How Much Does It Cost to Run a Laptop in Ontario? (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 C$0.007 per hour, or about C$1.62 per month at 8 hours a day in Ontario. Cheap to run

Hours used per day
WattagePer hourPer dayPer monthPer year
Low 20 WC$0.003C$0.024C$0.72C$8.74
Typical 45 WC$0.007C$0.054C$1.62C$19.66
High 90 WC$0.013C$0.11C$3.23C$39.31

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

Electricity per year at typical use, on a log scale: #42 of 95 appliances, from least to most.

In Ontario, with electricity at 15.0¢ per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical laptop costs C$0.007 per hour and about C$19.66 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 7% more than the national average for Canada (C$1.51 per month), because electricity in Ontario costs 15.0¢ per kWh against 14.0¢ nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 148.5 hours of use.

How to lower the cost of running a laptop

In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh (C$1.31) 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

US states
Canadian provinces

Related appliances

Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz