Cost to run

How much does a Wi-Fi router cost to run?

A router draws about as much as a night-light but never turns off. Its cost story is continuous hours, not power — and the answer stays small either way.

Reviewed 2026-07-15 · methodology appliance-energy-1.0.0 · data vintage 2026-04-ytd

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	Monthly range	Most likely/year
Basic router	8 watts around the clock	5.76	$0.61–$1.37	$11.27
Router plus modem	18 combined watts around the clock	12.96	$1.38–$3.08	$25.35
Three-node mesh system	Three 8-watt nodes around the clock	17.28	$1.84–$4.11	$33.81

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B. Data vintage 2026-04-ytd. State-average pricing is not your exact utility tariff.

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Always-on by design, cheap by nature

Home networking gear draws single-digit to low-double-digit watts continuously, since dropping the network to save pennies would defeat its purpose. The full-year total lands in the range of a few dollars in most states.

The stack grows quietly

Modems, mesh satellites, network switches, and Wi-Fi extenders each add their own always-on load beside the router. A three-node mesh with a cable modem can triple the baseline of a single integrated gateway, as the scenarios show.

When switching off makes sense — and when not

Powering the network down overnight saves a strictly proportional slice of an already small number, while breaking smart-home devices, backups, and updates that run in quiet hours. Most households reasonably leave it on and optimize elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth unplugging the router at night?

The savings are a third of a small annual figure, and always-on devices from thermostats to cameras stop working. For most homes the answer is no.

Do Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 routers use more power?

Higher-performance radios and CPUs can raise draw somewhat, especially under heavy traffic, but the totals remain in night-light territory compared with real appliances.

Does internet usage change the router's consumption?

Traffic load moves the draw only slightly; these devices sit near their baseline whether idle or streaming. Hours, not gigabytes, define the cost.

Related appliance cost guides

Compare all published appliances · Electricity rates in your state · Read the methodology · Review the data sources