KEY POINTS
- Typically, a modern TV consumes between 30 watts (W) and 400W.
- Watching TV can cost homes between $50 and $174 on average per year.
- The type of TV you own, brightness, volume and resolution are all things that can impact how much electricity your TV uses.
On this page:
How much power does a TV use?
Typically, a modern TV consumes between 30 watts (W) and 400W. In reality, how much energy your TV is actually consuming isn’t a straightforward answer.
Simply put, the logical formula to bear in mind is that the harder your television has to work, the more energy it has to consume. The amount of power your TV uses varies with the following factors:
- Type of TV: LCD, LED and Plasma TVs have varying energy ratings.
- Energy Ratings: Not all TVs are made equal. A TV with a higher star rating equates to better energy efficiency and estimated energy consumption.
- Screen brightness: Brighter lights require more electricity. The brighter your TV is set to, the more power it uses.
- Volume: The volume of your TV contributes a minuscule amount to its electricity consumption, except for when you’re blasting it at maximum volume. It all adds up and having an unnecessarily loud TV might cost you.
- Definition/resolution: High-definition televisions or ones that boast higher refresh rates like 4K and 8K models, will generally cost more to run.
- Screen size: Bigger TV screens require more electricity to power them.
- Age: Newer televisions often have better energy efficiency ratings and use less power.
- Viewing habits: The longer your eyes are glued to the TV screen, the more electricity you’re consuming.
- Standby: If you’re constantly leaving your TV on standby or sleep mode, expect to consume more energy the longer you leave it on.
The number of watts your TV is guzzling through will add to your energy bill’s usage charges, which refers to the rate you pay for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy you use.
How much does it cost to run a tv?
There isn’t a simple answer when asking ‘how many watts does a TV use?’ Watching television can cost anywhere between $70 and $400 on average per year.
That may not seem like much in comparison to other big home bills, but this can quickly add up if left unchecked.
How much you’re paying to run your TV isn’t only affected by how much energy you’re using to watch it, but also the energy plan you’re on:
- Your location: The energy plans you can choose from are limited by which retailers operate in your area or if your state is a regulated or deregulated energy market.
- Tariff type: A tariff refers to the pricing structure for your electricity usage:
- Single rate tariff: If you’re on a single rate tariff, you’ll be paying a flat usage rate, regardless of the time of day you run your TV.
- Time of use tariff: If you’re on a time of use tariff, you’ll pay more to use your TV during peak hours (e.g night time) and less during off-peak hours (e.g morning). Expect to spend more for those evening TV binges.
- Usage and supply rates: Different plans attract different usage and supply rates, with some being more affordable than others.
Canstar Blue has calculated the average television running costs of a 40-55 inch LED LCD TV, taking into account each appliance’s different energy efficiency ratings. Please note this data should be used as a general guide only.
| Energy efficiency rating | 1-2.5 stars | 3-4.5 stars | 5-6.5 stars | 7-8 stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | $300 | $185 | $139 | $77 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 06/08/2025. Average energy consumption figures based on televisions listed in the Commonwealth of Australia E3 Program’s Registration database, which assumes 10 hours use plus 14 hours in standby per day. Electricity usage cost estimates based on the average electricity usage rate of 33.2 c/kWh. Average electricity usage rates are based on single-rate, non-solar only plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 4,373 kWh.
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How much does it cost to run an energy efficient TV?
According to Canstar Blue’s calculations, households could save as much as $295 a year by switching from a 1-2.5 star-rated TV to a 7-8 star-rated TV, depending on their state or territory.
The data suggests it is South Australians who stand to save the most from upgrading their appliances, followed by households in New South Wales and Queensland.
The table below is based on a 60-70 inch LED LCD television. Again, it is best to treat these calculations as a general guide only. Actual costs may be higher depending on your TV power consumption and electricity usage rates.
