24" monitor0.7p
27" gaming monitor1.1p
55" TV2.6p
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Cost per hour of gaming at 26.32p per kWh (UK average), the live standard variable rate since 1 October 2026. Typical figures; check your screen's energy label.
The short answer
Screens are easy to forget, but they can be a big part of what gaming costs. A typical gaming monitor uses about 25 to 50 watts and a 55-inch TV about 80 to 150 watts. At today's UK rate of 26.32p per kWh, that's roughly 1.1p an hour for a monitor and 2.6p for a TV.
| Screen | Typical power | Per hour | Per year (3 hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24-inch 1080p monitor | 20–30 W | 0.7p | £7.21 |
| 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor | 30–55 W | 1.1p | £11.53 |
| 32-inch 4K monitor | 40–70 W | 1.4p | £15.85 |
| 55-inch LED TV | 80–120 W | 2.6p | £28.82 |
| 65-inch TV | 120–200 W | 3.9p | £43.23 |
Power use varies a lot between models. PCWorld measured one 27-inch 165 Hz gaming monitor using more than 50 watts. Brightness, HDR and screen size make the biggest difference.
How much does the screen add?
- PS5 + TV: about 8.2p an hour, and about a third of that is the TV.
- Switch OLED + TV: about 2.8p an hour, and over 90% of that is the TV.
- Gaming PC + monitor: about 9.7p an hour for a mid-range PC with a 27-inch monitor.
Ways to cut your screen's running cost
- Turn the brightness down. Many TVs ship in a bright "vivid" mode. Switching to a "game", "standard" or "eco" mode can cut power use noticeably.
- Use HDR only when it's worth it. HDR drives the screen much brighter and uses more power.
- Turn off the screen properly. Most modern screens use under 0.5 watts in standby, so this matters less than it used to. But a screen left on at the menu still uses full power.
Add your screen to your console or PC in the gaming power cost calculator.
Sources: PCWorld, Octopus Energy tariff data.