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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Streaming Stick or Box in California? (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 $0.17 per month at 4 hours a day in California. Cheap to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low (2 W) | $0.001 | $0.003 | $0.084 | $1.02 |
| Typical (4 W) | $0.001 | $0.006 | $0.17 | $2.04 |
| High (10 W) | $0.003 | $0.014 | $0.42 | $5.11 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 4 h/day ≈ 6 kWh per year.
In California, with electricity at $0.35 per kWh (source: EIA Table 5.6.A, 2026-06), a typical streaming stick or box costs $0.001 per hour and about $2.04 per year at 4 hours a day. That is about 94% more than the US national average of $0.086 per month, because electricity in California costs $0.35 per kWh against $0.18 nationally. Each $1.00 of electricity buys roughly 714.3 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a streaming stick or box
- Stream on the stick rather than a game console, which can use 20 times more.
- Use the TV's USB port for power so the stick turns off with the TV.
- Turn off screensavers and ambient modes that keep the TV awake.
In standby it draws about 2 W, which adds roughly 18 kWh ($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
- United States (average)
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Canada (average)
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- India