Do Smart Plugs Save Electricity?
Yes, smart plugs can save electricity, but only on devices that would otherwise sit idle drawing standby power. A typical Wi-Fi smart plug itself uses 1-2 watts just to stay connected, costing roughly $1.50 a year. That small cost is easily recovered by scheduling or automatically shutting off high-draw devices like game consoles, cable DVRs, space heaters, and entertainment centers, which can pull 15-40 watts even when idle. Standby power from electronics like these accounts for 5-10% of a typical home's electricity use, according to the Department of Energy. Smart plugs do nothing to cut power while a device is actively running, so putting one on a refrigerator or an always-on router saves nothing.
Key Takeaways
- A smart plug sits between an outlet and a device, letting you turn that device on or off remotely, on a schedule, or automatically once it would otherwise sit idle.
- Smart plugs rated for high-wattage devices like space heaters or window ACs should be UL-listed and rated for at least 15 amps to avoid overheating.
- A smart plug on a refrigerator or router should only be used for monitoring, never for scheduled shutoffs, since both need continuous power.
Explanation
A smart plug sits between an outlet and a device, letting you turn that device on or off remotely, on a schedule, or automatically once it would otherwise sit idle. The savings come from automation, not from the plug itself being more efficient. Standby power from electronics with clocks, remotes, or Wi-Fi radios accounts for 5-10% of a typical U.S. home's electricity use, and smart plugs target exactly that waste by cutting power when nobody needs it.
The best targets are devices with high standby draw that people forget to turn off: cable DVRs and game consoles (15-40 watts), window air conditioners and space heaters left plugged in after the season ends, and home office gear like monitors and printers. Scheduling a space heater to shut off overnight, or a TV and soundbar setup to power down after midnight, avoids the kind of continuous phantom load that unplugging devices manually would otherwise require remembering every night.
Smart plugs aren't free to run—they typically draw 0.5-2 watts of their own standby power to stay connected to Wi-Fi or a hub, costing roughly $1-2 per plug annually at average U.S. electricity rates. A $10-25 smart plug pays for its own standby draw many times over if it automates even one high-draw device, but adding plugs to low-draw items like phone chargers or lamps rarely moves the needle on a monthly electricity bill.
Smart plugs don't reduce electricity used while a device is actively running—a space heater pulling 1,500 watts draws the same power whether a smart plug or a wall switch controls it. Zigbee and Z-Wave smart plugs typically draw less standby power than Wi-Fi models since they rely on a central hub rather than a constant Wi-Fi connection. To measure real savings, track kWh usage before and after automating a device, the same approach used when reading an electric meter to monitor whole-home consumption.
Things to Know
- Smart plugs rated for high-wattage devices like space heaters or window ACs should be UL-listed and rated for at least 15 amps to avoid overheating.
- A smart plug on a refrigerator or router should only be used for monitoring, never for scheduled shutoffs, since both need continuous power.
- Smart power strips with individually switched outlets can replace several smart plugs for an entertainment center at a similar or lower cost—see how to save electricity at home for other tactics.
- Losing Wi-Fi or hub connectivity can leave a smart plug stuck in its last on/off state until the connection is restored.
- Outdoor smart plugs need a weatherproof rating of IP44 or higher if used for holiday lighting or patio equipment.