How much does it cost to run a gaming PC?
Short answer: A gaming PC drawing 400 watts costs about $0.07 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 4 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $8.79 per month and $105.47 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $6.11 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $23.04.
Gaming PC cost calculator
Hours per day of actual gaming. Browsing or idle time draws far less power; see the sizes table.
Energy used: 48.0 kWh per month. Default price is the U.S. residential average; pick your state or type the price from your own bill.
The wattage printed on a power supply is its maximum capacity, not what the computer uses. A gaming PC with an 850-watt power supply typically draws 300 to 500 watts from the wall during a demanding game and well under 100 watts sitting at the desktop.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 4 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-range PC while gaming | 300 W | $0.05 | $6.59 |
| High-end PC while gaming | 500 W | $0.09 | $10.99 |
| Any gaming PC, idle at desktop | 80 W | $0.01 | $1.76 |
Where the power goes
The graphics card is the main consumer. A mid-range card draws 150 to 220 watts under load, and flagship cards can exceed 400 watts on their own. The processor adds 60 to 150 watts during games. Everything else, including memory, drives, fans and the motherboard, adds roughly 50 to 80 watts.
Do not forget the monitor. A 27-inch display uses 30 to 60 watts, and a large high-refresh or HDR panel can use over 100 watts. Add it to the wattage in the calculator if you want the cost of the whole setup.
Measuring your own PC
Estimates only go so far because every build is different. A plug-in watt meter costs about the price of a pizza, sits between the PC and the wall outlet, and shows exactly what the system draws while you play. Enter that number above for a result specific to your machine.
How to lower the cost
- Cap the frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate. Rendering frames the screen cannot show wastes power.
- Let the PC sleep when you step away rather than idling for hours.
- Use the graphics driver's efficiency or eco mode in less demanding games.
- Turn off the monitor instead of relying on a screensaver.
Cost to run a gaming PC in every state
Based on 400 watts for 4 hours a day, 30 days a month, at each state's average residential electricity price for July 2026.
| State | Price per kWh | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40¢ | $0.07 | $7.87 | $94.46 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.12 | $13.84 | $166.06 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.06 | $7.38 | $88.59 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.06 | $6.88 | $82.54 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.13 | $16.13 | $193.59 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.07 | $8.16 | $97.92 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.10 | $11.60 | $139.16 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.07 | $8.87 | $106.44 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.10 | $12.10 | $145.21 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.06 | $7.21 | $86.57 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.07 | $7.81 | $93.72 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.19 | $23.04 | $276.48 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.05 | $6.59 | $79.08 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.08 | $9.23 | $110.71 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.07 | $8.03 | $96.36 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.06 | $7.68 | $92.10 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.06 | $7.33 | $87.96 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.06 | $6.63 | $79.55 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.05 | $6.11 | $73.27 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.13 | $15.56 | $186.68 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.09 | $10.28 | $123.32 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.12 | $14.64 | $175.62 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.09 | $11.06 | $132.77 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.07 | $8.38 | $100.51 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.06 | $6.98 | $83.75 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.06 | $7.72 | $92.68 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.06 | $7.20 | $86.34 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.06 | $6.61 | $79.37 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.05 | $6.13 | $73.56 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.11 | $12.77 | $153.22 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.10 | $12.09 | $145.09 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.06 | $7.72 | $92.68 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.12 | $14.35 | $172.22 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.06 | $7.28 | $87.32 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.05 | $6.44 | $77.24 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.08 | $9.34 | $112.03 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.06 | $6.89 | $82.66 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.06 | $7.67 | $91.99 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.09 | $10.43 | $125.11 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.11 | $13.58 | $162.95 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.06 | $7.43 | $89.11 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.06 | $7.38 | $88.53 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.05 | $6.58 | $78.97 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.06 | $7.62 | $91.47 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.05 | $6.30 | $75.57 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.10 | $11.40 | $136.80 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.07 | $8.42 | $101.09 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.06 | $7.06 | $84.73 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.06 | $7.57 | $90.89 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.08 | $9.15 | $109.79 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.06 | $6.89 | $82.71 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gaming PC add to an electric bill?
At 400 watts for 4 hours a day, about 48 kWh a month, or roughly $8.79 at the U.S. average price.
Does a gaming PC use a lot of electricity when idle?
No. Most idle at 50 to 100 watts. Left on around the clock, though, that still adds up to 35–70 kWh a month.
Is a gaming laptop cheaper to run than a desktop?
Yes. Gaming laptops typically draw 100 to 200 watts under load, less than half of a comparable desktop.