entertainment · 4W typical
Running a streaming device (roku/fire tv/apple tv) costs about $0.08/month.
That's the typical streaming device (roku/fire tv/apple tv) at 4W, run 4 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 4 hours at 16.5¢/kWh.
How you use it
Cost shifts with how long it's on.
The same streaming device (roku/fire tv/apple tv) can cost very different amounts depending on usage patterns. Three common scenarios, at the US-average rate.
watching hours
$0.08
per month
active streaming
standby
$0.40
per month
plugged-in idle draw is 1-2W
Where you live
$0.14 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¢ | $0.20 | $2.41 |
| California | 31.4¢ | $0.15 | $1.83 |
| Massachusetts | 30.8¢ | $0.15 | $1.80 |
| Connecticut | 28.7¢ | $0.14 | $1.68 |
| Rhode Island | 27.9¢ | $0.13 | $1.63 |
| New Hampshire | 24.6¢ | $0.12 | $1.44 |
| Alaska | 24.3¢ | $0.12 | $1.42 |
| New York | 22.3¢ | $0.11 | $1.30 |
| Maine | 22.1¢ | $0.11 | $1.29 |
| Vermont | 21.5¢ | $0.10 | $1.26 |
| Michigan | 19.3¢ | $0.09 | $1.13 |
| New Jersey | 19.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.12 |
| Maryland | 18.4¢ | $0.09 | $1.07 |
| Pennsylvania | 18.1¢ | $0.09 | $1.06 |
| District of Columbia | 17.8¢ | $0.09 | $1.04 |
| Wisconsin | 17.4¢ | $0.08 | $1.02 |
| Delaware | 17.2¢ | $0.08 | $1.00 |
| Illinois | 16.9¢ | $0.08 | $0.99 |
| Ohio | 16.6¢ | $0.08 | $0.97 |
| Nevada | 16.3¢ | $0.08 | $0.95 |
| Indiana | 15.8¢ | $0.08 | $0.92 |
| Virginia | 15.7¢ | $0.08 | $0.92 |
| Minnesota | 15.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.91 |
| Colorado | 15.4¢ | $0.07 | $0.90 |
| Alabama | 15.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.89 |
| West Virginia | 15.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.89 |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.88 |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Texas | 14.8¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Arizona | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢ | $0.07 | $0.86 |
| Kansas | 14.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.85 |
| Georgia | 14.2¢ | $0.07 | $0.83 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.07 | $0.82 |
| North Carolina | 13.9¢ | $0.07 | $0.81 |
| Missouri | 13.6¢ | $0.07 | $0.79 |
| Oregon | 13.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.78 |
| Tennessee | 13.3¢ | $0.06 | $0.78 |
| Kentucky | 13.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| Mississippi | 13.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| Oklahoma | 13.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.77 |
| South Dakota | 12.7¢ | $0.06 | $0.74 |
| Montana | 12.4¢ | $0.06 | $0.72 |
| Nebraska | 12.2¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Arkansas | 12.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Washington | 12.1¢ | $0.06 | $0.71 |
| Louisiana | 11.9¢ | $0.06 | $0.69 |
| Wyoming | 11.6¢ | $0.06 | $0.68 |
| North Dakota | 11.5¢ | $0.06 | $0.67 |
| Utah | 11.4¢ | $0.05 | $0.67 |
| Idaho | 11.3¢ | $0.05 | $0.66 |
Efficient vs. inefficient
A $1.93/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
$0.04 per month
$0.48 per year
Typical
4W
$0.08 per month
$0.96 per year
High draw
10W
$0.20 per month
$2.41 per year
When it hits hardest
year-round peak
Constant daily use.
Ways to cut the cost
- 1
Unplug or smart-plug at night — 1-2W × 20 hours is real over a year
Saves 10-15 kWh/year
- 2
Disable screensavers and auto-play ads in settings
Keeps TV off when not actively watching
- 3
Stream 1080p instead of 4K when possible — uses less data and TV backlight
Indirect TV savings 5-10%
Real-world wattages
Pulled from actual spec sheets.
| Brand | Model | Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | TV 4K (3rd gen) | 4W |
| Roku | Ultra 4802 | 3W |
| Amazon | Fire TV Stick 4K Max | 2W |
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