LED TV power consumption ranges from as low as 28 watts, for 32 inch TVs, to as high as 400 watts for larger models.
To answer the question, “How many watts does a TV use?” I gathered energy consumption data from 462 different models of LED, OLED, and QLED flat panel TVs ranging in size from 32″ up to 86″.
Key Take Aways
- TV power consumption varies by size and display type (LCD, LED, OLED, OLED).
- The average power consumption of LED TVs ranges from 28.1 watts for smaller TVs in the 32-inch size class up to 157.9 watts for TVs in the 86-inch class.
- Flat panel LED TVs, now the industry standard, are between 11 % and 31.5% more energy efficient than older LCD TVs.
- In general, QLED TVs tend to be more energy efficient than OLED TVs, and OLED TVs tend to be more efficient than LED TVs.
- The average cost to power a 65 inch TV for a month is $2.87. (Based on average watch time and cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity.)
Table of Contents
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TV Wattage by Size & Display Type
| TV Size Class & Display Type | Number of Models Researched | Average Wattage (W) | Min. Wattage (W) | Max. Wattage (W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 40 | 28.1 | 19.0 | 50.0 |
| LED | 40 | 28.1 | 19.0 | 50.0 |
| 32 | 85 | 42.5 | 26.0 | 100.0 |
| LCD | 1 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 |
| LED | 82 | 42.4 | 26.0 | 100.0 |
| QLED | 2 | 40.5 | 32.0 | 49.0 |
| 40 | 23 | 47.6 | 30.0 | 75.0 |
| LED | 23 | 47.6 | 30.0 | 75.0 |
| 42 | 7 | 80.8 | 60.0 | 115.0 |
| LED | 4 | 96.5 | 78.0 | 115.0 |
| OLED | 3 | 65.0 | 60.0 | 70.0 |
| 43 | 59 | 65.5 | 36.0 | 110.0 |
| LCD | 2 | 87.5 | 75.0 | 100.0 |
| LED | 50 | 66.5 | 36.0 | 110.0 |
| QLED | 7 | 55.3 | 50.0 | 65.0 |
| 46 | 1 | 90.0 | 90.0 | 90.0 |
| LED | 1 | 90.0 | 90.0 | 90.0 |
| 47 | 2 | 76.0 | 76.0 | 76.0 |
| LED | 2 | 76.0 | 76.0 | 76.0 |
| 48 | 7 | 82.7 | 74.0 | 90.0 |
| LED | 1 | 74.0 | 74.0 | 74.0 |
| OLED | 6 | 84.2 | 80.0 | 90.0 |
| 50 | 63 | 86.5 | 48.0 | 169.6 |
| LCD | 1 | 120.0 | 120.0 | 120.0 |
| LED | 50 | 90.7 | 48.0 | 169.6 |
| QLED | 12 | 65.6 | 52.0 | 82.0 |
| 55 | 87 | 102.3 | 50.0 | 240.0 |
| LCD | 2 | 125.0 | 125.0 | 125.0 |
| LED | 51 | 111.0 | 50.0 | 240.0 |
| OLED | 10 | 98.9 | 95.0 | 115.0 |
| QLED | 24 | 83.9 | 56.0 | 140.0 |
| 58 | 5 | 70.0 | 70.0 | 70.0 |
| LED | 5 | 70.0 | 70.0 | 70.0 |
| 60 | 2 | 62.5 | 60.0 | 65.0 |
| QLED | 2 | 62.5 | 60.0 | 65.0 |
| 65 | 92 | 120.4 | 64.0 | 230.0 |
| LCD | 1 | 160.0 | 160.0 | 160.0 |
| LED | 48 | 121.9 | 67.0 | 230.0 |
| OLED | 12 | 118.5 | 113.0 | 131.0 |
| QLED | 31 | 117.5 | 64.0 | 198.0 |
| 70 | 21 | 115.8 | 79.0 | 250.0 |
| LED | 19 | 121.8 | 94.0 | 250.0 |
| QLED | 2 | 79.5 | 79.0 | 80.0 |
| 75 | 61 | 158.3 | 80.0 | 400.0 |
| LCD | 2 | 260.0 | 240.0 | 280.0 |
| LED | 35 | 178.2 | 94.0 | 400.0 |
| QLED | 24 | 123.3 | 80.0 | 215.0 |
| 77 | 10 | 164.2 | 135.0 | 260.0 |
| OLED | 9 | 165.0 | 135.0 | 260.0 |
| QLED | 1 | 157.0 | 157.0 | 157.0 |
| 80 | 2 | 76.2 | 54.8 | 97.6 |
| LED | 2 | 76.2 | 54.8 | 97.6 |
| 82 | 1 | 112.0 | 112.0 | 112.0 |
