Running costs · price cap 1 July to 30 September 2026
How much does a TV cost to run?
A TV costs about £28.77 a year to run at the current price cap of 26.11p per kWh, which is £2.40 a month or 7.9p a day. That is based on Which? testing, with the TV 4 hours a day on and 20 hours on standby.
Prices checked against Ofgem on .
Per day
7.9p
0.30 kWh
Per month
£2.40
average
per year
£28.77
110 kWh
Unit rate
26.11p
per kWh, price cap
TV running cost by viewing time
Using the CSE average of 120 W for an LCD TV. Standby use is not included here.
| Watching | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 hours a day | 6.3p | £1.91 | £22.87 |
| 4 hours a day | 13p | £3.81 | £45.74 |
| 6 hours a day | 19p | £5.72 | £68.62 |
| 8 hours a day | 25p | £7.62 | £91.49 |
TV running cost by electricity price
Monthly and yearly cost at the same usage. Fixed deals vary, so check the unit rate on your bill.
| Tariff | Unit rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July to 30 September 2026 price cap | 26.11p | £2.40 | £28.77 |
| 1 October to 31 December 2026 price cap | 26.32p | £2.42 | £29.00 |
| A 20p per kWh fixed deal | 20p | £1.84 | £22.04 |
| A 24p per kWh fixed deal | 24p | £2.20 | £26.44 |
| A 30p per kWh fixed deal | 30p | £2.75 | £33.05 |
Standby
Which?'s figure includes 20 hours a day on standby. Modern TVs use very little on standby, but switching off at the wall overnight removes it altogether.
Screen size
Bigger screens and brighter picture modes use more power. The CSE lists a typical LCD TV at 120 W, which costs about 3.1p an hour.
From 1 October
The price cap changes to 26.32p per kWh from 1 October to 31 December 2026. At the usage above, a TV would cost £29.00 a year, 23p more than now.
Guides and definitions
- Energy price cap explained: rates from 1 October 2026 and your bill (Guide)
- Is Economy 7 worth it? Hours, price cap and the night-use break-even (Guide)
- Standing charge vs unit rate: which energy tariff is cheaper for you? (Guide)
- Economy 7 (Economy 7 is an electricity tariff with seven cheaper off-peak hours, usually overnight, and a dearer daytime rate; Ofgem assumes 42% of use falls off-peak.)
- Typical domestic consumption values (TDCVs) (Typical domestic consumption values are Ofgem's yearly usage figures for a typical home, 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas from 1 July 2026.)
- Energy price cap (The energy price cap is Ofgem’s limit on unit rates and standing charges for default tariffs; typical bill £1,723 from 1 October 2026.)
- Standing charge (A standing charge is the fixed daily amount on an energy bill, paid whatever you use; the capped average is 54.83p a day for electricity.)
Other appliances
- Tumble dryer (running costs)
- Electric oven (running costs)
- Air fryer (running costs)
- Kettle (running costs)
- Fridge freezer (running costs)
- Electric shower (running costs)
- Immersion heater (running costs)
- Electric heater (running costs)
- Oil-filled radiator (running costs)
- Dehumidifier (running costs)
Appliance running cost calculator · Use your own wattage and unit rate
Common questions
How much does a TV cost to run per day?
About 7.9p a day at 26.11p per kWh.
How much does a TV cost to run a year?
About £28.77, based on Which? test data for an average model.
How many kWh does a TV use a year?
Around 110 kWh a year for an average model, or 0.30 kWh a day.
Sources and assumptions
- Prices use the Ofgem price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026: 26.11p per kWh, the average for Direct Debit customers in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not covered by the cap.
- Energy use comes from Which? lab tests of typical models. Your own model may use more or less.
- The daily standing charge (57.19p a day) is paid whatever you use, so it is not included.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges
- Which?: how much your appliances cost to run (26 August 2026)
These are estimates. Your bill depends on your tariff, your region and how you use the appliance.