How Much Does It Cost to Run a Streaming Stick or Box in the UK? (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 £0.001 per hour, or about £0.13 per month at 4 hours a day in the UK. Cheap to run

Hours used per day
WattagePer hourPer dayPer monthPer year
Low 2 W£0.001£0.002£0.063£0.77
Typical 4 W£0.001£0.004£0.13£1.54
High 10 W£0.003£0.011£0.32£3.84

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 the UK, with electricity at 26.3p per kWh (source: Ofgem price cap 1 Oct–31 Dec 2026, 2026-10), a typical streaming stick or box costs £0.001 per hour and about £1.54 per year at 4 hours a day. Each £1.00 of electricity buys roughly 949.8 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 (£4.61) 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

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Related appliances

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