| LED | 1 | 112.0 | 112.0 | 112.0 |
| 83 | 5 | 172.5 | 170.0 | 180.0 |
| OLED | 5 | 172.5 | 170.0 | 180.0 |
| 85 | 27 | 150.8 | 92.0 | 350.0 |
| LED | 9 | 173.0 | 99.0 | 350.0 |
| QLED | 18 | 145.3 | 92.0 | 231.0 |
| 86 | 7 | 157.9 | 120.0 | 169.6 |
| LED | 6 | 165.5 | 155.8 | 169.6 |
| QLED | 1 | 120.0 | 120.0 | 120.0 |
Flat Panel TV Types & Energy Consumption:
It makes sense that the larger the screen size the more electricity a TV will use, in addition, the type of display (LED, OLED, QLED) your TV has can also influence how many watts are used to power it.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) TVs
LCD TVs are an older technology and have been mostly replaced by LED TVs, which are a more energy-efficient version of LCD technology.
In my search, Toshiba was the only major manufacturer selling LCD TVs in the U.S. market, this limits my LCD power consumption data to only their nine models, which as of this writing were offered mainly in larger screen sizes (32, 43, 55, 65, and 75 inches).
Power consumption for these Toshiba models varies widely, with the highest wattage being in their 75-inch size class (280 W), and the lowest in the 32 inch size class (50 W).
LED (Light Emitting Diode) TVs
LED TVs are the most common type of display, available in almost every size class. They use less power than traditional LCD TVs due to their more efficient backlighting system.
In general, power consumption increases with screen size, but the data shows that some smaller LED size classes, like the 42-inch, have higher average power consumption (96.5 W) than the larger 58-inch size class (70 W).
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TVs
OLED TVs are known for their superior picture quality and are available in larger size classes (starting from 42 inches).
In many cases, OLED TVs have lower or similar average power consumption compared to LED TVs in the same size class.
For example, 42-inch OLED TVs have an average power consumption of 65 W, which is lower than 42-inch LED TVs (96.5 W).
Of note, in the data we gathered from manufacturers on TVs in the 48-inch size class, OLED TVs appear to have slightly higher average power consumption (84.2 W) compared to LED TVs (74 W).
QLED (Quantum Light Emitting Diode) TVs
QLED TVs, which utilize quantum dot technology, are available in a range of size classes, starting from 32 inches.
Power consumption for QLED TVs varies, but in some size classes, they have lower average power consumption compared to LED TVs.
For example, in the 43-inch size class, QLED TVs have an average power consumption of 55.3 W, while LED TVs have an average of 66.5 W.
However, in other size classes, such as 65 inches, QLED TVs have slightly lower average power consumption (117.5 W) compared to OLED TVs (118.5 W) and LED TVs (121.9 W).
How many watts does a 32 inch LED TV use?
Average energy use for a 32-inch LED TV ranges from 26 watts to 100 watts, with an average of 42.4 watts.
Samsung’s QLED 32″ models have the lowest power consumption with an average of 40.5 W, and Toshiba’s 32″ LCD has the highest at 50 W.
