electronics · 30W typical
Running a 27-inch monitor costs about $1.34/month.
That's the typical 27-inch monitor at 30W, run 9 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 9 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same 27-inch monitor can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
work hours
$1.34
per month
primary work display
dual monitor
$1.34
per month
secondary display
Where you live
$2.42 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¢ | $3.34 | $40.60 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $2.54 | $30.94 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $2.49 | $30.35 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $2.32 | $28.28 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $2.26 | $27.50 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $1.99 | $24.24 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $1.97 | $23.95 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $1.81 | $21.98 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $1.79 | $21.78 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $1.74 | $21.19 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $1.56 | $19.02 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $1.55 | $18.82 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $1.49 | $18.13 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $1.47 | $17.84 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $1.44 | $17.54 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $1.41 | $17.15 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $1.39 | $16.95 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $1.37 | $16.65 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $1.34 | $16.36 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $1.32 | $16.06 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $1.28 | $15.57 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $1.27 | $15.47 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $1.26 | $15.37 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $1.25 | $15.18 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $1.23 | $14.98 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $1.23 | $14.98 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $1.22 | $14.88 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $1.20 | $14.59 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $1.20 | $14.59 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $1.19 | $14.49 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $1.19 | $14.49 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $1.18 | $14.39 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $1.15 | $13.99 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $1.14 | $13.90 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $1.13 | $13.70 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $1.10 | $13.40 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $1.09 | $13.21 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $1.08 | $13.11 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $1.07 | $13.01 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $1.06 | $12.91 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $1.06 | $12.91 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $1.03 | $12.52 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $1.00 | $12.22 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.99 | $12.02 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.98 | $11.92 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.98 | $11.92 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.96 | $11.73 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.94 | $11.43 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.93 | $11.33 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.92 | $11.23 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.92 | $11.14 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $16.26/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
30W
$1.34 per month
$16.26 per year
Typical
30W
$1.34 per month
$16.26 per year
High draw
60W
$2.67 per month
$32.52 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Steady daily use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Lower brightness to 60-70% — saves 15-25% watts
Saves 15-25 kWh/year per monitor
- 2
Set display sleep to 5-10 min idle
Prevents hours of idle watts
- 3
Use USB-C single-cable monitors — avoids separate hub wattage
Saves 5-10W of peripheral power
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Dell | U2723QE | 32W |
| LG | 27UP850-W | 33W |
| ASUS | ProArt PA278QV | 28W |
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.energystar.gov · www.energy.gov
Last updated: 2026-04-13