It’s no secret that power is more costly today. When you have multiple devices in your home consuming energy, it can raise your electricity bill more than you may think.
Today, an LED can be powered off-grid using solar panels 50% smaller than what they used to be. Companies have made it easier for us to save on our electric bills by introducing televisions with power-saving options such as rest mode, low power consumption, and more.
On average, a modern TV uses 58.6W when turned on and 1.3W when on standby. Each year, televisions use 106.9kWh of electricity, which adds up to $16.04 in the United States. Additionally, 94% of new televisions are Energy Star certified and 89% of them are direct-lit LED TVs and 11% are edge-lit.
When TVs get larger and have more resolution, the wattage will increase. In this article, I’m going to break down some of the most efficient televisions on the market.
How Much Electricity Does A TV Use?
TV Wattage
I had previously mentioned that a television uses 58.6 watts when it’s turned on and 1.3 watts when it’s on standby. The most common TV wattage consumption is 117 watts while the TV is turned on and 0.5 watts when in standby mode. On average, it can cost between $1.30 and $15.54 for a television to run for one year.
On television that used the least amount of wattage was the Sceptre E18 coming in at just 10 watts while turned on and 0.5 watts when in standby mode.
It’s important to note that resolution and screen size impact how much wattage a TV uses. On average, a 55-inch TV uses 77 watts when turned on and 1.4 watts in standby mode. The larger 4K televisions use 80 watts while turned on and 0.6 watts in standby mode.
How Many Watts Does A TV Use
Studies have shown that as the screen resolution increases, the wattage increases as well. The most common full HD TV consumption was 31.3 watts while turned on and 0.5W when in standby mode.
Actual power consumption can increase based on various add-ons such as external hard drives, USB memory sticks, Bluetooth (not all TVs have Bluetooth) or WiFi, external speakers, and more. Power consumption can increase based on different TV models of the same technology, size, brand, and more.
Below is a table that explains the average wattage for the most popular television sizes as well as the most common and lowest wattage. The table demonstrates that the TV wattage increases as the size of the TV increases. The other table shows the wattage usage for different screen resolutions for both On and Standby modes.
| TV Size | Result Category | Watts While On | Watts On Standby |
| 19 Inch | Average | 16.5W | 0.5W |
| Most Common | 16.9W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 15W | 0.5W | |
| 24 Inch | Average | 19.8W | 0.8W |
| Most Common | 20.0W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 17.6W | 0.5W | |
| 32 Inch | Average | 28W | 0.7W |
| Most Common | 31.1W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 31.1W | 0.5W | |
| 43 Inch | Average | 47.8W | 0.9W |
| Most Common | 34W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 34W | 0.5W | |
| 50 Inch | Average | 70.5W | 2.1W |
| Most Common | 74W | 3W | |
| Lowest | 47.9W | 0.5W | |
| 55 Inch | Average | 77W | 1.4W |
| Most Common | 82W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 62.9W | 0.5W | |
| 65 Inch | Average | 109.1W | 0.5W |
| Most Common | 98.3W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 72W | 0.5W | |
| 70 Inch | Average | 109.1W | 0.5W |
| 75 Inch | Average | 114.5W | 2.6W |
| Most Common | 117W | 3W | |
| Lowest | 87.3W | 0.5W |
| TV Resolution | Results Category | Watts While On | Watts On Standby |
| 720P | Average | 25.5W | 0.6W |
| Most Common | 20W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 15W | 0.5W | |
| 1080P | Average | 33.3W | 0.5W |
| Most Common | 31.1W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 14.5W | 0.5W | |
| 2150P | Average | 80W | 0.6W |
| Most Common | 98.3W | 0.5W | |
| Lowest | 47.5W | 0.5W |
Now that you have a good idea of how many watts different televisions use, let’s check out how much electricity each type of TV consumes over time.
How Much Electricity Does A TV Use?
Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The average television uses 106.9kWh of electricity per year with the most common being 206 kWh. The Sceptre E18 consumes just 19.6 kWh per year.
