electronics · 8W typical
Running a mesh wi-fi node (per node) costs about $0.95/month.
That's the typical mesh wi-fi node (per node) at 8W, run 24 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 24 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same mesh wi-fi node (per node) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
always-on node
$0.95
per month
constant mesh coverage
Where you live
$1.72 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¢ | $2.37 | $28.87 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $1.81 | $22.01 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $1.77 | $21.58 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $1.65 | $20.11 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $1.61 | $19.55 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $1.42 | $17.24 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $1.40 | $17.03 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $1.28 | $15.63 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $1.27 | $15.49 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $1.24 | $15.07 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $1.11 | $13.53 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $1.10 | $13.39 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $1.06 | $12.89 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $1.04 | $12.68 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $1.03 | $12.47 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $1.00 | $12.19 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.99 | $12.05 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.97 | $11.84 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.96 | $11.63 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.94 | $11.42 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.91 | $11.07 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.90 | $11.00 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.90 | $10.93 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.89 | $10.79 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.88 | $10.65 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.88 | $10.65 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.87 | $10.58 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.85 | $10.37 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.85 | $10.37 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.85 | $10.30 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.85 | $10.30 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.84 | $10.23 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.82 | $9.95 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.81 | $9.88 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.80 | $9.74 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.78 | $9.53 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.77 | $9.39 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.77 | $9.32 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.76 | $9.25 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.75 | $9.18 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.75 | $9.18 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.73 | $8.90 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.71 | $8.69 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.70 | $8.55 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.70 | $8.48 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.70 | $8.48 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.69 | $8.34 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.67 | $8.13 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.66 | $8.06 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.66 | $7.99 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.65 | $7.92 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $14.45/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
5W
$0.59 per month
$7.23 per year
Typical
8W
$0.95 per month
$11.56 per year
High draw
15W
$1.78 per month
$21.68 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
24/7 always-on.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Deploy minimum nodes needed — each extra node is 8-15W continuous
Saves 60-130 kWh/year per avoided node
- 2
Use ethernet backhaul — less wireless retransmission watts
Each node more efficient
- 3
Disable 6GHz on nodes outside main living areas
Saves 1-2W per node
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| eero | Pro 6E | 10W |
| Nest Wifi Pro | 9W | |
| TP-Link | Deco X55 | 7W |
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