WattsyHow the cost is calculated
Each hour of use costs (watts ÷ 1000) × your electricity rate. The calculator adds your gaming hours, your other PC use, and your monitors, then scales that up to a month (about 4.35 weeks) and a year.
Why your PC uses less than its power supply size
A 850 W power supply doesn't mean your PC uses 850 W. It only draws what the parts need at that moment. A mid-range gaming PC typically pulls 250–400 W at the wall while gaming and well under 100 W on the desktop.
Typical yearly costs
| PC type | 3 hrs gaming/day at $0.17/kWh |
|---|---|
| Budget (~200 W) | About $37/year |
| Mid-range (~350 W) | About $65/year |
| High-end (~500 W) | About $93/year |
| Flagship (~750 W) | About $140/year |
Gaming time only, not counting monitors or idle use.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a gaming PC?
For most people, a few dollars to around $15 a month. A mid-range PC gaming 3 hours a day costs roughly $5–6 a month at typical US electricity prices.
How do I measure my PC's actual power use?
A plug-in power meter (often called a watt meter or kill-a-watt style meter) between the wall and your PC shows real power draw. Software readings only cover some parts, so they usually read low.
Does leaving my PC on overnight cost a lot?
An idle PC typically uses 50–100 W, which is around 5–15 cents a night at typical rates. Sleep mode cuts that to a few watts.
How can I lower my PC's power bill?
Cap your frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate, turn on sleep mode, and consider undervolting your graphics card. Undervolting can cut GPU power use noticeably with little or no performance loss.