A typical TV uses between 30 and 100 watts while it's on, depending on the size and type

The amount of electricity a TV draws depends mostly on screen size and technology. A 32-inch LED TV uses roughly 30 to 50 watts. A 55-inch model typically draws 50 to 100 watts. An older plasma TV of the same size might use 150 to 200 watts. The brightness setting matters too — a TV running at full brightness uses more power than one set to a comfortable indoor level.

The wattage listed on your TV's spec sheet or manual is the maximum it can draw under ideal conditions. In real use, most TVs pull less than that number because they're not always at peak brightness or processing the most demanding content.

When your TV is off but plugged in, it still draws a small amount of power — usually 0.5 to 3 watts — to keep the remote receiver active and maintain settings. This is called standby power or phantom load. Over a year, this adds up, which is why some people unplug devices they rarely use.

Key Takeaways

  • Most modern TVs use 30 to 100 watts while displaying picture, with larger screens and older technologies drawing more power.
  • Your actual electricity cost depends on your local power rate, which varies by region and utility company.
  • LED and QLED TVs are more efficient than older plasma or LCD models of the same size.
  • Standby power consumption is small but continuous, so unplugging a TV you rarely use saves money over time.

How TV power use compares to other household devices

A TV is a moderate power consumer in most homes. A microwave uses 600 to 1000 watts while running, but only for minutes at a time. A refrigerator runs 24/7 but typically draws 150 to 800 watts depending on size and age. An air conditioning unit can draw 3000 to 5000 watts continuously during cooling season.

If you watch TV for four hours a day, a 60-watt TV uses about 240 watt-hours daily. That's roughly 7.2 kilowatt-hours per month. A refrigerator running constantly might use 150 to 200 kilowatt-hours in the same period. So while a TV contributes to your bill, it's not usually the largest consumer in a home.

What the numbers mean on your power bill

Electricity bills measure usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kilowatt-hour is 1000 watts running for one hour. If your TV uses 60 watts and runs for 10 hours, that's 600 watt-hours, or 0.6 kWh.

Your utility company charges a rate per kilowatt-hour. This rate varies widely — from around 10 cents per kWh in some regions to 20 cents or more in others. To estimate your TV's monthly cost, multiply the wattage by hours watched per day, divide by 1000, multiply by 30 days, then multiply by your local rate per kWh.

Example: A 60-watt TV watched 4 hours daily in an area charging 15 cents per kWh costs roughly (60 × 4 × 30 ÷ 1000) × 0.15 = $1.08 per month, or about $13 per year.

LED, QLED, and OLED TVs use different amounts of power

LED TVs (standard LCD with LED backlighting) are the most common and efficient option. A 55-inch LED TV typically uses 50 to 80 watts. They're affordable and reliable, though the backlight means they can't produce true blacks.

QLED TVs (quantum dot LED) are Samsung's brighter variant of LED technology. They use similar power to standard LED — roughly 50 to 90 watts for a 55-inch model — but produce more vivid colors and better contrast.

OLED TVs (organic light-emitting diode) are more efficient in some ways and less in others. Each pixel produces its own light, so OLED TVs can turn off individual pixels to show true blacks. A 55-inch OLED uses 60 to 100 watts depending on content brightness. If you watch mostly dark scenes, an OLED may use less power than an LED. If you watch bright content all day, it may use more.

Older plasma and LCD TVs draw significantly more power

If you own a TV from before 2015, it likely uses more electricity than a modern model. Plasma TVs, which were popular in the 2000s and early 2010s, were power-hungry — a 50-inch plasma could draw 150 to 200 watts continuously. Older LCD TVs without LED backlighting also used more power than today's versions.

Upgrading from a 10-year-old plasma to a modern LED TV can cut TV-related electricity use by half or more. The savings accumulate over years, though the upfront cost of a new TV is significant and should factor into the decision.

How to measure your specific TV's power use

The most accurate way to know what your TV actually draws is to use a power meter (also called a kill-a-watt meter or plug-load monitor). These devices plug into the wall outlet, your TV plugs into the meter, and it displays real-time wattage and cumulative kilowatt-hours. They cost $15 to $30 and work with any plugged-in device.

Plug in your meter, turn on your TV, and watch the wattage as you adjust brightness and change channels. This shows you the actual range your model uses. Leave it plugged in for a full day or week to see average consumption including standby mode.

You can also check your TV's manual or the manufacturer's website for the power consumption spec. Look for "typical power consumption" or "average power consumption" rather than maximum wattage — the typical figure is closer to real-world use.

Reducing your TV's electricity use

Lower the brightness setting. Most TVs ship with brightness set high for showroom appeal, not home viewing. Reducing brightness to a comfortable level cuts power use by 10 to 20 percent and reduces eye strain.

Turn off features you don't use. Motion smoothing, dynamic contrast, and other picture-processing features consume extra power. Disable them in the settings menu if the picture quality doesn't suffer.

Unplug the TV when you're away for extended periods. Standby power is small but continuous. If you travel for a week or more, unplugging saves a few cents and eliminates phantom load entirely.

Use the TV's sleep timer instead of leaving it on. Many people fall asleep with the TV running. Setting a 30 or 60-minute sleep timer ensures the TV shuts off automatically rather than running all night.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning a TV on and off use more electricity than leaving it on?

No. The surge of power when a TV starts up is negligible — it lasts milliseconds. Leaving a TV on uses far more electricity than the startup. Turn off your TV when you're not watching it.

How much does it cost to run a TV 24 hours a day?

A 60-watt TV running continuously for 30 days uses 43.2 kilowatt-hours. At 15 cents per kWh, that's about $6.50 per month or $78 per year. Costs vary based on your local electricity rate and the TV's actual wattage.

Are smart TVs more power-hungry than regular TVs?

Not significantly. Smart TVs use the same display technology as non-smart models, so power consumption is similar. The built-in processor and Wi-Fi add minimal draw — usually less than 5 watts extra.

What's the difference between watts and kilowatt-hours?

Watts measure power at a moment in time — how much electricity the TV is drawing right now. Kilowatt-hours measure energy over time — how much total electricity it used. A 60-watt TV running for 10 hours uses 0.6 kilowatt-hours.

Do curved TVs use more power than flat ones?

The curve itself doesn't affect power use. A curved TV uses roughly the same electricity as a flat TV of the same size and technology. The curve is purely a design choice.