Data through June 2026
Calculator · wattage estimate
Wi-Fi Router running cost calculator
These are estimates, not certified measurements.
Typical measured draw of consumer routers and modem/router combos.
Always-on but tiny: a router's annual cost is usually a few dollars — worth knowing, rarely worth optimizing.
Calculator
Estimate — watts × hours × your rate
- Per day
- 5¢
- Per month
- $1.61
- Per year
- $19
12 W × 24 h/day × 365 ÷ 1,000 = 105 kWh/yr × 18.3¢ = $19/yr
Routers run around the clock — 24 hours is the honest default.
Typical wattages
| Setting | Watts |
|---|---|
| Basic router (~8 W) | 8 |
| Mesh node / mid-range (~12 W) | 12 |
| High-end + modem (~25 W) | 25 |
Estimated annual cost by state
| State | Rate ¢/kWh | Est. $/yr | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.4¢ | $17 | |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $30 | |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $16 | |
| Arkansas | 14.1¢ | $15 | |
| California | 34.7¢ | $37 | |
| Colorado | 17.1¢ | $18 | |
| Connecticut | 24.3¢ | $26 | |
| Delaware | 19.3¢ | $20 | |
| District of Columbia | 24.4¢ | $26 | |
| Florida | 15.1¢ | $16 | |
| Georgia | 16.4¢ | $17 | |
| Hawaiipriciest | 52.7¢ | $55 | |
| Idaho | 14.4¢ | $15 | |
| Illinois | 19.9¢ | $21 | |
| Indiana | 17.5¢ | $18 | |
| Iowa | 15.9¢ | $17 | |
| Kansas | 15.7¢ | $17 | |
| Kentucky | 14.3¢ | $15 | |
| Louisiana | 13.5¢ | $14 | |
| Maine | 29.6¢ | $31 | |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $23 | |
| Massachusetts | 29.6¢ | $31 | |
| Michigan | 23.0¢ | $24 | |
| Minnesota | 17.5¢ | $18 | |
| Mississippi | 14.9¢ | $16 | |
| Missouri | 16.2¢ | $17 | |
| Montana | 15.1¢ | $16 | |
| Nebraska | 13.3¢ | $14 | |
| Nevadacheapest | 13.1¢ | $14 | |
| New Hampshire | 27.0¢ | $28 | |
| New Jersey | 24.9¢ | $26 | |
| New Mexico | 15.1¢ | $16 | |
| New York | 29.5¢ | $31 | |
| North Carolina | 14.7¢ | $15 | |
| North Dakota | 14.1¢ | $15 | |
| Ohio | 19.2¢ | $20 | |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢ | $15 | |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $17 | |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢ | $23 | |
| Rhode Island | 29.2¢ | $31 | |
| South Carolina | 15.6¢ | $16 | |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢ | $16 | |
| Tennessee | 14.1¢ | $15 | |
| Texas | 15.9¢ | $17 | |
| Utah | 13.4¢ | $14 | |
| Vermont | 24.4¢ | $26 | |
| Virginia | 17.2¢ | $18 | |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $16 | |
| West Virginia | 15.4¢ | $16 | |
| Wisconsin | 19.6¢ | $21 | |
| Wyoming | 15.2¢ | $16 |
Questions, answered with the data
- How much does a Wi-Fi router cost per hour?
- At a typical 12 W draw and the U.S. average rate of 18.3¢/kWh, about 0.2¢ an hour. That ranges from 0.2¢ in Nevada to 0.6¢ in Hawaii.
- What does 24 hours a day add up to?
- 12 W × 24 h/day comes to about $1.61 a month ($19 a year) at the U.S. average rate. Routers run around the clock — 24 hours is the honest default.
- Why is this an estimate instead of certified data?
- Typical measured draw of consumer routers and modem/router combos.