electronics · 5W typical
Running a security camera (wired) costs about $0.59/month.
That's the typical security camera (wired) at 5W, 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 security camera (wired) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
always-on
$0.59
per month
continuous 24/7 monitoring
Where you live
$1.08 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¢ | $1.48 | $18.05 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $1.13 | $13.75 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $1.11 | $13.49 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $1.03 | $12.57 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $1.00 | $12.22 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.89 | $10.77 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.87 | $10.64 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.80 | $9.77 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.80 | $9.68 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.77 | $9.42 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.69 | $8.45 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.69 | $8.37 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.66 | $8.06 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.65 | $7.93 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.64 | $7.80 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.63 | $7.62 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.62 | $7.53 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.61 | $7.40 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.60 | $7.27 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.59 | $7.14 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.57 | $6.92 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.57 | $6.88 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.56 | $6.83 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.55 | $6.75 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.55 | $6.66 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.55 | $6.66 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.54 | $6.61 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.53 | $6.48 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.53 | $6.48 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.53 | $6.44 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.53 | $6.44 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.53 | $6.39 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.51 | $6.22 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.51 | $6.18 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.50 | $6.09 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.49 | $5.96 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.48 | $5.87 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.48 | $5.83 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.48 | $5.78 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.47 | $5.74 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.47 | $5.74 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.46 | $5.56 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.45 | $5.43 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.44 | $5.34 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.44 | $5.30 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.44 | $5.30 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.43 | $5.21 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.42 | $5.08 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.41 | $5.04 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.41 | $4.99 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.41 | $4.95 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $18.79/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
2W
$0.24 per month
$2.89 per year
Typical
5W
$0.59 per month
$7.23 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
Use motion-only recording, not continuous
Saves 30-40% in camera processing
- 2
Prefer wired PoE cameras over Wi-Fi + battery
Battery + charging is ~2x the overall watts
- 3
Disable night vision IR during daylight hours
Saves 1-2W per camera
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Arlo | Essential Wired | 5W |
| Ring | Stick Up Cam Wired | 5W |
| Eufy | Security 2K Indoor Cam | 4W |
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