How much does it cost to run a computer monitor?
A typical computer monitor draws about 35 watts. Used 8 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.05 per day, $0.99 per month, and $11.90 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Modern LED monitors consume 20-60 watts depending on size and brightness settings.
Computer Monitor running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.05
- Per month
- $0.99
- Per year
- $11.90
- CO₂ / year
- 28 kg
Based on 70 kWh per year. Adjust the price per kWh to match your latest electricity bill for an exact figure.
The number that matters most is your own electricity rate. Rates range from under 11¢ per kWh in some regions to over 30¢ in others, so the same computer monitor can cost two or three times as much depending on where you live. Enter your exact rate in the calculator above to get a figure tailored to your bill.
Electronics such as the computer monitor often keep drawing power in standby, even when you think they are off. That phantom load is included in realistic daily-use estimates. A smart power strip that fully cuts standby can trim a few dollars a year per device — modest alone, but it compounds across a houseful of gadgets.
At 35 watts, the computer monitor is a low-power device, so its cost per hour is small. The annual total only becomes meaningful if it runs for many hours a day — which is exactly why long-running low-wattage devices are easy to overlook on a bill.
Over a full year this computer monitor uses about 70 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 28 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Since it is used only part of the year, your real footprint scales with the season — the annual figure assumes a typical usage pattern.
To put the draw in everyday terms, one hour of running this computer monitor uses about as much electricity as charging a smartphone 3 times. It is a rough comparison, but it makes an abstract wattage figure easier to picture.
If this computer monitor is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $2.38 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a computer monitor per hour?
- At 35 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a computer monitor costs about $0.01 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a computer monitor use per month?
- Running 8 hours a day, a computer monitor uses roughly 5.8 kWh per month, costing about $0.99.
- How many kWh does a computer monitor use per year?
- Used 8 hours a day for 250 days a year, a computer monitor consumes about 70 kWh annually — that is the figure your electricity rate is multiplied by to get the $11.90 yearly cost.
- Is a computer monitor expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $11.90 per year, a computer monitor is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How much CO₂ does a computer monitor produce?
- On an average grid, a computer monitor used this much is responsible for roughly 28 kg of CO₂ per year. The exact figure depends on how clean your local electricity supply is.
- How can I reduce my computer monitor running costs?
- Use it during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use pricing, reduce daily run time, and consider an ENERGY STAR rated computer monitor, which uses less power for the same job.