Standby (vampire) power: electricity cost calculator
Quick answer: a typical standby (vampire) power costs about $10/month while in use at the U.S. average electricity price (18.44¢/kWh) — about $121 per year. Your number depends on wattage, runtime and your state — calculate it below.
TVs, consoles, chargers, smart speakers, microwaves and set-top boxes each draw 0.5–15 W when 'off'. A typical home's combined standby load is 30–150 W, running every hour of the year.
1.80 kWh/day used · 55 kWh/month in use · 657 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 | 30 W | 14.4 h | $2.42 |
| Typical | 75 W | 24.0 h | $10.10 |
| Heavy use | 150 W | 24.0 h | $20.21 |
Common questions
How do I find my vampire loads?
A $15–25 plug-in power meter reveals each device's standby draw in seconds. Game consoles in 'instant on' mode and older set-top boxes are the usual top offenders.
Is 75 W of standby really worth chasing?
At the U.S. average price, 75 W around the clock is about $120 per year. Smart power strips on the TV and desk clusters usually recover most of it.
Cost in every state
Monthly cost of a typical standby (vampire) power (75 W, 24h/day) at each state's average residential price, May 2026.
| State | Avg price | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.77¢ | $9.19 |
| Alaska | 28.23¢ | $15.47 |
| Arizona | 15.23¢ | $8.34 |
| Arkansas | 14.36¢ | $7.87 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $18.22 |
| Colorado | 16.16¢ | $8.85 |
| Connecticut | 27.37¢ | $15.00 |
| Delaware | 19.38¢ | $10.62 |
| District of Columbia | 25.40¢ | $13.92 |
| Florida | 15.17¢ | $8.31 |
| Georgia | 15.84¢ | $8.68 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $28.49 |
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $6.77 |
| Illinois | 23.85¢ | $13.07 |
| Indiana | 18.15¢ | $9.94 |
| Iowa | 14.14¢ | $7.75 |
| Kansas | 15.13¢ | $8.29 |
| Kentucky | 14.98¢ | $8.21 |
| Louisiana | 14.15¢ | $7.75 |
| Maine | 28.63¢ | $15.69 |
| Maryland | 21.77¢ | $11.93 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82¢ | $15.79 |
| Michigan | 22.01¢ | $12.06 |
| Minnesota | 16.95¢ | $9.29 |
| Mississippi | 16.16¢ | $8.85 |
| Missouri | 13.68¢ | $7.49 |
| Montana | 14.67¢ | $8.04 |
| Nebraska | 13.59¢ | $7.45 |
| Nevada | 13.60¢ | $7.45 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33¢ | $14.97 |
| New Jersey | 23.27¢ | $12.75 |
| New Mexico | 14.12¢ | $7.74 |
| New York | 29.93¢ | $16.40 |
| North Carolina | 15.09¢ | $8.27 |
| North Dakota | 13.61¢ | $7.46 |
| Ohio | 19.52¢ | $10.69 |
| Oklahoma | 13.38¢ | $7.33 |
| Oregon | 16.27¢ | $8.91 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.55¢ | $11.81 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46¢ | $16.14 |
| South Carolina | 16.18¢ | $8.86 |
| South Dakota | 15.73¢ | $8.62 |
| Tennessee | 14.47¢ | $7.93 |
| Texas | 16.44¢ | $9.01 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $7.10 |
| Vermont | 24.89¢ | $13.64 |
| Virginia | 17.61¢ | $9.65 |
| Washington | 14.95¢ | $8.19 |
| West Virginia | 16.80¢ | $9.20 |
| Wisconsin | 19.74¢ | $10.82 |
| Wyoming | 14.80¢ | $8.11 |
Related calculators
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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.