Cost per hour of gaming at 26.32p per kWh (UK average), the live standard variable rate since 1 October 2026.
The short answer
Tests by ChargerLab measured the Switch 2 dock drawing about 16 to 20 watts in TV mode. At 26.32p per kWh, that's about 0.5p an hour. Even at 3 hours a day, it comes to roughly 43p a month.
In handheld mode it uses even less, and you only pay for the electricity when you charge it.
Your TV costs more than the console
When you play docked, a typical TV uses around 100 watts, more than five times the Switch 2 itself. So the real cost of docked play is closer to 3.1p an hour. If saving money matters, handheld mode is the cheapest way to play.
Switch 2 vs other consoles
| Device | Watts while gaming | Per hour | Per month (3 hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 (docked) | 16–20 W | 0.5p | 43p |
| Steam Deck OLED | about 24 W | 0.6p | 58p |
| Xbox Series S | 74 W | 1.9p | £1.78 |
| PS5 | 200–218 W | 5.5p | £5.04 |
A PS5 uses roughly ten times the power of a Switch 2. Over a year of regular play, the gap is worth around £55.34, before you count the TV.
Sources: ChargerLab, Notebookcheck, Digital Foundry via Notebookcheck, Octopus Energy tariff data.