How much does it cost to run a laptop?
Short answer: A laptop drawing 60 watts costs about $0.01 per hour at the U.S. average residential price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Used 6 hours a day, 30 days a month, that is about $1.98 per month and $23.73 per year. In Louisiana, the cheapest state, the same use costs $1.37 a month; in Hawaii, the most expensive, $5.18.
Laptop cost calculator
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Hours per day the laptop is in use or charging.
Uses 10.8 kWh per month. The starting price is the U.S. residential average; choose your state or type the price from your own bill.
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| Appliance | Usage | Per month | Remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | |||
| Per year |
A laptop is one of the cheapest computers to run. A typical model draws 30 to 60 watts in use, about a third of what a desktop with a separate monitor needs, and costs around two dollars a month.
Cost by size and setting
Costs below use the U.S. average price and 6 hours a day, 30 days a month.
| Type | Power | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin and light, everyday use | 30 W | $0.01 | $0.99 |
| Standard laptop | 60 W | $0.01 | $1.98 |
| Gaming laptop under load | 180 W | $0.03 | $5.93 |
Why laptops use so little
Laptops are built to run on a battery, so every component is designed to save power: the processor slows down when idle, and the screen is small and efficient. The wattage printed on the charger, often 65 or 90 watts, is the most it can deliver while charging a flat battery and running the laptop at the same time. Normal use is well below that.
What changes the cost
What you are doing. Browsing and documents may need only 15 to 25 watts; video calls, editing and games push the draw toward the charger's limit. A gaming laptop with a dedicated graphics card can use 150 watts or more during play. Screen brightness matters more on a laptop than on most devices.
How to lower the cost
- Let it sleep when you step away; sleep uses about one watt.
- Lower the screen brightness.
- The saving from unplugging the charger is negligible: a charger with nothing attached uses a fraction of a watt.
- If you are choosing between a laptop and a desktop for everyday work, the laptop uses less than half the electricity.
How a laptop compares with other appliances
Typical power and use for each appliance, at the U.S. average price of 18.31¢ per kWh. Follow a link for that appliance's own calculator, or compare two side by side.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | Energy per month | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop | 60 W | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | 10.8 kWh | $1.98 |
| Desktop computer | 150 W | 6 hours a day, 30 days a month | 27.0 kWh | $4.94 |
| Gaming PC | 400 W | 4 hours a day, 30 days a month | 48.0 kWh | $8.79 |
| TV | 100 W | 5 hours a day, 30 days a month | 15.0 kWh | $2.75 |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 W | 24 hours a day, 30 days a month | 7.2 kWh | $1.32 |
The math behind the numbers
60 watts ÷ 1,000 = 0.06 kW. 0.06 kW × 6 hours = 0.36 kWh per day. 0.36 kWh × $0.1831 = $0.07 per day. Over 30 days that is 10.8 kWh and $1.98 a month.
Your own figure will differ if your appliance has a different wattage, if you use it more or less, or if your price per kWh is not the national average. Change any of those in the calculator at the top of this page. Our step-by-step guide explains where to find each number.
