How Much Does It Cost to Run a Laptop? (2026)
Laptops are among the cheapest devices to run. A thin ultrabook averages about 20 watts, a mainstream 15 inch model around 45 watts, and a gaming laptop can reach 90 watts or more when plugged in.
A typical laptop (45 W) costs $0.008 per hour, or about $1.98 per month at 8 hours a day in the US. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 20 W | $0.004 | $0.029 | $0.88 | $10.71 |
| Typical 45 W | $0.008 | $0.066 | $1.98 | $24.10 |
| High 90 W | $0.017 | $0.13 | $3.96 | $48.20 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day ≈ 131 kWh per year.
One day of a laptop (1.1 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 6.0km in an electric car
- 11kettle boils
- 72phone charges
- 120hours of an LED bulb
Around the world per year at typical use, local prices
How to lower the cost of running a laptop
- Lower screen brightness. The display is the biggest consumer on most laptops.
- Unplug the charger when the battery is full if the laptop lacks charge limiting.
- Use battery saver or balanced power mode for everyday work.
- Close background apps that keep the CPU busy.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh ($1.61) per year if it is never unplugged.
Is switching from a desktop computer to a laptop worth it? Savings and payback
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge a laptop?
A 60 Wh battery costs about 0.07 kWh to charge from empty. That is a fraction of a cent in most regions.
Does a laptop use electricity when fully charged and plugged in?
Yes, it runs directly from mains at its normal draw, but it stops charging the battery.
Is a laptop cheaper to run than a desktop?
Almost always. A laptop uses a third or less of the electricity of an equivalent desktop plus monitor.
Compare with
Cost by region
- United States (average)
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Computer Monitor30 W typical
- Printer (Inkjet or Laser)30 W typical
- Phone Charger10 W typical
- Cable or Fiber Modem8 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz