Data through June 2026
Calculator · wattage estimate
Gaming PC running cost calculator
These are estimates, not certified measurements.
Wall-draw ranges for mainstream vs. enthusiast builds under game load; monitors add 20–60 W (see the certified computer-monitors data).
A gaming PC's cost swings more with the games you play than the parts list — GPU-bound titles can double the draw of the same machine browsing the web.
Calculator
Estimate — watts × hours × your rate
- Per day
- 26¢
- Per month
- $7.81
- Per year
- $94
350 W × 4 h/day × 365 ÷ 1,000 = 511 kWh/yr × 18.3¢ = $94/yr
Four hours reflects an evening session; adjust for heavier schedules.
Typical wattages
| Setting | Watts |
|---|---|
| Idle / desktop (~120 W) | 120 |
| Typical gaming (~350 W) | 350 |
| High-end load (~600 W) | 600 |
Estimated annual cost by state
| State | Rate ¢/kWh | Est. $/yr | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $84 | |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $144 | |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $78 | |
| Arkansas | 14.1¢ | $72 | |
| California | 34.7¢ | $178 | |
| Colorado | 17.1¢ | $88 | |
| Connecticut | 24.3¢ | $124 | |
| Delaware | 19.3¢ | $99 | |
| District of Columbia | 24.4¢ | $125 | |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $77 | |
| Georgia | 16.4¢ | $84 | |
| Hawaiipriciest | 52.7¢ | $269 | |
| Idaho | 14.4¢ | $73 | |
| Illinois | 19.9¢ | $102 | |
| Indiana | 17.5¢ | $89 | |
| Iowa | 15.9¢ | $81 | |
| Kansas | 15.7¢ | $80 | |
| Kentucky | 14.3¢ | $73 | |
| Louisiana | 13.5¢ | $69 | |
| Maine | 29.6¢ | $151 | |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $112 | |
| Massachusetts | 29.6¢ | $151 | |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | $117 | |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $90 | |
| Mississippi | 14.9¢ | $76 | |
| Missouri | 16.2¢ | $83 | |
| Montana | 15.1¢ | $77 | |
| Nebraska | 13.3¢ | $68 | |
| Nevadacheapest | 13.1¢ | $67 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.0¢ | $138 | |
| New Jersey | 24.9¢ | $127 | |
| New Mexico | 15.1¢ | $77 | |
| New York | 29.5¢ | $151 | |
| North Carolina | 14.7¢ | $75 | |
| North Dakota | 14.1¢ | $72 | |
| Ohio | 19.2¢ | $98 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $73 | |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $83 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $111 | |
| Rhode Island | 29.2¢ | $149 | |
| South Carolina | 15.6¢ | $79 | |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $78 | |
| Tennessee | 14.1¢ | $72 | |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $81 | |
| Utah | 13.4¢ | $68 | |
| Vermont | 24.4¢ | $125 | |
| Virginia | 17.2¢ | $88 | |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $76 | |
| West Virginia | 15.4¢ | $79 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.6¢ | $100 | |
| Wyoming | 15.2¢ | $78 |
Certified data exists nearby
ENERGY STAR certifies related equipment with real per-model figures — see all 1,530 certified computer monitors.
Questions, answered with the data
- How much does a gaming PC cost per hour?
- At a typical 350 W draw and the U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh, about 6.4¢ an hour. That ranges from 4.6¢ in Nevada to 18.5¢ in Hawaii.
- What does 4 hours a day add up to?
- 350 W × 4 h/day comes to about $7.81 a month ($94 a year) at the U.S. average rate. Four hours reflects an evening session; adjust for heavier schedules.
- Why is this an estimate instead of certified data?
- Wall-draw ranges for mainstream vs. enthusiast builds under game load; monitors add 20–60 W (see the certified computer-monitors data).