Nintendo Switch vs. PS5: running cost
A Nintendo Switch is cheaper to run: about $2 a year versus $28 for a PS5 at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $26 difference.
| Nintendo Switch | PS5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 13 W | 200 W |
| Watt range | 4–18 W | 50–230 W |
| Typical use | 2 hours a day | 2 hours a day |
| Energy per year | 14 kWh | 158 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 0.2¢ | 3.6¢ |
| Cost per day | 0.7¢ | 7.8¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.20 | $2.37 |
| Cost per year | $2 | $28 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $6 | $69 |
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What drives the difference
- Nintendo Switch: A docked Switch draws about 10-15 W, one of the lowest-power consoles. Handheld play only costs the energy to recharge the battery.
- PS5: A PS5 draws about 200 W in demanding games, around 70 W streaming video and 0.3-1.5 W in rest mode depending on USB and network settings. Two hours a day of gaming is about 150 kWh a year.
Ways to cut either cost
Smart plug
Cuts the dock's idle draw on a schedule.
See options on Amazon Streaming stick
Uses about 3 W versus 70 W for streaming video on the console.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a Nintendo Switch or a PS5?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a PS5 costs about $28 a year versus $2 for a Nintendo Switch. That's $26 more, or 11.7× as much.
How many watts do Nintendo Switch and PS5 use?
A Nintendo Switch typically draws 13 W (range 4–18 W). A PS5 draws 200 W (range 50–230 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.