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How many watts does a streaming box use? (5 W)
A streaming box uses about 5 W
Typical range 2–15 watts, plus ~3 W on standby.
Typical range 2–15 watts, plus ~3 W on standby.
Running cost calculator
Per hour—
Per day—
Per month—
Per year—
Energy/mo—
A streaming stick or box draws only a few watts, making it one of the cheapest devices in your entertainment setup.
Streaming box power specs
| Typical running power | 5 W |
| Typical range | 2–15 W |
| Standby draw | 3 W |
| Energy use | 0.03 kWh/day · 0.8 kWh/mo |
What affects the wattage
- Model size, age and energy rating.
- Settings and how hard it works (heat, speed, load).
- How many hours a day you run it.
Running cost at $0.17/kWh
| Electricity rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0.10/kWh | $0.00 | $0.08 | $0.91 |
| $0.15/kWh | $0.00 | $0.11 | $1.37 |
| $0.20/kWh | $0.01 | $0.15 | $1.83 |
| $0.25/kWh | $0.01 | $0.19 | $2.28 |
| $0.30/kWh | $0.01 | $0.22 | $2.74 |
| $0.40/kWh | $0.01 | $0.30 | $3.65 |
See the full breakdown of what it costs to run a streaming box, or what size power station runs a streaming box.
FAQ
How many watts does a streaming box use?
Typically 2-15 watts while streaming, even less idle.
Should I unplug my streaming stick?
It barely matters - standby draw is just a watt or two.
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