Cost per hour of gaming at 26.32p per kWh (UK average), the live standard variable rate since 1 October 2026.
The short answer
Microsoft measures the Xbox Series X at 154 watts during gameplay and the Series S at 74 watts. At today's average UK rate of 26.32p per kWh, that's 4.1p and 1.9p an hour.
| Console | Watts while gaming | Per hour | Per month (3 hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | 154 W | 4.1p | £3.70 |
| Xbox Series S | 74 W | 1.9p | £1.78 |
| Xbox One (older) | 112 W | 2.9p | £2.69 |
The Series S is one of the cheapest home consoles to run. It uses less than half the power of a Series X, partly because it targets lower resolutions.
Menus and standby use power too
Microsoft's figures show the Series X still uses about 123 watts sitting on the home screen, and the Series S about 63 watts. If you leave a game paused or the dashboard open while you do something else, it's costing you almost as much as playing.
When the console is "off", what it uses depends on your power setting. Sleep mode uses about 10 to 15 watts, while Shutdown (energy saving) uses about 0.5 watts. Left in Sleep all year, that adds up to around £2.31 a month. More on standby costs.
How to switch to energy-saving mode
- Press the Xbox button and go to Profile & system → Settings.
- Choose General → Power options.
- Select Shutdown (energy saving).
The trade-off is that the console takes a little longer to start, and updates install when it's next switched on instead of overnight.
Sources: Microsoft lab platform baselines, Tom's Guide, NRDC figures via Tom's Guide, Octopus Energy tariff data.