Home / Computers & Office / Computer monitor
How many watts does a computer monitor use? (30 W)
A computer monitor uses about 30 W
Typical range 15–60 watts, plus ~1 W on standby.
Typical range 15–60 watts, plus ~1 W on standby.
Running cost calculator
Per hour—
Per day—
Per month—
Per year—
Energy/mo—
A monitor's power depends on size and brightness; large, high-refresh displays use more than a basic office screen.
Computer monitor power specs
| Typical running power | 30 W |
| Typical range | 15–60 W |
| Standby draw | 1 W |
| Energy use | 0.18 kWh/day · 5.4 kWh/mo |
What affects a computer monitor's wattage
A computer monitor is rated around 30 W, but the real figure shifts with a few things:
- Model and rating: A computer monitor ranges from about 15 W on efficient units to 60 W on larger or older ones — a spread of ~45 W.
- Usage: the real draw depends on the workload — idle browsing draws far less than gaming or rendering.
- Standby: even idle it keeps drawing ~1 W, which quietly adds up over a year.
- Run time: because a computer monitor runs for long stretches (about 6 h/day), hours of use matter as much as raw wattage on your bill.
Running cost at $0.17/kWh
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.02 | $0.54 | $6.57 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.03 | $0.81 | $9.86 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.04 | $1.08 | $13.14 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.05 | $1.35 | $16.43 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.05 | $1.62 | $19.71 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.07 | $2.16 | $26.28 |
See the full breakdown of what it costs to run a computer monitor, or what size power station runs a computer monitor.
FAQ
How many watts does a monitor use?
Around 15-60 watts depending on size, brightness and refresh rate.
Does lowering brightness save power?
Yes - dimming the backlight is the easiest way to cut a monitor's draw.
More in Computers & Office