How much does a laptop cost to run in California?
$4.23 a month
- A day of use
- $0.14
- An hour of running
- $0.02
- A year
- $50.72
50 W, 8 hours a day while plugged in, at California’s average rate of 34.7¢ per kWh (EIA, June 2026). How we calculate this
Change the watts, hours or rate
What it costs at other usage levels
| Use | A day | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day | $0.02 | $0.53 | $6.34 |
| 2 hours a day | $0.03 | $1.06 | $12.68 |
| 4 hours a day | $0.07 | $2.11 | $25.36 |
| 8 hours a day typical | $0.14 | $4.23 | $50.72 |
| 24 hours a day | $0.42 | $12.68 | $152.16 |
A typical model draws about 50 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension).
California compared with other states
California’s residential rate is the 2nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 16.4¢ above the US average of 18.3¢ (+89%). California’s rate is up 1.2¢ from June 2025 (33.6¢, +3.4%).
Ways to spend less
- Turn down screen brightness; the display is one of the largest loads.
- Unplug the charger once the battery is full if you are not using it.
- Use the battery-saver power mode.
Questions
How much does it cost to run a laptop per hour?
About $0.02 an hour in California. A laptop at 50 W uses 0.050 kWh per hour, and at California’s average of 34.7¢ per kWh that comes to $0.02.
How much does a laptop add to your electric bill?
Used 8 hours a day while plugged in, about $4.23 a month in California, or $50.72 a year.
How much does it cost to run a laptop 24 hours a day?
Running nonstop, a laptop would use 1.20 kWh a day and cost $0.42 a day, or $12.68 over an average month in California.
How many watts does a laptop use?
A typical model draws about 50 W (Virginia Cooperative Extension). Check the label on yours: cost scales directly with watts, so a 20% lower wattage means a 20% lower bill.
Why does a laptop cost more or less to run in California than elsewhere?
California’s residential rate is the 2nd most expensive of 51 states and DC, 16.4¢ above the US average of 18.3¢ (+89%). California’s rate is up 1.2¢ from June 2025 (33.6¢, +3.4%). The appliance uses the same energy everywhere; only the price per kWh changes.
Sources
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (reproduces U.S. Department of Energy sample wattages)
- Penn State EGEE 102: Typical range of power consumption (wattage)
- 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.
- Carrier page: June 2026 residential average price, citing EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A
Usage assumptions (hours a day, season) are ours and listed on the methodology page. Found an error? Tell us.