How much does a laptop cost to run?
A laptop typically draws around 60 W while running. Ratings vary widely between models, so check the label and change the figure below.
per kWh
W
g CO2 per kWh
Cost per year
50.69
- Cost per month
- 4.22
- Cost per day
- 0.14
- Cost per hour of use
- 0.02
- Energy per year
- 181.0 kWh
- Energy per day
- 0.4960 kWh
- Carbon dioxide per year
- 45.3
- Annual cost of standby alone
- 1.64
Show the working
- Power = 60
- Hours per day = 8
- Days per year in use = 365
- Electricity price = 0.28
- Standby power = 1
- Grid carbon intensity = 250
- kw = 60 / 1000 = 0.06
- daily_kwh = 0.06 * 8 = 0.48
- standby_kwh = 1 / 1000 * (24 - 8) = 0.016
- Energy per day = 0.48 + 0.016 = 0.496
- Energy per year = 0.496 * 365 = 181.04
- Cost per day = 0.496 * 0.28 = 0.138 88
- Cost per year = 181.04 * 0.28 = 50.6912
- Cost per month = 50.6912 / 12 = 4.224 27
- Cost per hour of use = 0.06 * 0.28 = 0.0168
- Carbon dioxide per year = 181.04 * 250 / 1000 = 45.26
- Annual cost of standby alone = 0.016 * 365 * 0.28 = 1.6352
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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Recent calculations
The formula
- daily energy = power in kW x hours
- annual cost = daily energy x days x price per kWh
Nameplate wattage is the maximum draw, not the average. A cycling appliance like a fridge or a freezer averages far less.
Standby draw is small per device and adds up across a house: ten devices at 2 W each is 175 kWh a year.
Running cost of a laptop at different tariffs
| Price per kWh | Per hour | Per year at 8 h/day |
|---|---|---|
| 0.10 | 0.0060 | 17.52 |
| 0.15 | 0.0090 | 26.28 |
| 0.20 | 0.0120 | 35.04 |
| 0.25 | 0.0150 | 43.80 |
| 0.30 | 0.0180 | 52.56 |
| 0.40 | 0.0240 | 70.08 |
Frequently asked
How many watts does a laptop use?
Typically around 60 W while running, though models vary. Check the rating plate.
How much electricity does it use per day?
About 0.48 kWh at 8 hours of use.
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