Trystan Casey
Leaving your TV on all the time can waste electricity and increase your electricity bill, but the amount of power used depends on several factors, such as the size of the TV, the type of TV, and how many hours it is left on for. While leaving a TV on standby mode will use a minimal amount of power, leaving a larger TV on for 12 hours a day could cost around $2.60 a month. If you're looking for background noise, a smart speaker is a more energy-efficient option.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Energy consumption | Influenced by factors such as size, screen size, and type |
| Standby power consumption | As low as a few watts up to around 20W; average smart TV standby power draw is around 14W |
| Cost | Running a TV for 12 hours a day at 60W would cost $2.60 a month if electricity costs 12 cents per kWh |
| Power consumption | A new TV may use 32W to 90W of power, depending on its size |
| Cost-saving alternatives | Smart speakers or Bluetooth speakers for background noise |
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What You'll Learn
The cost of leaving a TV on
Let's assume your electricity costs 12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and your TV consumes 60 watts of energy per hour. In that case, leaving the TV on for 6 hours after work every night would cost $1.30 per month, and leaving it on for 12 hours a day would cost $2.60 per month.
However, it's important to note that electricity rates and TV usage may vary, so the actual cost may differ. Running a TV does not significantly impact your energy costs, and the standby power consumption of a TV is typically minimal, ranging from a few watts up to around 20 watts, with an average smart TV drawing around 14 watts.
To estimate the cost of leaving your TV on, you can calculate its energy usage based on the wattage listed in the specifications sheet, owner's manual, or a sticker on the TV itself. You can also use a watt meter to measure the energy consumption directly.
In addition to the financial cost, leaving a TV on all the time can lead to premature burnout of certain components, such as the backlight, as reported by one user.
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Power consumption of modern TVs
Modern TVs are more energy-efficient than their predecessors, with modern LED TV energy consumption being substantially lower than most other home appliances and devices. However, the power consumption of modern TVs varies depending on several factors, including size, model, type, and usage.
On average, modern TVs consume around 50 to 150 watts of electricity, with larger screens requiring up to 200 watts. For example, a 32" LED TV will consume around 30-55 watts, while a 32" OLED uses 55-60 watts. A 55" LED consumes around 60-90 watts, and a 55" OLED has a power consumption rate of 105-110 watts.
The type of TV also affects power consumption. For instance, older CRT models use up to 120 watts, while LED TVs consume 24-28 watts for small sizes and 90 watts for larger sets. Plasma TVs are known to consume around 500 watts, while OLEDs consume 60-75 watts on average.
It is worth noting that TVs with advanced features, such as HDR or 8K resolution, tend to require more power. Additionally, the content being watched and the settings used can impact power consumption.
To reduce electricity consumption, it is recommended to turn off the TV when not in use, as modern TVs can still draw power even in standby mode, ranging from a few watts to around 20W.
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TVs and standby mode
Unlike many other electric devices, a TV doesn't have a true on/off state toggled by a switch. Instead, it has a standby mode. At a minimum, your TV needs to maintain a "phantom load" of enough power to ensure it can respond to the remote and maintain basic functionality. On the more demanding end of the scale, your TV might consume more power to maintain a network connection for on-demand casting or other smart TV functions like ensuring an always-on voice assistant can respond to you.
The standby power consumption of a TV varies. Measurements have found that standby power consumption ranged from as low as a few watts up to around 20 watts. The average smart TV standby power draw was around 14 watts. The National Resources Defense Council and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance found an average of 12.5 watts of standby power consumption. The range they found was quite broad. While some sets used 20 watts in standby power, the newest sets with properly optimized "smart standby" functions consumed as low as 0.2 watts in standby mode.
Assuming your TV sits idle for 20 hours a day and your power costs 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, a TV with 20 watts of idle power would cost you $17.52 per year. In contrast, a TV with 0.2 watts of idle power would cost you $0.18 per year. While it is not recommended to buy a new TV strictly to save on standby power, it is worth considering the standby power statistics when purchasing a new set. On average, people own their televisions for 5-7 years, so a set with improved power usage could save you around $100 over the set's life.
Some TV models have found a way to support smart wake features without a noticeable increase in standby power levels. For example, Samsung and LG TVs can support smart wake functions without increasing standby power.
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TVs vs other devices
Leaving a television on standby or when you're out of the house will consume energy and contribute to your electricity bill. The amount of electricity consumed depends on the type of TV, its size, the brightness, and the length of time it is left on for.
A 55" LED TV consumes around 60-90 watts, while a 55" OLED TV consumes around 105-110 watts. A typical modern flat TV consumes anywhere between 50 and 150 watts of electricity. The power consumption will increase when the screen size increases. Additionally, larger, brighter, and 8k TVs require the most power to function.
Let's compare this to some other devices. A laptop, for example, consumes around 25-85 watts, while a desktop computer can consume anywhere from 60 to 300 watts, depending on the specifications. A smartphone charger typically uses around 5 watts when plugged into a wall socket, but this can vary depending on the model and whether it is being used to charge a device. A tablet charger typically uses around 10 watts.
Other devices in your home also consume standby power, also known as "vampire power". This includes devices like cable boxes and video game consoles, and even your fridge. While individual devices may not consume a large amount of power on their own, the cumulative effect of multiple devices left on standby can contribute to your electricity bill.
To reduce power consumption and save on electricity bills, consider using energy-efficient settings, such as lowering the brightness and backlight settings on your TV, or enabling smart standby functions if available. Additionally, unplugging devices or using power strips can help reduce standby power consumption.
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Energy-saving alternatives
If you're looking for ways to save energy, there are several alternatives to leaving your TV on. Here are some options to consider:
- Unplug the TV when not in use: Unlike many other electrical devices, your TV doesn't have a true on/off state. Instead, it has a standby mode that continues to draw a small amount of power. Unplugging the TV completely ensures that it's not using any electricity when not in use.
- Use a power strip: If you want to be able to turn your TV and peripherals on and off quickly, plug them into a power strip. This will allow you to switch everything off at once, reducing power consumption.
- Choose a TV with better energy efficiency: When it's time to upgrade your TV, look for one with an ENERGY STAR certification. These TVs are designed to be more energy-efficient than their competitors, which can help you save money on your electricity bill.
- Adjust your TV settings: Certain settings can help reduce power consumption. Look for an Eco or Movie mode, which can provide a balance between energy efficiency and a realistic viewing experience. You can also try lowering the brightness, which can enhance your viewing experience while saving energy.
- Switch to cleaner energy: Consider switching your home's electricity plan to one that's backed by clean, renewable resources like solar and wind power. This can help reduce your carbon footprint without requiring any changes to your daily habits.
- Set a timer or use standby mode: Many modern TVs have a sleep timer that automatically turns off the TV after a period of inactivity. You can also enable standby mode, which powers down the TV after a predetermined period of no interaction.
- Limit TV consumption: The first step to lowering your TV costs is simply watching less TV. Try turning off the TV when you're not actively watching it, or when you're focused on something else like chores or a nap.
- Consider alternatives for pets: If you're leaving the TV on for your pets, consider alternatives such as playing music or talk shows on a radio or smart speaker. This can provide company and background noise for your pets without using as much electricity as a TV.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, leaving your TV on wastes electricity. The amount of electricity wasted depends on the size of the TV, the type of TV, and how long it is left on for. On average, a TV consumes approximately 100 W of electricity.
The standby power consumption of a TV can range from as low as a few watts up to around 20W. The average smart TV standby power draw is around 14W.
Assuming your electricity costs 12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and your TV uses 60W of energy per hour, leaving the TV on for 12 hours a day would cost $2.60 per month.
