What home office equipment cost to run
Typical monthly and yearly running cost of 3 home office equipment, most expensive first.
| Appliance | Power | Typical use | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer monitor | 150 W | 8 hours a day | $6.69 | $80.33 |
| Desktop computer | 120 W | 8 hours a day (tower only, no monitor) | $5.36 | $64.26 |
| Laptop | 50 W | 8 hours a day while plugged in | $2.23 | $26.78 |
Questions
Which home office equipment use the most electricity?
At typical use, computer monitor costs the most: $80.33 a year (8 hours a day). Laptop costs the least: $26.78 a year.
How much do home office equipment add to the electric bill?
Together, the 3 appliances here would cost about $171.37 a year at the US average of 18.3¢ per kWh, if you had and used all of them as assumed.
How do I work out the cost for my own appliance?
Find the watts on its label, multiply by hours of use and divide by 1,000 to get kWh, then multiply by your rate. The calculator does it for you.
Other categories
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Penn State EGEE 102
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity to ultimate customers, residential, June 2026 Figures transcribed from republications of this table on September 26, 2026; pending direct verification from the EIA API.
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.