entertainment · 18W typical
Running a nintendo switch costs about $0.18/month.
That's the typical nintendo switch at 18W, run 2 hours a day at the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Change any of those and the number moves — use the calculator below to see yours.
Estimated cost
Full-power draw for 2 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same nintendo switch can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
daily play
$0.18
per month
handheld or docked daily play
docked primary
$0.27
per month
docked TV gaming
Where you live
$0.32 spread between the cheapest and priciest states.
Same appliance, same hours of use, different zip code — the monthly cost varies this much.
| State | Rate | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 41.2¢ | $0.44 | $5.41 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.34 | $4.13 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.33 | $4.05 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.31 | $3.77 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.30 | $3.67 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.27 | $3.23 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.26 | $3.19 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.24 | $2.93 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.24 | $2.90 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.23 | $2.83 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.21 | $2.54 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.21 | $2.51 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.20 | $2.42 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.20 | $2.38 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.19 | $2.34 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.19 | $2.29 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.19 | $2.26 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.18 | $2.22 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.18 | $2.18 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.18 | $2.14 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.17 | $2.08 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.17 | $2.06 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.17 | $2.05 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.17 | $2.02 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.16 | $2.00 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.16 | $2.00 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.16 | $1.98 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.16 | $1.94 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.16 | $1.94 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.16 | $1.93 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.16 | $1.93 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.16 | $1.92 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.15 | $1.87 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.15 | $1.85 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.15 | $1.83 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.15 | $1.79 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.14 | $1.76 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.14 | $1.75 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.14 | $1.73 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.14 | $1.72 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.14 | $1.72 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.14 | $1.67 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.13 | $1.63 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.13 | $1.60 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.13 | $1.59 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.13 | $1.59 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.13 | $1.56 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.13 | $1.52 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.12 | $1.51 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.12 | $1.50 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.12 | $1.48 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $3.85/year difference across the wattage range.
Swapping a high-draw model for an efficient one pays for itself. Here's what that looks like annually at typical usage.
Most efficient
7W
$0.07 per month
$0.84 per year
Typical
18W
$0.18 per month
$2.17 per year
High draw
39W
$0.39 per month
$4.70 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Steady year-round use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Use handheld mode for single-player — draws ~8W vs 18W docked
Cuts watts by half
- 2
Kill dock standby via smart plug
Saves 15-25 kWh/year
- 3
Don't leave charging overnight once battery is full
Saves small but persistent trickle
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo | Switch OLED | 18W |
| Nintendo | Switch (standard) | 15W |
| Nintendo | Switch Lite | 10W |
Picks that actually move the needle
Three products worth comparing if you're thinking about upgrading or supplementing what you have.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy, we may earn a small commission — it never changes the price you pay, and we only recommend picks we would stand behind.
See also
Related appliances
Sources: www.energy.gov · www.energystar.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13