How Much Does It Cost to Run a Soundbar in Australia? (2026)
Soundbars draw 10 to 60 watts depending on size and volume. Models with a separate subwoofer draw more, and the subwoofer has its own standby draw.
A typical soundbar (25 W) costs A$0.009 per hour, or about A$1.05 per month at 4 hours a day in Australia. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 10 W | A$0.003 | A$0.014 | A$0.42 | A$5.11 |
| Typical 25 W | A$0.009 | A$0.035 | A$1.05 | A$12.77 |
| High 60 W | A$0.021 | A$0.084 | A$2.52 | A$30.66 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 4 h/day ≈ 36 kWh per year.
One day of a soundbar (0.60 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 3.3km in an electric car
- 6.0hours of TV
- 13hours of a laptop
- 67hours of an LED bulb
In Australia, with electricity at 35.0¢ per kWh (source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07), a typical soundbar costs A$0.009 per hour and about A$12.77 per year at 4 hours a day. Each A$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 114.3 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a soundbar
- Enable auto standby so it switches off with the TV.
- Turn the volume down. Power scales steeply with loudness.
- Unplug the subwoofer if you rarely use it.
In standby it draws about 1 W, which adds roughly 9 kWh (A$3.07) per year if it is never unplugged.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a soundbar use?
About 0.1 kWh per 4 hour evening at typical volume, plus a small standby draw.
Does a soundbar use power when the TV is off?
Around 1 watt in standby, sometimes more if it keeps Wi-Fi active.
Is a soundbar cheaper to run than an AV receiver?
Yes. Receivers often draw 50 to 100 watts idle.
Cost by region
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
- Smart Speaker3 W typical
- Streaming Stick or Box4 W typical
- Home Projector250 W typical
- Television100 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz