Cost per hour of gaming at 26.32p per kWh (UK average), the live standard variable rate since 1 October 2026.
The short answer
A PS5 draws about 200 to 220 watts from the wall while you're playing a demanding game. At the current UK average rate of 26.32p per kWh, that works out at about 5.5p for every hour you play.
If you play for 3 hours a day, that's roughly £5.04 a month. Count your TV as well and it's more like £7.45 a month, because a typical TV adds about 2.6p an hour.
PS5, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro compared
| Model | Watts while gaming | Per hour | Per month (3 hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 (original) | 200–218 W | 5.5p | £5.04 |
| PS5 Slim | about the same as the original | 5.7p | £5.16 |
| PS5 Pro | 228–240 W | 6.1p | £5.52 |
The PS5 Pro uses only a little more power than the original, even though it's noticeably faster. Over a year at 3 hours a day, the difference between a PS5 and a PS5 Pro is roughly £5.76 to £8.65.
What changes the cost
- The game. Big open-world games push the console harder than menus, streaming or older games. Watching Netflix on a PS5 uses about a third of the power of gaming.
- Your tariff. Rates vary by region and supplier. Pick your region in the box above, or use the calculator with the rate from your bill.
- Your screen. A big TV can use half as much power as the console itself.
- Rest mode. This costs very little, but not nothing. See what rest mode costs.
Is a PS5 expensive to run?
Not really. At 5.5p an hour, a PS5 costs less to run for an evening than a cup of coffee. It's only when you add a big TV, play for many hours a day, or compare it with a high-end gaming PC that the numbers start to matter.
Sources: Digital Foundry via Notebookcheck, NRDC, Octopus Energy tariff data.