How Much Does It Cost to Run a Gaming PC?
A gaming rig under load can pull 500+ watts — several evenings a week of play costs real money over a year, unlike most electronics. At the US-average rate of 16.5¢/kWh, running a gaming PC costs about $10.03/month ($120.30/year) at typical use. Adjust the watts, hours, and your rate below for your exact number.
Cost to run a gaming PC
$120/yr
- Per day
- $0.33
- Per month
- $10.03
- Energy per year
- 730 kWh
Cost = power (kW) × hours × days × your rate. Defaults are typical values — enter your appliance's actual watts (often on a label) and your real rate for a precise figure.
How much electricity does a gaming PC use?
At 500 W for 4 hours a day, a gaming PC uses about 2.0 kWh per day — roughly 61 kWh per month and 730 kWh per year. That's about 7% of the 863 kWh the average US home uses in a month. Energy use is the same everywhere — only the price per kWh changes your bill.
Wondering about the circuit instead? See how many amps a gaming PC draws.
Cost to run a gaming PC by electricity rate
Same 500 W appliance, 4 h/day — the bill changes with where you live.
| Scenario | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest states (North Dakota) | 11.5¢ | $7.00 | $84.02 |
| US average | 16.5¢ | $10.03 | $120.30 |
| Most expensive (Hawaii) | 42.9¢ | $26.07 | $312.88 |
Find your state's rate on the electricity rates by state page, or see the appliance wattage chart for more devices.
Measure what a gaming PC really costs you
The estimate above uses typical wattage and hours. A plug-in energy meter logs the kilowatt-hours this appliance actually uses — leave it in for a week, multiply by your rate, and the estimate becomes a measurement. A whole-home monitor does the same for every circuit at once, but its sensors install inside the panel.
We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend — see our affiliate disclosure. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Plug-in power meter
P3 International Kill A Watt P4400
Best for: Measuring what one plug-in appliance really uses
Whole-home energy monitor
Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor (16 circuit sensors)
Best for: Measuring hardwired and 240 V loads, or every circuit at once
Frequently asked questions
Ask AI about this
Open an AI assistant with a question grounded in this page.