How much does it cost to run a TV?
By Sithum Imarsha Last reviewed
An 80 W TV on for 5 hours a day uses 0.4 kWh: 13c a day, about $48 a year in NSW.
Your result
Running cost
$47a year
146 kWh a year × 32c/kWh = $47
- Per hour of use
- $0.03
- Energy an hour
- 0.08kWh
- Per day of use
- $0.13
- Energy a day
- 0.4kWh
- Per load
- —
- Energy a load
- —kWh
- Per wash
- —
- Energy a wash
- —kWh
- Rate used
- 32c/kWh ·
Australian average import rate - Worked from
- Watts × hours ·
share at full power 100% (Estimate)
A thermostat switches it on and off, so it does not draw full power all day. Lower the share of time at full power under Advanced settings.
Choosing a heater? Compare heater types, including reverse-cycle air conditioning.
Controlled load? If it is on a controlled-load tariff, type that rate under Advanced settings.
Thinking of switching? Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →Would a heat pump be cheaper? →
Fix the highlighted field to update.
How we calculated this
- Energy in a year comes from the watts and the hours of use, or from the energy label scaled to your use.
- It is priced at the usage rate only. The daily supply charge is not a running cost.
- On your own solar, the cost is the feed-in credit you give up.
Full method, tables and sources: Appliance running cost calculator
Energy in a year
80 W × 100% × 5 h × 365 days ÷ 1,000 = 146 kWh
Pick the rate
32c/kWh (Australian average import rate)
Work out the cost
146 kWh × 32c/kWh = $47 a year
Cost an hour of use
0.08 kWh × 32c/kWh = $0.03 an hour
| State | Import c/kWh | Feed-in c/kWh | Cost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 33.1 | 5 | $48 |
| Victoria | 27.2 | 3 | $40 |
| Queensland | 27.9 | 5 | $41 |
| South Australia | 41.5 | 5 | $61 |
| Western Australia | 33.2621 | 3 | $49 |
| Tasmania | 28.8 | 9.276 | $42 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 32.1 | 5 | $47 |
Uses each state's import rate, or its feed-in rate when Power from is set to solar. Your own rate is not used here. Import rates: Dated third-party source, except Western Australia (Official source). Feed-in rates: Estimate, except Tasmania (Official source).
This version starts with a 55 inch LED TV at about 80 W, on 5 hours a day. If you type the kWh from the label instead, we scale it from the label’s 10 hours a day to your hours.
TV: what the sources say
Official source
- The TV label’s kWh a year assumes the TV is on 10 hours a day and on standby for 14 (energy.gov.au).
Not yet checked
- Modern TVs from 32 to 65 inches draw about 25 to 260 W (Home Upkeep, EcoFlow AU).
Adding up everything left on standby? Use the standby power calculator.
New to running costs? Read how it is worked out on the main appliance running cost calculator.
Questions
What does the TV label assume?
10 hours on and 14 hours on standby a day (energy.gov.au). If you watch 5 hours a day, your on-mode use is about half the label figure.
Do bigger TVs cost more to run?
Yes, roughly with screen area and brightness. Compare the kWh on the label.
Does standby matter?
Not for a new TV. The median TV on the Energy Rating register draws 0.4 W on standby: about $1 a year in NSW. Boxes and consoles that stay online cost far more.
What does it cost to run a TV all day?
An 80 W TV left on for 24 hours costs 64c a day in NSW. Type 24 in hours a day for your own TV.
What does a TV cost per hour?
Watts ÷ 1,000 × your rate. An 80 W TV costs 2.6c an hour in NSW.