Energy Star and manufacturers assume a television spends 5 hours in On mode per day and 19 hours per day in standby-active, low mode, or standby-passive mode. The table below shows how much electricity different TVs use per year based on screen size (check out our smallest 4K TVs guide).
| TV Size | Result Category | Annual kWh Consumption |
| 19 Inch | Average | 32.43kWh |
| Most Common | 33 kWh | |
| Lowest | 28.8 kWh | |
| 24 Inch | Average | 38.09 kWh |
| Most Common | 38.1 kWh | |
| Lowest | 34.5 kWh | |
| 32 Inch | Average | 53.81 kWh |
| Most Common | 51 kWh | |
| Lowest | 29 kWh | |
| 40 Inch | Average | 64.6 kWh |
| Most Common | 58.8 kWh | |
| Lowest | 58.8 kWh | |
| 43 Inch | Average | 82.96 kWh |
| Most Common | 112 kWh | |
| Lowest | 64.6 kWh | |
| 50 Inch | Average | 130.95 kWh |
| Most Common | 136 kWh | |
| Lowest | 88.8 kWh | |
| 55 Inch | Average | 140.85 kWh |
| Most Common | 151 kWh | |
| Lowest | 92 kWh | |
| 65 Inch | Average | 169.47 kWh |
| Most Common | 185 kWh | |
| Lowest | 101 kWh | |
| 70 Inch | Average | 205 kWh |
| 75 Inch | Average | 203.36 kWh |
| Most Common | 206 kWh | |
| Lowest | 165.7 kWh |
As TV size increases, the amount of electricity consumed will increase. Oddly enough, it seems that a 75-inch TV is more efficient than a 70-inch television. On average, a 75-inch TV uses 2-3.36 kWh of electricity per year. The most common 75-inch TV will consume 206 kWh per year with a low of 165.7 kWh.
When we look at the resolution, which is how many pixels are in the display, we can assume that the better the resolution is, the more electricity it’s going to use. Below is a graph depicting this information:
Here’s a breakdown of how much it costs to operate a TV by size per hour, day, month, and year:
| Size | Cost Per Hour | Cost Per Day | Cost Per Month | Cost Per Year |
| 19 Inch | $0.0025 | $0.06 | $0.41 | $4.86 |
| 24 Inch | $0.0030 | $0.07 | $0.48 | $5.71 |
| 32 Inch | $0.0042 | $0.10 | $0.67 | $8.07 |
| 40 Inch | $0.0051 | $0.12 | $0.81 | $9.69 |
| 43 Inch | $0.0072 | $0.17 | $1.04 | $12.44 |
| 50 Inch | $0.0106 | $0.25 | $1.64 | $19.64 |
| 55 Inch | $0.0115 | $0.28 | $1.76 | $21.13 |
| 65 Inch | $0.0142 | $0.34 | $2.12 | $25.42 |
| 70 Inch | $0.0164 | $0.39 | $2.56 | $30.75 |
| 75 Inch | $0.0172 | $0.41 | $2.54 | $30.50 |
It’s evident that the larger the TV is, the more it costs to operate it. It’s strange, but a 75 inch television costs less to operate than a 70-inch television.
How Much Electricity Does A TV Use Per Hour?
In On mode, a TV may use 0.0586 kWh of electricity per hour. A 75-inch television will use 0.1145 kWh of electricity per hour when On. On average, when the television is turned on, this is how much electricity per hour different size televisions will consume:
| TV Size | kWh p/h |
| 19 Inch | 0.0165 kWh |
| 24 Inch | 0.0198 kWh |
| 32 Inch | 0.028 kWh |
| 40 Inch | 0.0341 kWh |
| 43 Inch | 0.0478 kWh |
| 50 Inch | 0.0705 kWh |
| 55 Inch | 0.077 kWh |
| 65 Inch | 0.0947 kWh |
| 70 Inch | 0.1091 kWh |
| 75 Inch | 0.1145 kWh |
How much you operate your TV has a high impact on how much electricity it uses over time. On average, adults watch television three hours per day, so we can assume the average TV wattage is about 100 W. If you watch 1.5 hours of television per day, you’ll use 1.05 kWh of electricity per week, 4.55 kWh per month, and 54.6 kWh per year.
