How Much Power Does Your TV Really Consume?
Television is one of the most common household appliances in the world. According to Nielsen, the average American watches approximately four hours and 30 minutes of television per day. With energy costs rising in many parts of the country, it is natural to wonder how much electricity your TV consumes and what impact it has on your monthly utility bill. The good news is that modern televisions are significantly more energy-efficient than older models, but the exact power consumption varies widely depending on the type, size, and settings of your TV.
In general terms, a modern LED or OLED television consumes between 30 and 150 watts of power while in active use, depending on its size. A 32-inch LED TV typically uses about 30 to 55 watts, a 55-inch LED TV uses about 60 to 90 watts, and a 65-inch OLED TV uses about 100 to 150 watts. Older plasma TVs and early-generation LCD TVs consumed significantly more power — often 200 to 500 watts or more for large models. Understanding these numbers in context will help you estimate your TV's contribution to your electricity bill.
Electricity Consumption by TV Type
The type of display technology your TV uses is the single biggest factor in its energy consumption. Here is a detailed breakdown of the major TV types and their typical power usage.
LED TVs: LED (Light-Emitting Diode) TVs are currently the most common and most energy-efficient type of television on the market. They use an array of LEDs to backlight an LCD panel. Modern LED TVs typically consume 30 to 100 watts depending on size, with energy-efficient models using even less. A 40-inch LED TV uses approximately 40 to 55 watts, while a 55-inch model uses approximately 60 to 80 watts. LED TVs also perform well in standby mode, consuming only 0.5 to 3 watts when turned off but still plugged in.
OLED TVs: OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) TVs produce their own light at the pixel level, eliminating the need for a backlight. This technology produces stunning contrast ratios and deep blacks but uses slightly more power than comparable LED TVs, particularly when displaying bright content. A 55-inch OLED TV typically consumes 80 to 120 watts, while a 65-inch model uses 100 to 150 watts. However, OLED TVs are more efficient when displaying darker content, as individual pixels can be turned off completely.
QLED TVs: QLED (Quantum Dot LED) TVs are essentially enhanced LED TVs that use quantum dot technology to improve color accuracy and brightness. Their power consumption is similar to standard LED TVs, typically ranging from 50 to 120 watts for 55 to 75-inch models. Samsung and TCL are the primary manufacturers of QLED TVs.
Plasma TVs (Legacy): Plasma TVs were popular in the 2000s and early 2010s but have since been discontinued by all major manufacturers. These TVs were notorious for their high energy consumption. A 42-inch plasma TV typically consumed 150 to 250 watts, while a 65-inch model could use 300 to 500 watts or more. If you are still using a plasma TV, upgrading to a modern LED or OLED model could significantly reduce your energy costs.
CRT TVs (Legacy): Cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions are the old, bulky tube TVs that were standard before flat-panel displays became affordable. A typical 27-inch CRT TV consumed approximately 80 to 120 watts — not excessive by modern standards, but far more than a modern LED TV of comparable screen area. CRT TVs are now rarely used except in niche retro gaming applications.
Calculating Your TV's Annual Electricity Cost
To determine how much your TV costs to run, you need three pieces of information: your TV's wattage (found on the label on the back of the TV or in the user manual), the number of hours you watch per day, and your local electricity rate (found on your utility bill, typically expressed in cents per kilowatt-hour or kWh).
The formula is straightforward. First, multiply your TV's wattage by the number of hours you watch per day. This gives you the daily watt-hours consumed. Then divide by 1,000 to convert to kilowatt-hours (kWh). Finally, multiply by your electricity rate to get the daily cost, and multiply by 365 for the annual cost.
For example, let's calculate the annual cost for a 55-inch LED TV that uses 75 watts, watched for 5 hours per day, with an electricity rate of $0.16 per kWh. The daily consumption would be 75 watts multiplied by 5 hours, which equals 375 watt-hours, or 0.375 kWh. The daily cost would be 0.375 kWh multiplied by $0.16, which equals approximately $0.06 per day. The annual cost would be $0.06 multiplied by 365, which equals approximately $21.90 per year.
By comparison, a 55-inch plasma TV using 250 watts for the same 5 hours per day would cost approximately $73 per year — more than three times as much. This illustrates the significant energy savings offered by modern LED technology.
Standby Power: The Hidden Energy Cost
Even when your TV is turned off, it continues to draw power if it remains plugged into the wall outlet. This standby power consumption — sometimes called "phantom load" or "vampire power" — is used to maintain the TV's internal clock, receive remote control signals, download software updates, and power features like voice assistants or instant-on functionality.
Modern TVs in standby mode typically consume 0.5 to 3 watts. While this may seem negligible, it adds up over time. A TV consuming 2 watts in standby mode for 19 hours per day (assuming 5 hours of active use) would use approximately 13.9 kWh per year in standby alone, costing about $2.22 at $0.16 per kWh. Across all the electronic devices in a typical household, phantom loads can account for 5 to 10 percent of total electricity consumption.
To eliminate standby power consumption, you can unplug your TV when not in use, use a smart power strip that automatically cuts power to devices in standby mode, or use your TV's eco mode settings if available.
Factors That Affect Your TV's Power Consumption
Beyond the type and size of your TV, several other factors influence how much electricity it uses.
Screen Brightness: Brighter screen settings consume more power. Reducing your TV's brightness from 100 percent to 50 percent can cut power consumption by 20 to 40 percent. Most TVs include an "eco" or "energy saving" mode that automatically adjusts brightness based on ambient room lighting.
Content Being Displayed: On OLED TVs, power consumption varies based on the content being displayed. Dark scenes use less power because individual pixels are dimmed or turned off. Bright, colorful content requires more power. This effect is less pronounced on LED TVs, which maintain a relatively constant backlight regardless of content.
Connected Devices: Streaming devices, gaming consoles, and soundbars connected to your TV also consume power. A game console like a PlayStation 5 uses 100 to 200 watts during gameplay, which is often more than the TV itself. Consider the total power consumption of your entire entertainment system, not just the TV.
Screen Size: Larger screens require more power to illuminate. As a general rule, power consumption increases roughly proportionally with screen area. A 75-inch TV has approximately 86 percent more screen area than a 55-inch TV and will consume proportionally more power.
Tips to Reduce Your TV's Energy Consumption
Here are practical steps you can take to minimize your TV's electricity usage without sacrificing your viewing experience. Enable your TV's eco mode or energy saving mode, which automatically adjusts brightness and other settings to reduce power consumption. Reduce screen brightness to a comfortable level, especially when watching in a dark room. Turn off your TV when you leave the room rather than letting it run in the background. Use a sleep timer to automatically turn off the TV if you tend to fall asleep while watching. Disable features you do not use, such as motion smoothing, ambient mode, or always-listening voice assistants. Use a smart power strip to eliminate phantom loads when the TV is not in use. When it is time to replace your TV, choose an ENERGY STAR certified model, which meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Conclusion
A modern LED TV is one of the most energy-efficient appliances in your home, typically costing only $15 to $35 per year to operate. However, larger TVs, older display technologies, and energy-wasting habits can significantly increase this cost. By understanding your TV's power consumption and implementing the energy-saving tips outlined in this guide, you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies while keeping your electricity bills under control.
