Garage door opener vs. security camera: running cost
A garage door opener is cheaper to run: about $7 a year versus $8 for a security camera at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $1 difference.
| Garage door opener | Security camera | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 450 W | 5 W |
| Watt range | 300–800 W | 2–15 W |
| Typical use | 2 minutes a day | 24 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 40 kWh | 44 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 8.1¢ | 0.09¢ |
| Cost per day | 2.0¢ | 2.2¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.60 | $0.66 |
| Cost per year | $7 | $8 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $17 | $19 |
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What drives the difference
- Garage door opener: Garage door openers draw 300-600 W for about 10-15 seconds per cycle, but standby (receiver, safety sensors, Wi-Fi) runs 24/7 at 2-8 W, which is most of the annual use.
- Security camera: Wired cameras draw about 3-7 W each, around the clock; infrared night vision adds 1-3 W. An NVR recorder adds 10-25 W.
Ways to cut either cost
Cuts a 60 W incandescent to about 9 W and resists vibration.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a garage door opener or a security camera?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a security camera costs about $8 a year versus $7 for a garage door opener. That's $1 more.
How many watts do garage door opener and security camera use?
A garage door opener typically draws 450 W (range 300–800 W). A security camera draws 5 W (range 2–15 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.