Different wattage TVs will use different amounts of electricity over one year. If you run your television for three hours per day every day, here’s how much electricity you’ll use in one year:
| TV Wattage | Hours Per Year Run | Yearly kWh of Electricity |
| 50 W | 1,095 | 54.75 kWh |
| 75 W | 1,095 | 82.12 kWh |
| 100 W | 1,095 | 109.5 kWh |
| 125 W | 1,095 | 136.9 kWh |
| 150 W | 1,095 | 164.3 kWh |
| 175 W | 1,095 | 191.6 kWh |
| 200 W | 1,095 | 219 kWh |
You can figure out how much electricity your TV uses per hour by using the formula hourly electricity consumption (in kWh) = TV wattage x 1 (i.e. 1 hour) / 1000. So how much electricity does a television use when it’s off?
How Much Electricity Does A TV Use When Off?
When a television is unplugged or disconnected from a power source, it won’t consume any electricity. However, when a televsion is in standby mode, it will continue to consume electricity. When in standby mode, a TV will consume 0.5 to 3 watts of electricity.
Most televisions will only consume 0.5 watts in standby mode, with the average being 1.3 watts. Here’s a quick breakdown of how much it would cost to run a TV 24/7 in standby mode:
- Between $0.000075 and $0.00045 per hour
- Between $0.0018 and $0.0108 per day
- Between $0.06 and $0.33 per month
- Between $0.66 and $3.94 per year
To save money, you could unplug your television after you’re done watching it to avoid consuming power when it’s not in use.
Does A TV Use A Lot Of Electricity?
The average efficient television will consume 58.6 watts at maximum power draw, which is about the same as a standard 60W lightbulb. However, larger TVs can consume 3 to 4 times more than this amount of electricity. Older televisions such as Plasma TVs will consume more electricity than modern, more efficient TVs.
One study showed that the most common TV wattage consumption was 117 watts while in On mode and 0.5 watts being consumed in standby mode. This would equal about 206 kWh in annual energy consumption.
This is equivalent to running an efficient compact refrigerator for 1 year, a standard washing machine for 6 months, and boiling a kettle 2,922 times.
So depending on how large your television is and what special features it has, it can certainly use a lot of electricity if it’s always in On mode.
Energy Efficient TVs
Being energy efficient is more than just kWh and watts. Not all flat screen TVs are energy efficient and not all LED TVs are energy efficient. The best energy-efficient televisions will be based on how much money they can save you per year, the quality of the television, how durable they are, and their cost variations.
I’ve compiled a list of energy-efficient televisions based on size, kWh, and watts.
| TV Size | TV | Watts | kWh |
| 17 Inch | Sceptre E18 | 10W | 0.01 kWh |
| 19 Inch | Sceptre E195BV-SR | 10W | 0.01 kWh |
| 22 Inch | LG 22LJ4540 | 12W | 0.012 kWh |
| 24 Inch | RCA RT1971-AC | 15W | 0.015 kWh |
| 32 Inch | MI-L32M5-5ARU | 19.3W | 0.0193 kWh |
| 40 Inch | Impecca TL4000F | 31.3 W | 0.313 kWh |
| 43 Inch | Sansui | 34 W | 0.34 kWh |
| 50 Inch | Sceptre H50 | 47.9 W | 0.479 kWh |
| 55 Inch | MI-L55M5-5ARU | 62.9 W | 0.629 kWh |
| 65 Inch | NEC E657Q | 72 W | 0.72 kWh |
| 70 Inch | Philips 70BFL2114/27 | 109.1 W | 1.091 kWh |
| 75 Inch | Vizio E75-F1 | 87.32 W | 8.732 kWh |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Amps Does A TV Use?
On average, an American TV that is 50 inches uses 0.95 amps at 120 volts per hour. This would equal about 113 watts of power consumption per year. The average TV will use 142 kWh and cost just around $17 per year based on 5 hours of use per day.
If you want to figure out how many amps your specific TV uses, all you have to do is divide the wattage by the voltage.
