Cost per hour of gaming at 26.32p per kWh (UK average), the live standard variable rate since 1 October 2026. Charging figure is the charger's maximum.
The short answer
The Meta Quest 3 runs on its own battery for about two hours of play. Mixed reports that it needs at least an 18-watt charger. Even if it pulled the full 18 watts for two and a half hours, that's 45 watt-hours of electricity, which costs about 1.2p at today's UK rate of 26.32p per kWh.
In practice, a charge uses less than that, because charging slows as the battery fills. Call it about a penny a charge.
| How you play | Typical power | Per hour of play |
|---|---|---|
| Quest 3 standalone (charging cost) | under 18 W | 0.5p |
| Quest 3 with a battery strap or power bank | charged separately, also pennies | 0.5p |
| PC VR on a mid-range gaming PC | about 330 W | 8.7p |
| PC VR on a high-end gaming PC | about 650 W | 17p |
PC VR is a different story
When you link a Quest 3 to a PC with a cable or Air Link, the gaming PC does the work. VR is demanding because it renders two views at high frame rates, so expect your PC to run close to its full gaming power. That's the same as a demanding PC game: see gaming PC running costs.
Charging while you play
If you play while plugged in or with a battery strap, you're still only using around 18 to 24 watts. Mixed measured 24 watts flowing into the headset from one power bank. It's still pennies per session.
Is VR expensive to run?
Standalone Quest gaming is one of the cheapest ways to play, alongside the Switch and Steam Deck. A year of standalone play at an hour a day costs under £1.73.
Sources: Mixed, Octopus Energy tariff data.