How much does a desktop computer cost to run?
Desktop power spans an order of magnitude: an office mini-PC sips power while a gaming rig under load rivals a small space heater. Average watts across your real day matter more than the power supply's rating.
Content reviewed 2026-09-27 · Rates published 2026-09-24 · methodology appliance-energy-1.0.0 · data vintage 2026-07-ytd
Using the gaming evenings assumptions below, electricity costs about $0.27 per day of use and $8.09 for 30 days of use at the Texas average rate. Adjust the calculator for your equipment and schedule.
Example costs using the Texas state-average rate
These are generated examples for a consistent location. Enter your own ZIP and usage below for a more relevant state-average estimate.
| Scenario | Assumption | kWh/month | Cost/day of use | Monthly range | Cost at 365 days/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office workday | 8 hours of productivity work on a mid-tower 120 W × 8 h/day × 0.7 duty × 22 days × 1 unit(s) | 14.78 | $0.11 | $1.57–$3.51 | $39.39 |
| Gaming evenings | 4 hours of gaming plus 4 hours of light use daily 350 W × 8 h/day × 0.6 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s) | 50.40 | $0.27 | $5.36–$11.97 | $98.48 |
| Always-on workstation | 24 hours with mixed idle and compute loads 250 W × 24 h/day × 0.5 duty × 30 days × 1 unit(s) | 90.00 | $0.48 | $9.57–$21.37 | $175.86 |
Wattage, runtime and duty cycle below are illustrative assumptions, not measurements of a particular model. Annual figures assume use on all 365 days; monthly figures use each scenario's stated number of days.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B. Data vintage 2026-07-ytd. State-average pricing is not your exact utility tariff.
What does one use cost?
Compare the same eight-hour workday at assumed measured average wall draw. These figures are for the computer alone; include the same displays and peripherals for a fair workstation comparison.
| Task | Assumptions | kWh/use | Estimated cost/use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light-duty desktop | 60 W average × 8 h | 0.4800 | $0.08 Range $0.05–$0.11 |
| Desktop workday | 120 W average × 8 h | 0.9600 | $0.15 Range $0.10–$0.23 |
| Compute-heavy workday | 250 W average × 8 h | 2.0000 | $0.32 Range $0.21–$0.47 |
Illustrative usage, priced at the same Texas state average as the calculator. Costs are rounded to cents; actual consumption and your utility price can differ.
Calculate your own usage
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PSU rating is not consumption
A 750-watt power supply describes capacity, not draw. Actual consumption follows the components' load: browsing might hold a gaming rig near a hundred watts while a demanding title multiplies that. A wall meter is the only honest audit.
Monitors and peripherals ride along
Each display adds tens of watts, and speakers, external drives, and USB devices stack on top. These scenarios model the tower alone, so add your monitors' ratings to the wattage input for an all-in desk estimate.
Sleep policies are free money
Modern sleep states cut draw to a few watts and resume in seconds, yet many desktops idle at full readiness all night. An aggressive sleep timer converts sixteen empty hours a day into near-zero consumption without hardware changes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gaming PC add to the electric bill?
Is it bad to leave the desktop on 24/7?
Do laptops beat desktops on electricity?
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