–60 W, a desktop with monitor about 90 W for office work. A gaming PC with a powerful graphics card reaches 400–600 W while gaming.

For work, browsing and video a laptop or mini PC uses a third to a sixth of a traditional desktop.

Consumption compared

TypeUsagekWh/yearCost/year
Laptop40 W73$13 · £19
Mini PC15 W27$5 · £7
Office desktop with monitor90 W164$30 · £43
Gaming PC while gaming450 W821$148 · £214

Yearly cost with 5 hours a day.

Work out your cost

Per hour
$0.016
Per month
$2.46
Per year
$30
Energy per year
164.2 kWh

The price is a typical all-in figure for your country: replace it with yours (bill total ÷ kWh).

How to use less

  • Enable sleep after 10–15 minutes idle: 1–3 W instead of 50–100.
  • Switch off monitor, printer and speakers at a power strip when done.
  • In games, cap the frame rate to the monitor’s refresh rate: the GPU uses less for the same smoothness.
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FAQ

How much electricity does a computer use?
About 90 W, or 0.1 kWh for each hour of use; from 10 to 700 W depending on the model.
How much does it cost per year?
With 5 hours a day it uses about 164 kWh a year: about $30 · £43 at $0.18/kWh and £0.26/kWh.
How can I reduce it?
Enable sleep after 10–15 minutes idle: 1–3 W instead of 50–100. Switch off monitor, printer and speakers at a power strip when done.

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