How much electricity does a TV use per hour?

On average an electric TV uses 0.65 kilowatts per hour.

An electric TV that is connected to a set-top box uses 0.98 kilowatts per hour and an electric TV that is not connected to a set-top box uses 0.77 kilowatts per hour.

A plasma TV can use 1.22 kilowatts per hour when in active mode and 0.05 kilowatts per hour in standby mode.

However, the plasma TV consumes more power than LCD TVs even when not used because it stays hot compared to an LCD TV which is cool to touch.

A back-lit liquid crystal display (LCD) uses 0.15 kilowatts per hour and a liquid crystal display that is not back-lit uses 0.09 kilowatts per hour.

When in active mode, a liquid crystal display (LCD) TV can use 1.33 kilowatts per hour, and on standby, it uses 0.07 kilowatts per hour.

An old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) set can use 2.11 kilowatts per hour and 0.03 kilowatts when in standby mode.

A cathode ray tube (CRT) TV can use up to 3 times more energy than a flat-panel TV of the same size.

If you’re looking for a way to lower your electric bill then I would suggest that you resign from watching TV. Well, believe it or not, if you watch TV for just 10 hours per day then you will be spending more than $100 annually on the electricity costs of the television only.

The good news is that there are several ways through which one can save money on their electric bills while still enjoying televisions to the fullest. For instance, one should look into purchasing energy-efficient TVs and other appliances such as stereos, DVD players, etc.

This article will provide an overall idea about how much electric power does a working television draw to enlighten consumers about this aspect so that they can make better decisions accordingly.

The theoretical answer as to how much an electric TV uses can be calculated as follows:

Typical Ratings of a Television (in Watts)

· 125 – 250 watts – for LCD TVs with built-in speakers

· 450 – 600 watts – for Plasma TVs with built-in speakers

· 50 – 75 watts – a TV which is turned on but not being used.

        – Total = 650 -1000 watts.

        = 0.65 kilowatts per hour, or 680 watt hours of electricity usage per day = approx 20.32 kWh’s per month            

        = approx 243.2 kWh’s per year.

This is the theoretical and approximate amount of electricity a TV uses per hour (to function). However, in actual practice, the electric usage would be much lower because modern TVs can switch into standby mode when they are not actively being used.

To get an accurate idea of how much electric power does your television use on an hourly basis then you can do one of two things:

1) Purchase a Kill-A-Watt meter which will accurately measure the number of watts that your TV uses. After purchasing this device, you simply plug it into any standard wall outlet and then plug your Television or other appliances into it while you turn them on and off throughout the day.

2) The second option would be to contact the manufacturer of the TV (or other appliance) to get their exact wattage rating. This could also be done via a quick Google search if you are unable to contact the manufacturer directly.

Regardless, knowing how much electricity your TV uses is essential when trying to lower your electric bill or when doing any sort of renovations that will bring an electrical outlet into proximity with your television.

FAQs Section

Does a 55 inch TV use a lot of electricity?

Yes. A 55 inch TV uses around 800 watts of power which is roughly equal to 2-3 of your standard light bulbs or 16 incandescent light bulbs. Thus, it’s safe to assume that this would increase your electricity bill by around 20-30 dollars each month.

Does leaving the TV on all night use a lot of electricity?

Yes. If you leave your TV on all night then it will use about 2.3 kWh’s of electricity (this is equal to roughly 6-10 dollars worth of electricity). Thus, if you wanted to lower your electric bill each month then I would recommend unplugging your television at night.

What uses the most electricity in a home?

According to the US Department of Energy, appliances such as televisions, dryers, and ovens all use a lot of electricity and should be unplugged when they are not in use. It is also advised to wash clothes in cold water and turn off the stove/oven whenever they are not being used.

Does the TV use much electricity?

Yes. TVs use a lot of electricity especially plasma and LED tvs. Therefore, it is important to unplug TVs when you are not using them; especially if they are built-in (as these cannot be easily unplugged).