How Much Electricity Does a TV Use?
A modern LED TV uses 30-150 watts depending on size: 32" TVs use about 30-55W, 50" TVs use 70-120W, and 65"+ TVs use 100-150W. Running a 50" TV for 5 hours daily costs about $3-5 per month.
Key Takeaways
- TV power consumption has dropped dramatically.
- Smart TVs in standby still draw 1-5 watts—consider a power strip.
- Gaming or using TV apps may increase power draw slightly.
Explanation
TV power consumption has dropped dramatically. Old CRT TVs used 100-400 watts, while modern LED/LCD TVs use 30-150 watts. OLED TVs fall between LCD and plasma in efficiency.
Screen size is the biggest factor in power consumption. A 32-inch LED TV might use only 30 watts, while a 75-inch TV can use 150 watts or more. Brightness settings also significantly impact power draw.
To calculate your TV's monthly cost: (watts × hours per day × 30 days) ÷ 1000 × electricity rate. At $0.16/kWh, a 100W TV watched 5 hours daily costs about $2.40/month. Try the Power Cost Calculator for your exact rate.
OLED TVs vary power consumption scene-by-scene because each pixel produces its own light. A dark movie scene on an OLED may draw only 60-80W, while a bright sports broadcast on the same TV can push draw to 150-200W. LCD TVs with LED backlighting maintain a more constant power draw regardless of on-screen content because the backlight stays at a relatively fixed brightness.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) content increases power consumption by 30-50% on most TVs because it requires higher peak brightness to display the expanded contrast range. A 55-inch LED TV that normally draws 80W during standard content may pull 110-120W during HDR playback. Disabling HDR when watching non-HDR content prevents this extra draw.
Soundbars and AV receivers add to the total entertainment center power budget. A soundbar draws 15-30W during use and 1-5W in standby, while an AV receiver draws 100-250W during movie playback. A full home theater setup with a 65-inch TV, AV receiver, subwoofer, and streaming device can draw 250-400W combined—roughly triple the TV alone.
Automatic brightness sensors (ambient light sensors) built into most modern TVs reduce power consumption by 20-30% by dimming the screen in dark rooms. Turning this feature on rather than leaving the TV at a fixed high brightness level is one of the easiest ways to reduce TV electricity costs without any noticeable effect on viewing quality.
Things to Know
- Smart TVs in standby still draw 1-5 watts—consider a power strip.
- Gaming or using TV apps may increase power draw slightly.
- Energy Star rated TVs are 25-30% more efficient than standard models.