How much does it cost to run a smart wi-fi thermostat?
A typical smart wi-fi thermostat draws about 8 watts. Used 24 hours a day, that works out to roughly $0.03 per day, $0.99 per month, and $11.91 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Smart thermostats draw minimal power but can reduce overall heating and cooling energy consumption significantly.
Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat running cost calculator
- Per day
- $0.03
- Per month
- $0.99
- Per year
- $11.91
- CO₂ / year
- 28 kg
Based on 70.1 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 smart wi-fi thermostat 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.
As a hvac control device, the smart wi-fi thermostat sits in the middle of most household energy budgets. The number that moves your bill is total run time, so the usage hours in the calculator above matter as much as the wattage.
At 8 watts, the smart wi-fi thermostat 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 smart wi-fi thermostat uses about 70.1 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 28 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Because it runs more or less year-round, even a small reduction in daily use carries straight through to a lower annual total.
To put the draw in everyday terms, one hour of running this smart wi-fi thermostat uses about as much electricity as charging a smartphone 1 time. It is a rough comparison, but it makes an abstract wattage figure easier to picture.
If this smart wi-fi thermostat 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 smart wi-fi thermostat per hour?
- At 8 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a smart wi-fi thermostat costs about $0.00 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a smart wi-fi thermostat use per month?
- Running 24 hours a day, a smart wi-fi thermostat uses roughly 5.8 kWh per month, costing about $0.99.
- How many kWh does a smart wi-fi thermostat use per year?
- Used 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, a smart wi-fi thermostat consumes about 70.1 kWh annually — that is the figure your electricity rate is multiplied by to get the $11.91 yearly cost.
- Is a smart wi-fi thermostat expensive to run?
- Not particularly — at around $11.91 per year, a smart wi-fi thermostat is a relatively minor part of most electricity bills.
- How much CO₂ does a smart wi-fi thermostat produce?
- On an average grid, a smart wi-fi thermostat 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 smart wi-fi thermostat 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 smart wi-fi thermostat, which uses less power for the same job.