Cost to run a laptop in every state
Based on 60 watts for 6 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¢ | $0.01 | $1.77 | $21.25 |
| Alaska | 28.83¢ | $0.02 | $3.11 | $37.36 |
| Arizona | 15.38¢ | $0.01 | $1.66 | $19.93 |
| Arkansas | 14.33¢ | $0.01 | $1.55 | $18.57 |
| California | 33.61¢ | $0.02 | $3.63 | $43.56 |
| Colorado | 17.00¢ | $0.01 | $1.84 | $22.03 |
| Connecticut | 24.16¢ | $0.01 | $2.61 | $31.31 |
| Delaware | 18.48¢ | $0.01 | $2.00 | $23.95 |
| District of Columbia | 25.21¢ | $0.02 | $2.72 | $32.67 |
| Florida | 15.03¢ | $0.01 | $1.62 | $19.48 |
| Georgia | 16.27¢ | $0.01 | $1.76 | $21.09 |
| Hawaii | 48.00¢ | $0.03 | $5.18 | $62.21 |
| Idaho | 13.73¢ | $0.01 | $1.48 | $17.79 |
| Illinois | 19.22¢ | $0.01 | $2.08 | $24.91 |
| Indiana | 16.73¢ | $0.01 | $1.81 | $21.68 |
| Iowa | 15.99¢ | $0.01 | $1.73 | $20.72 |
| Kansas | 15.27¢ | $0.01 | $1.65 | $19.79 |
| Kentucky | 13.81¢ | $0.01 | $1.49 | $17.90 |
| Louisiana | 12.72¢ | $0.01 | $1.37 | $16.49 |
| Maine | 32.41¢ | $0.02 | $3.50 | $42.00 |
| Maryland | 21.41¢ | $0.01 | $2.31 | $27.75 |
| Massachusetts | 30.49¢ | $0.02 | $3.29 | $39.52 |
| Michigan | 23.05¢ | $0.01 | $2.49 | $29.87 |
| Minnesota | 17.45¢ | $0.01 | $1.88 | $22.62 |
| Mississippi | 14.54¢ | $0.01 | $1.57 | $18.84 |
| Missouri | 16.09¢ | $0.01 | $1.74 | $20.85 |
| Montana | 14.99¢ | $0.01 | $1.62 | $19.43 |
| Nebraska | 13.78¢ | $0.01 | $1.49 | $17.86 |
| Nevada | 12.77¢ | $0.01 | $1.38 | $16.55 |
| New Hampshire | 26.60¢ | $0.02 | $2.87 | $34.47 |
| New Jersey | 25.19¢ | $0.02 | $2.72 | $32.65 |
| New Mexico | 16.09¢ | $0.01 | $1.74 | $20.85 |
| New York | 29.90¢ | $0.02 | $3.23 | $38.75 |
| North Carolina | 15.16¢ | $0.01 | $1.64 | $19.65 |
| North Dakota | 13.41¢ | $0.01 | $1.45 | $17.38 |
| Ohio | 19.45¢ | $0.01 | $2.10 | $25.21 |
| Oklahoma | 14.35¢ | $0.01 | $1.55 | $18.60 |
| Oregon | 15.97¢ | $0.01 | $1.72 | $20.70 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.72¢ | $0.01 | $2.35 | $28.15 |
| Rhode Island | 28.29¢ | $0.02 | $3.06 | $36.66 |
| South Carolina | 15.47¢ | $0.01 | $1.67 | $20.05 |
| South Dakota | 15.37¢ | $0.01 | $1.66 | $19.92 |
| Tennessee | 13.71¢ | $0.01 | $1.48 | $17.77 |
| Texas | 15.88¢ | $0.01 | $1.72 | $20.58 |
| Utah | 13.12¢ | $0.01 | $1.42 | $17.00 |
| Vermont | 23.75¢ | $0.01 | $2.57 | $30.78 |
| Virginia | 17.55¢ | $0.01 | $1.90 | $22.74 |
| Washington | 14.71¢ | $0.01 | $1.59 | $19.06 |
| West Virginia | 15.78¢ | $0.01 | $1.70 | $20.45 |
| Wisconsin | 19.06¢ | $0.01 | $2.06 | $24.70 |
| Wyoming | 14.36¢ | $0.01 | $1.55 | $18.61 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge a laptop?
A full charge of a typical 60 watt-hour battery uses well under 0.1 kWh, which is about a cent.
How much electricity does a laptop use per month?
About 10.8 kWh at 60 watts for 6 hours a day, or $1.98 at the U.S. average price.
Does a laptop use less electricity than a desktop?
Yes, typically a third to a half as much, because it is designed to run on a battery.
Sources
- ENERGY STAR: Computers
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly (state electricity prices)
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver: Appliances and Electronics
Electricity prices are the EIA figures for July 2026. Wattages are typical values; check the label on your own appliance.