How Much Does It Cost to Run a Streaming Stick or Box in Australia? (2026)

A streaming stick draws 2 to 5 watts while playing, and most stay on in a low-power state around the clock. They are the cheapest way to stream, far below a console or a desktop PC.

A typical streaming stick or box (4 W) costs A$0.001 per hour, or about A$0.17 per month at 4 hours a day in Australia. Cheap to run

Hours used per day
WattagePer hourPer dayPer monthPer year
Low 2 WA$0.001A$0.003A$0.084A$1.02
Typical 4 WA$0.001A$0.006A$0.17A$2.04
High 10 WA$0.003A$0.014A$0.42A$5.11

Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 4 h/day ≈ 6 kWh per year.

One day of a streaming stick or box (0.10 kWh) is the same electricity as

Electricity per year at typical use, on a log scale: #6 of 95 appliances, from least to most.

In Australia, with electricity at 35.0¢ per kWh (source: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27, 2026-07), a typical streaming stick or box costs A$0.001 per hour and about A$2.04 per year at 4 hours a day. Each A$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 714.3 hours of use.

How to lower the cost of running a streaming stick or box

In standby it draws about 2 W, which adds roughly 18 kWh (A$6.13) per year if it is never unplugged.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a streaming stick cost to run?

Around 20 to 30 kWh a year including standby, a dollar or two.

Do streaming devices use electricity when off?

Most never truly turn off. They draw 1 to 3 watts waiting for a remote press.

Which streaming device uses the least power?

Small HDMI sticks. Full-size boxes with more processing draw 5 to 10 watts.

Compare with

Cost by region

US states
Canadian provinces

Related appliances

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