Home Projector vs Television: Which Costs More to Run? (2026)
A lamp projector uses two to four times the electricity of a large TV for a similar viewing experience. A 100 inch image from a 300 watt projector costs about the same to run as three 65 inch TVs. LED and laser projectors narrow the gap. For daily viewing the TV is cheaper; for occasional movie nights the projector's cost is small in absolute terms.
At the hours shown, Home Projector costs about $32.85 per year and Television about $26.28 in United States (average).
| Appliance | Typical watts | Hours / day | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Projector | 250 W | $0.045 | $2.70 | $32.85 | |
| Television | 100 W | $0.018 | $2.16 | $26.28 |
Edit the hours to match your own use. Costs use the typical wattage of each appliance.
When the home projector makes sense
- You want a very large image
- You watch a few times a week, not all day
- You have a dark room
When the television makes sense
- The screen is on for hours daily
- You watch in daylight
- You want the lowest running cost
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