NAS (network storage): electricity cost calculator
Quick answer: a typical nas (network storage) costs about $5/month while in use at the U.S. average electricity price (18.44¢/kWh) — about $65 per year. Your number depends on wattage, runtime and your state — calculate it below.
A 2-bay NAS with drives spun up draws 25–50 W; larger 4–8 bay units 50–100 W. Drive hibernation and scheduled sleep can cut consumption by half for lightly used boxes.
0.96 kWh/day used · 29 kWh/month in use · 351 kWh/year at 18.44¢ per kWh
Low, typical and heavy use
Monthly cost while in use, at the U.S. average price of 18.44¢/kWh.
| Scenario | Watts | Hours/day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light use | 15 W | 14.4 h | $1.21 |
| Typical | 40 W | 24.0 h | $5.39 |
| Heavy use | 100 W | 24.0 h | $13.47 |
Common questions
How much does a NAS cost to run per year?
A typical 40 W 2-bay unit running 24/7 uses about 350 kWh per year — roughly $65 at the U.S. average price.
Cost in every state
Monthly cost of a typical nas (network storage) (40 W, 24h/day) at each state's average residential price, May 2026.
| State | Avg price | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.77¢ | $4.90 |
| Alaska | 28.23¢ | $8.25 |
| Arizona | 15.23¢ | $4.45 |
| Arkansas | 14.36¢ | $4.20 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $9.72 |
| Colorado | 16.16¢ | $4.72 |
| Connecticut | 27.37¢ | $8.00 |
| Delaware | 19.38¢ | $5.66 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40¢ | $7.42 |
| Florida | 15.17¢ | $4.43 |
| Georgia | 15.84¢ | $4.63 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $15.19 |
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $3.61 |
| Illinois | 23.85¢ | $6.97 |
| Indiana | 18.15¢ | $5.30 |
| Iowa | 14.14¢ | $4.13 |
| Kansas | 15.13¢ | $4.42 |
| Kentucky | 14.98¢ | $4.38 |
| Louisiana | 14.15¢ | $4.13 |
| Maine | 28.63¢ | $8.37 |
| Maryland | 21.77¢ | $6.36 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82¢ | $8.42 |
| Michigan | 22.01¢ | $6.43 |
| Minnesota | 16.95¢ | $4.95 |
| Mississippi | 16.16¢ | $4.72 |
| Missouri | 13.68¢ | $4.00 |
| Montana | 14.67¢ | $4.29 |
| Nebraska | 13.59¢ | $3.97 |
| Nevada | 13.60¢ | $3.97 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33¢ | $7.99 |
| New Jersey | 23.27¢ | $6.80 |
| New Mexico | 14.12¢ | $4.13 |
| New York | 29.93¢ | $8.75 |
| North Carolina | 15.09¢ | $4.41 |
| North Dakota | 13.61¢ | $3.98 |
| Ohio | 19.52¢ | $5.70 |
| Oklahoma | 13.38¢ | $3.91 |
| Oregon | 16.27¢ | $4.75 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.55¢ | $6.30 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46¢ | $8.61 |
| South Carolina | 16.18¢ | $4.73 |
| South Dakota | 15.73¢ | $4.60 |
| Tennessee | 14.47¢ | $4.23 |
| Texas | 16.44¢ | $4.80 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $3.79 |
| Vermont | 24.89¢ | $7.27 |
| Virginia | 17.61¢ | $5.15 |
| Washington | 14.95¢ | $4.37 |
| West Virginia | 16.80¢ | $4.91 |
| Wisconsin | 19.74¢ | $5.77 |
| Wyoming | 14.80¢ | $4.32 |
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Methodology & sources
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. Electricity prices are average residential prices by state from the EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (May 2026). EIA averages include delivery charges and taxes but are not any specific utility tariff — for an exact figure, use the rate from your own bill. Wattage presets reflect common product ranges; check your appliance's nameplate or a plug-in power meter for its true draw.
Last verified: July 30, 2026. Prices refresh automatically each month when EIA publishes new data.