It’s no surprise that the larger TV you have, the more amps it’s going to use depending on its efficiency rating, technology included, and screen design. Plasma TVs gobble electricity and LEDs are the most efficient overall.
How Many Watts Does A LED TV Use
On average, an LED TV will consume 59 watts of electricity while in On mode and 0.5 watts in standby mode. The lowest wattage LED TV, which is the Sceptre E18, uses just 10 watts of power. The average LED TV will consume 107.7 kWh of electricity per year.
Additionally, an edge-lit LED TV will consume less power than a direct-lit LED TV. An edge-lit TV will consume 31.2 watts of power and a direct-lit LED TV will consume 62.5 watts of electricity.
How Many Watts Does A 75-Inch Television Use
A 75-inch television uses 114.5 watts when in On mode and 2.6 watts in standby mode. I found that the most common amount of wattage used by a 75-inch television was 117 watts while in On mode and 3 watts when being used in standby mode.
The Vizio E75-F1 had the lowest wattage recorded with a rating of 87.3 W while in On mode and 0.5 W in standby mode. On average, a 75-inch television uses 203.36 kWh of electricity.
How Many Watts Does a 65-Inch TV Use?
The lowest wattage recorded by a 65-inch TV was 72 watts while in On mode and 0.5 watts on standby mode by the NEC-E657Q.
The most common watts used by any 65-inch TV are 98.3 watts while in On mode and 0.5 watts in standby mode. On average, a 65-inch TV uses 94.7 watts of electricity when in On mode and 1.1 watts in standby mode. This totals out to around 169.47 kWh of electricity annually.
How Many Watts Does a 55-Inch TV Use?
The average 55-inch TV will consume 77 watts while in On mode and 1.4 watts in standby mode. The most common 55-inch TV wattage was recorded at 82 watts in On mode and 0.5 in standby mode. The MI-L55M5-5ARU had the lowest wattage for a 55-inch TV using 62.9 watts in On mode and 0.5 watts in Standby mode. This would make the annual electricity usage od 130.95 kWh.
How Many Watts Does a 32-Inch TV Use?
A 32-inch television only uses 28W of electricity on average when in On mode and 0.7 watts in standby mode. The most common wattage used by any 32-inch TV is 26 while in On mode and 0.5 watts in standby mode.
The MI-L32M5-5ARU has the lowest wattage recorded by a 32-inch television. It uses just 19.3 watts while in On mode and 0.5 watts on standby mode. On average, a 32-inch TV will consume 53.81 kWh of electricity.
How Many Watts Does a 24-Inch TV Use?
The average 24-inch television will consume 19.8 watts while in On mode and 0.8 watts in standby mode. The RCA had only 15 watts of power consumption in On mode and 0.15 watts in standby mode. Annually, it would equal just about 31 kWh.
The most common 24-inch television uses only 20 watts of power in On mode and 0.5 watts in standby mode.
TV Wattage & Data
| TV | Watts In On Mode | Watts In Standby Mode | kWh Yearly |
| Phillips | 88.5 W | 0.5 W | 168 kWh |
| Vizio | 57.5 W | 0.5 W | 110.9 kWh |
| Caixun | 77.4 W | 2.6 W | 136 kWh |
| Furrion | 38.8 W | 0.5 W | 74.4 kWh |
| Impecca | 28.4 W | 1.1 W | 53.7 kWh |
| NEC | 27.8 W | 0.5 W | 121.8 kWh |
| Sansui | 70.7 W | 2.0 W | 127/4 kWh |
| Sceptre | 10 W | 0.5 W | 60.4 kWh |
Conclusion
The wattage consumption of the average LED TV is quite minimal, but its electricity consumption is rather high. TVs are consistently becoming more energy efficient as the years pass on, but the more they’re developed, the larger their size and resolution get. This means that energy consumption is going to increase.
If you’re using a TV along with multiple connected devices, you’re going to see higher energy consumption ratings.
I suggest turning your TV off or even unplugging it (because sometimes TV can turn on by itself) when it’s not in use to save on your electric bill. If you’re not sure which TV you should purchase, check out the tables above to see how much wattage and kWh they use daily, weekly, monthly, and annually.