How Much Electricity Does a Computer Monitor Use?

Across WattCost's August 2026 database of 1,530 certified computer monitors, the median display consumes 45 kWh per year, costing $8.26 annually ($0.69 per month) at 18.34¢ per kWh based on standard work schedules. Standard 24-inch to 27-inch 1080p office displays draw between 14 and 22 watts in active use, while 32-inch 4K high-refresh gaming displays draw 50 to 95 watts.

Key takeaways

• WattCost's dataset covers 1,530 monitors with annual usage ranging from 11.1 kWh to 402.9 kWh.
• Screen brightness is the biggest user-controlled factor in active display wattage.
• Standby and sleep power on certified displays is strictly regulated to under 0.5 watts.
• High refresh rates (144Hz to 240Hz) and OLED HDR panels roughly double active power draw compared to 60Hz IPS panels.

Active power draw by screen size and resolution

Screen size and panel backlight technology dictate the electrical draw of a monitor. A standard 24-inch 1080p IPS panel with LED edge lighting draws roughly 15 watts at 60% brightness. Running that display 8 hours per day, 5 days per week uses 31.2 kWh per year, costing about $5.72 annually.

Upgrading to a 32-inch 4K monitor increases the surface area and pixel density. The panel requires a more powerful LED backlight to push light through the dense subpixel matrix, pushing active power draw to 35 to 45 watts. Running a 40-watt panel on the same schedule consumes 83.2 kWh per year, or $15.26 annually. You can review tested screen consumption on our computer monitor directory.

Gaming monitors, high refresh rates, and HDR

High refresh rates require display scalers and timing controllers to process frames much faster. A 27-inch 1440p monitor running at 60Hz draws around 22 watts, but switching the refresh rate to 240Hz elevates board power to 36 watts even displaying a static desktop. When HDR (High Dynamic Range) is enabled, local dimming backlights can surge to 80 or 100 watts during bright peak scenes.

Standby mode versus turning off

Under current ENERGY STAR Displays Version 8.0 rules, certified monitors must consume 0.5 watts or less in sleep mode. Over an entire year of sitting in sleep mode on nights and weekends (roughly 6,600 hours), a monitor consumes just 3.3 kWh, costing 61 cents. Manually switching the monitor off saves only pennies per year.

FAQ

Does lowering brightness save electricity on a monitor? Yes. Lowering monitor brightness from 100% (often 350 to 400 nits) to 50% (roughly 150 to 200 nits) reduces backlight power consumption by 30% to 45%.

Do curved monitors use more power than flat monitors? No. Curvature is a physical shaping of the substrate and light guide plates. It does not inherently increase electrical draw compared to an equivalent flat panel with the same backlight and resolution.

How does monitor power compare to a desktop computer? A monitor drawing 25 to 40 watts is minor compared to a desktop tower or gaming PC, which draws between 100 and 450 watts under load.

Data notes & sources

Figures are derived from WattCost's August 2026 database of 1,530 certified monitors and the EIA national residential electricity price benchmark.

Display specifications: ENERGY STAR Displays Specification Version 8.0.

EIA rate table: U.S. EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.