How many watts does a 65-inch TV use?
The wattage of a 65-inch TV varies depending on the display technology.
In my research, I gathered data on 92 different 65-inch TV models, which included LCD, LED, OLED, and QLED displays.
Here are the average typical power consumption values for each display type:
- 65-inch LED TV: 121.9 watts average (based on 48 models)
- 65-inch OLED: 118.5 watts average (based on 12 models)
- 65-inch QLED: 117.5 watts average (based on 31 models)
From the data, we see that the average power consumption of a 65-inch TV ranges from 117.5 watts for QLED displays to 121.9 watts for LED displays.
Wattage may vary, and it is always wise to refer to the manufacturer’s specifications for accurate information.
How to Measure Your TV’s Watt Usage
The best way to measure how many watts your TV uses, is to plug it into an electricity usage meter.
They’re inexpensive and super easy to use. Just plug your TV into the meter and plug the meter into your wall outlet.
You’ll be able to see how many watts, volts, and amps are being used in real-time and track electricity consumption over time.
Do TVs Use a Lot of Electricity: TV Power Consumption & Cost
As of 2021, the average American adult spent around 5 hours and 4 minutes per day watching TV, which includes traditional broadcast television, cable TV, and streaming content.
This data is based on a combination of Nielsen’s report, which found that the average American adult spent approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes per day watching traditional TV, and eMarketer’s estimate that American adults spent an additional 1 hour and 21 minutes per day watching digital video on TV-connected devices, such as streaming services.
So, how much electricity does a TV use and how much does it cost?
How much power does a TV use in Stanby Mode?
Across all of the TVs that I was able to gather data for, over 462 in total, the average standby mode power consumption was less than 1 watt per hour.
And a quick calculation shows us that at a rate of 1 watt per hour, a typical TV in standby mode would use 24 watts per day, or 720-watt hours in a 30-day month.
U.S. Energy Information Administration data shows that the average residential electric rate per kWh is 15.47 cents. For a TV that uses 720-watt hours (0.72 kWh) the cost to power a TV in standby mode for a month works out to be just over 11 cents per month.
Given how cheap it is to power a TV in standby mode I didn’t factor it into any of the electricity usage calculations.
How much electricity does a TV use per hour?
The energy consumption of a TV per hour depends on its display type, size, and power usage. From the data collected here are the average typical wattage ratings for different LED TV size classes:
- 32-inch LED TV: 42.4 watts
- 43-inch LED TV: 66.5 watts
- 50-inch LED TV: 90.7 watts
- 55-inch LED TV: 111.0 watts
- 65-inch LED TV: 121.9 watts
- 75-inch LED TV: 178.2 watts
To calculate the electricity usage per hour, we’ll convert watts to kilowatts (W to kW) by dividing watts by 1,000. Then, multiply the result by the number of hours the TV is on:
- 32-inch LED TV: (42.4 watts / 1,000) * 1 hour = 0.0424 kWh
- 43-inch LED TV: (66.5 watts / 1,000) * 1 hour = 0.0665 kWh
- 50-inch LED TV: (90.7 watts / 1,000) * 1 hour = 0.0907 kWh
- 55-inch LED TV: (111.0 watts / 1,000) * 1 hour = 0.111 kWh
- 65-inch LED TV: (121.9 watts / 1,000) * 1 hour = 0.1219 kWh
- 75-inch LED TV: (178.2 watts / 1,000) * 1 hour = 0.1782 kWh
These values represent the electricity used per hour by different TV sizes based. Keep in mind that actual electricity consumption varies depending on the specific TV model and your usage habits.
How much electricity does a TV use per day?
With an average viewing time of 5 hours and 4 minutes per day and the average kilowatt hours (kWh) usage values, we can calculate the daily electricity usage.
