TVs exist in almost each household, and how many of us have stopped to think about how many watts does a TV really use ? Whether you're looking to save money on your electricity bill, have a backup power source for your TV, or even plan to use solar power, it's important to know exactly how much power your TV uses.
But it actually is pretty different depending on the type, size, and model of TV. Most LED TVs, popular today, consume 50 to 100 watts of power. Those older plasma TVs use as much as 200 to 500 watts. How does that translate to a cost? And how big a difference in cost does it make between various models of TVs?
In this guide, we’ll break it all down, from how much energy your TV uses per hour to the cost of running it per year.
How Many Watts Does a TV Use?
Consumption would depend so much on such issues as the screen size of a TV, what technology, or whether energy-saving. A general idea-rough estimates: what some commonly used TVs consumptions have been. Assess your television power use:
| TV Type | Average Wattage (W) |
| LED | 30–100 W |
| OLED | 50–200 W |
| LCD | 50–150 W |
| Plasma | 100–500 W |
| CRT | 60–150 W |
✅ Most modern TVs use between 50–200 watts, with LED TVs being the most energy-efficient option.
Did you know? A 55-inch OLED TV typically consumes 90–107 watts, while an LED TV of the same size only uses 50–60 watts.
How Many Watts Does a TV Use Per Hour?
TVs consume energy based on how long they are used daily. Here’s an estimate of how many watts a TV uses per hour:
| TV Wattage | Hours Per Day | Energy Use Per Day (kWh) | Monthly Energy Use (kWh) | Yearly Energy Use (kWh) |
| 50 W | 3 hrs | 0.15 kWh | 4.5 kWh | 54.75 kWh |
| 100 W | 3 hrs | 0.3 kWh | 9 kWh | 109.5 kWh |
| 150 W | 3 hrs | 0.45 kWh | 13.5 kWh | 164.3 kWh |
| 200 W | 3 hrs | 0.6 kWh | 18 kWh | 219 kWh |
Key Takeaway: If you watch a 100W TV for 3 hours daily, it consumes about 109.5 kWh per year.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a TV?
Your electricity bill really depends on just how much electricity your TV uses - in kilowatt-hours - multiplied by the price of electricity in your area. The calculation below is the average price for electricity in the United States: $0.14 per kilowatt-hour (1 kilowatt-hour). To see how much it costs to use a TV:
| TV Wattage | Monthly Cost ($) | Yearly Cost ($) |
| 50 W | $0.63 | $7.67 |
| 100 W | $1.26 | $15.35 |
| 150 W | $1.89 | $23.02 |
| 200 W | $2.52 | $30.70 |
💡 Pro Tip: Switching to an Energy Star-rated TV can save up to 25% on electricity costs compared to a standard model.
Factors That Affect TV Wattage
Several factors influence how much power a TV uses:
1. TV Type
- LED TVsare the most energy-efficient, using about 50% less power than LCDs.
- OLED TVsoffer better contrast but consume more power.
- Plasma TVsare the least efficient, using up to 5 times more electricity than LED TVs.
2. Screen Size
- Larger TVs use more electricity. A 32-inch LED TVconsumes around 50W, while a 75-inch OLED TV can use 200W or more.
3. TV Settings & Features
- Brightness & contrast: Higher settings increase power usage.
- Standby Mode: Even when "off," many TVs consume 5–10 wattsin standby mode.
- Refresh Rate: Higher refresh rates (e.g., 120Hz vs. 60Hz) use more power.
Question to Consider: Could tweaking your TV settings save energy without sacrificing picture quality?
How to Reduce TV Energy Consumption
Want to cut down on electricity costs? Here are some energy-saving tips:
✔ Use an Energy-Efficient TV: Look for Energy Star-certified models.
✔ Lower Brightness & Contrast: Reduce these settings for energy savings.
✔ Turn Off When Not in Use: Avoid leaving your TV on when not needed.
✔ Unplug or Use Smart Power Strips: Prevents "vampire power" drain in standby mode.
✔ Opt for a Smaller Screen: A 50-inch LED TV uses much less power than a 75-inch OLED TV.
FAQs About TV Wattage
1. How Many Amps Does a TV Use?
TV amperage is calculated using Watts = Volts × Amps.
- A 100W TV on a 120V outletuses 83 amps.
- A 200W TVwould use 67 amps.
2. Can I Run a TV on Solar Power?
Yes! A Huijue 350W solar panel can easily power a TV, even at night if paired with a battery storage system.
3. How Many Watts Does a 55-Inch TV Use?
- LED: ~60–90W
- OLED: ~90–110W
- Plasma: ~150–300W
4. What Size Battery Do I Need to Power a TV?
That means running a 100-watt TV for 5 hours will at least consume 500 watt-hours of electricity-that is, such a battery would require at least that much power to last.
It's rather flexible with this Huijue Solar Generator, which would be able to go from a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 50 hours, considering the power consumption of the television itself.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how many watts a TV uses helps you:
✅ Reduce electricity costs
✅ Choose an energy-efficient TV
✅ Power your TV with solar or battery backups
Nowadays, the range of power consumption of TVs goes from 50 watts to 200 watts. By choosing a proper TV, like LED TV, or even adjusting the setting of the TV and unplugging it when not in use, these small details can save you a lot in electricity bills!
How many watts is your TV? Go and check; perhaps changing those small details will decrease your electricity bill!
