Baby monitor vs. sound machine: running cost
A sound machine is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $8 for a baby monitor at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $5 difference.
| Baby monitor | Sound machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 5 W | 3 W |
| Watt range | 2–10 W | 1–10 W |
| Typical use | 24 hours a day | 10 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 44 kWh | 14 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.09¢ | 0.05¢ |
| Cost per day | 2.2¢ | 0.7¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.66 | $0.20 |
| Cost per year | $8 | $2 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $19 | $6 |
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What drives the difference
- Baby monitor: A video monitor's camera and charging parent unit together draw about 4-7 W, roughly 45 kWh a year if left on around the clock.
- Sound machine: Sound machines draw 1-5 W; a Hatch Rest or LectroFan running 10 hours a night is about 10 kWh a year.
Ways to cut either cost
Smart plug
Schedules the machine off during the day.
See options on Amazon Smart plug
Turns the camera off on a schedule when not needed.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a baby monitor or a sound machine?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a baby monitor costs about $8 a year versus $2 for a sound machine. That's $5 more, or 3.2× as much.
How many watts do baby monitor and sound machine use?
A baby monitor typically draws 5 W (range 2–10 W). A sound machine draws 3 W (range 1–10 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.