Daily electricity consumption for common TV sizes:
- 32-inch LED TV: (42.4 watts / 1,000) * 5.07 hours = 0.215 kWh
- 43-inch LED TV: (66.5 watts / 1,000) * 5.07 hours = 0.337 kWh
- 50-inch LED TV: (90.7 watts / 1,000) * 5.07 hours = 0.459 kWh
- 55-inch LED TV: (111.0 watts / 1,000) * 5.07 hours = 0.562 kWh
- 65-inch LED TV: (121.9 watts / 1,000) * 5.07 hours = 0.618 kWh
- 75-inch LED TV: (178.2 watts / 1,000) * 5.07 hours = 0.903 kWh
How much electricity does a TV use per month?
To calculate the monthly electricity consumption of a TV, we can use the daily electricity usage data above and multiply it by the number of days in a month. Assuming an average month has 30 days, the estimated monthly electricity consumption for various TV sizes is:
- 32-inch LED TV: 0.215 kWh/day * 30 days = 6.45 kWh/month
- 43-inch LED TV: 0.337 kWh/day * 30 days = 10.11 kWh/month
- 50-inch LED TV: 0.459 kWh/day * 30 days = 13.77 kWh/month
- 55-inch LED TV: 0.562 kWh/day * 30 days = 16.86 kWh/month
- 65-inch LED TV: 0.618 kWh/day * 30 days = 18.54 kWh/month
- 75-inch LED TV: 0.903 kWh/day * 30 days = 27.09 kWh/month
These calculations provide an estimate of the monthly electricity usage for different TV sizes based on the updated daily kWh consumption data.
How much does it cost to power a TV?
Using the national average of 15.47 cents/kWh ($0.1547/kWh) for the cost of electricity, and multiplying it by the average monthly kWh usage we can determine the average monthly cost of electricity to power a TV.
- 32-inch LED TV: 6.45 kWh/month x 15.47 cents/kWh = $1.00/month
- 43-inch LED TV: 10.11 kWh/month x 15.47 cents/kWh = $1.56/month
- 50-inch LED TV: 13.77 kWh/month x 15.47 cents/kWh = $2.13/month
- 55-inch LED TV: 16.86 kWh/month x 15.47 cents/kWh = $2.61/month
- 65-inch LED TV: 18.54 kWh/month x 15.47 cents/kWh = $2.87/mont
- 75-inch LED TV: 27.09 kWh/month x 15.47 cents/kWh = $4.19/month
FAQs
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Can you run a TV with solar panels?
Yes, you can run a TV with solar panels. To determine the solar panel capacity needed, you must first calculate the power consumption of your TV in watts. For example, a 32-inch LED TV has an average power consumption of 42.4 watts. You will need a solar panel system that can generate enough electricity to power the TV and possibly a battery system to store energy for when the sun isn’t shining.
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Does turning off the TV save electricity?
Yes, turning off the TV saves electricity. When a TV is turned off, it consumes no power or a minimal standby power, which is significantly lower than when it’s on. For instance, a 50-inch LED TV has an average power consumption of 90.7 watts while in use. By turning off the TV when not in use, you can save energy and reduce your electricity bill.
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How much does it cost to leave your TV on all day?
The cost of leaving your TV on all day depends on the power consumption of the TV and the electricity rates in your area. For example, a 55-inch LED TV with average power consumption of 111.0 watts. If you leave it on for 24 hours, it would consume 2.664 kWh (111.0 watts * 24 hours / 1,000). If your electricity rate is $0.1547 per kWh, the cost of leaving your TV on all day would be $0.41 (2.664 kWh * $0.1547). This calculation is an example, and actual costs may vary depending on your TV model, display type, and local electricity rates.
Wraping Up
In summary, the power consumption of TVs varies based on screen size and display technology. LED TVs, which are the most common, have a wide range of wattage values depending on the size class. It’s essential to be aware of the power consumption of the TV you choose, as it can have an impact on energy costs and the environment. When selecting a TV, remember to consider not only picture quality and screen size but also the power consumption based on the data we gathered to make an informed decision.