Average annual TV running costs by energy efficiency rating in each capital city
| Capital city | 1-2.5 stars | 3-4.5 stars | 5-6.5 stars | 7-8 stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $397 | $245 | $184 | $102 |
| Sydney | $327 | $201 | $151 | $84 |
| Brisbane | $300 | $184 | $138 | $77 |
| Perth | $279 | $172 | $129 | $72 |
| Hobart | $252 | $155 | $117 | $65 |
| Darwin | $254 | $157 | $118 | $66 |
| Melbourne | $242 | $149 | $112 | $62 |
| Canberra | $272 | $168 | $126 | $70 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 06/08/2025. Average energy consumption figures based on televisions listed in the Commonwealth of Australia E3 Program’s Registration database, which assumes 10 hours use plus 14 hours in standby per day. Electricity usage cost estimates based on average electricity usage rates: 36.1 c/kWh in Sydney, 26.7c/kWh in Melbourne, 33.1 c/kWh in Brisbane, 43.9c/kWh in Adelaide, 30.8 c/kWh in Perth, 27.9 c/kWh in Hobart, 28.1 c/kWh in Darwin, 30.1 c/kWh in Canberra. Average electricity usage rates are based on single-rate, non-solar only plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 4,373 kWh.
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Which type of TV is best for electricity consumption?
The type of TV you run can make a big difference in how many watts it will use. Each option will have its pros and cons, so it’s important to understand which choice will be best for you.
LCD TVs
LCD TVs utilise a liquid crystal display (LCD) and polarizers to produce images, however, these don’t emit any light. This means that LCD TVs have to use backlights to illuminate the image. These backlights often require the most amount of electricity in the TV. On average, an LCD TV uses between ~50–150W.
LED TVs
LED TVs are one of the most common TV types out there. They use the same LCD display, but use light-emitting diode (LED) backlights, which emit less heat and require less power to produce light, making them slightly more energy efficient. On average, an LED TV uses between ~30–100W.
Plasma TVs
A plasma TV utilises pixels made of small cells full of ionized gas to emit ultraviolet light when connected to electricity. The ultraviolet light stimulates a synthetic fluorescent substance called a phosphor, which provides the desired colours on the screen. On average, a Plasma TV uses between ~150–400W.
Although their colour accuracy is hard to beat, plasma TVs require more electricity than LCD and LED TVs because of the gas technology.
OLED/QLED TVs
OLED and QLED TVs utilise the latest TV technology and provide great picture quality and high contrast images. OLED TVs use individual organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which means that each pixel is independently lit up. These pixels can also be turned off completely, which means they require less electricity. On average, an OLED TV uses between ~60–120W.
QLED TVs use LED backlights to illuminate a layer of quantum dots, which provide high brightness levels. Because of the constant backlight compared to OLED, QLED TVs generally require more electricity than OLEDs. On average, a QLED TV uses between LED ~60–350W.
How do I reduce my TV’s running costs?
While it’s unlikely that cutting back on your TV binges will slash your electricity bills by a lot, every bit adds up.
There are ways to minimise how much electricity your TV is using and reduce the impact of your sitcom sessions on your household costs.
The first half of the battle is to focus on your TV’s power usage:
- Buy an energy-efficient TV: Look out for televisions with a higher star rating. A higher energy efficiency equates to a lower year-on-year power consumption. Keep in mind that energy-efficient TVs typically cost more to buy upfront.
- Settle for a TV with a smaller screen size: Bigger isn’t always better. Consider settling for a TV with a smaller screen to cut down your operating costs.
- Opt for a lower resolution TV: If you’re not a stickler for ultra-high-definition shows, consider a TV with a lower resolution to cut back on its running power consumption.
- Selecting the power-optimal settings on your TV:
- Lower your TV’s brightness.
- Lower your TV’s volume settings if it’s currently close to the maximum setting.
- Reduce how often your TV is on standby. Instead, opt for shutting it off completely.
If you are in the market for a new TV or think it might be time to switch to a more energy-efficient model, then be sure to check out our annual TV customer satisfaction ratings by clicking the button below.
The second half is finding an energy plan with competitive usage and supply charges. You don’t want to end up paying more to use your TV than you should. If you’re ready to settle for a more competitive energy plan, shop around our comparison tool below, listing some of the best plans and providers available on our database.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3900kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4600kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
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