Data through April 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
- $8.02
- Per year
- $96
350 W × 4 h/day × 365 ÷ 1,000 = 511 kWh/yr × 18.8¢ = $96/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 | 17.4¢ | $89 | |
| Alaska | 27.4¢ | $140 | |
| Arizona | 15.5¢ | $79 | |
| Arkansas | 14.2¢ | $72 | |
| California | 35.3¢ | $180 | |
| Colorado | 16.5¢ | $85 | |
| Connecticut | 32.2¢ | $165 | |
| Delaware | 18.8¢ | $96 | |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $130 | |
| Florida | 15.4¢ | $79 | |
| Georgia | 15.4¢ | $79 | |
| Hawaiipriciest | 46.6¢ | $238 | |
| Idaho | 12.7¢ | $65 | |
| Illinois | 20.5¢ | $105 | |
| Indiana | 17.9¢ | $91 | |
| Iowa | 13.9¢ | $71 | |
| Kansas | 15.8¢ | $81 | |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $77 | |
| Louisiana | 14.4¢ | $74 | |
| Maine | 28.4¢ | $145 | |
| Maryland | 22.1¢ | $113 | |
| Massachusetts | 29.4¢ | $150 | |
| Michigan | 21.4¢ | $109 | |
| Minnesota | 16.4¢ | $84 | |
| Mississippi | 16.8¢ | $86 | |
| Missouri | 14.0¢ | $72 | |
| Montana | 13.9¢ | $71 | |
| Nebraska | 13.3¢ | $68 | |
| Nevada | 14.3¢ | $73 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.2¢ | $139 | |
| New Jersey | 23.5¢ | $120 | |
| New Mexico | 15.2¢ | $77 | |
| New York | 29.4¢ | $150 | |
| North Carolina | 16.3¢ | $83 | |
| North Dakotacheapest | 12.3¢ | $63 | |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $100 | |
| Oklahoma | 13.3¢ | $68 | |
| Oregon | 15.8¢ | $81 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.5¢ | $110 | |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢ | $145 | |
| South Carolina | 17.1¢ | $87 | |
| South Dakota | 14.5¢ | $74 | |
| Tennessee | 14.9¢ | $76 | |
| Texas | 17.0¢ | $87 | |
| Utah | 13.3¢ | $68 | |
| Vermont | 24.6¢ | $126 | |
| Virginia | 17.4¢ | $89 | |
| Washington | 14.4¢ | $73 | |
| West Virginia | 16.1¢ | $82 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.2¢ | $98 | |
| Wyoming | 14.7¢ | $75 |
Certified data exists nearby
ENERGY STAR certifies related equipment with real per-model figures — see all 1,482 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 18.8¢/kWh, about 6.6¢ an hour. That ranges from 4.3¢ in North Dakota to 16.3¢ in Hawaii.
- What does 4 hours a day add up to?
- 350 W × 4 h/day comes to about $8.02 a month ($96 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).