How much does it cost to run a phone charger?
A typical phone charger draws about 5 watts. Used 3 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.00 per day, $0.08 per month, and $0.93 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. The classic example of an appliance that costs almost nothing to run.
Phone Charger running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.00
- Per month
- $0.08
- Per year
- $0.93
- CO₂ / year
- 2.2 kg
Based on 5.5 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 phone charger 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.
Over a full year this phone charger uses about 5.5 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 2.2 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Reducing run time, or switching to a more efficient model, lowers both the cost and the footprint.
If this phone charger is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $0.19 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a phone charger per hour?
- At 5 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a phone charger costs about $0.00 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a phone charger use per month?
- Running 3 hours a day, a phone charger uses roughly 0.5 kWh per month, costing about $0.08.
- Is a phone charger expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $0.93 per year, a phone charger is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How can I reduce my phone charger 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 phone charger, which uses less power for the same job.