How much does it cost to run a cable box / DVR?
A cable box / DVR costs about 0.4¢ per hour, 11¢ a day, $3.29 a month and $39 a year at typical use (24 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Cable and satellite DVRs draw nearly the same power whether 'on' or 'off' because the hard drive and tuners keep running, so they use 130-300 kWh a year.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-DVR cable box | 15 | 0.3¢ | 6.5¢ | $1.97 | $24 |
| HD DVR | 25 | 0.4¢ | 11¢ | $3.29 | $39 |
| Whole-home DVR server | 35 | 0.6¢ | 15¢ | $4.60 | $55 |
At 24 hours a day and 17.99¢/kWh.
Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.03 | 0.4¢ | $0.14 | $2 |
| 2 hours | 0.05 | 0.9¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| 4 hours | 0.10 | 1.8¢ | $0.55 | $7 |
| 8 hours | 0.20 | 3.6¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| 12 hours | 0.30 | 5.4¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
| 24 hours | 0.60 | 11¢ | $3.29 | $39 |
Cost to run a cable box / DVR in every state
The same cable box / DVR costs $27 a year in North Dakota and $95 in Hawaii, at each state's average residential rate (12 months ending July 2026).
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 12.32¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.25 | $27 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.31 | $28 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.35 | $28 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.37 | $28 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.43 | $29 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.44 | $29 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.45 | $29 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.48 | $30 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.50 | $30 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.53 | $30 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.54 | $31 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.55 | $31 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.56 | $31 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.58 | $31 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.58 | $31 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.59 | $31 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.70 | $32 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.70 | $32 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.76 | $33 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.76 | $33 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.80 | $34 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.81 | $34 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.81 | $34 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.83 | $34 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.83 | $34 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.86 | $34 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.91 | $35 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.4¢ | $2.96 | $36 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.4¢ | $3.00 | $36 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.4¢ | $3.01 | $36 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.4¢ | $3.03 | $36 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.4¢ | $3.09 | $37 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.4¢ | $3.25 | $39 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.5¢ | $3.33 | $40 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.5¢ | $3.42 | $41 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.5¢ | $3.43 | $41 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.5¢ | $3.78 | $45 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.5¢ | $3.84 | $46 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.5¢ | $3.84 | $46 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.34 | $52 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.35 | $52 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.6¢ | $4.42 | $53 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.87 | $58 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.90 | $59 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.11 | $61 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.18 | $62 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.35 | $64 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.35 | $64 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.56 | $67 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.8¢ | $6.02 | $72 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 1.1¢ | $7.95 | $95 |
How to cut the cost
- Enable the box's power-saving or deep sleep setting (Xfinity: Settings > Power Preferences).
- Return extra boxes and use the provider's streaming app on a smart TV or stick.
- Ask for a newer, non-DVR thin client for secondary TVs; they draw under 10 W.
- Replace a DVR with a cloud DVR plan if your provider offers one.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Runs the provider's app at about 3 W instead of 25 W around the clock.
See options on AmazonFree local channels with no powered set-top box.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cable box / DVR | 25 | 24 hours a day | $3.29 | $39 |
| TV | 80 | 5 hours a day | $2.24 | $27 |
| Streaming device | 3 | 5 hours a day | $0.24 | $3 |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 | 24 hours a day | $1.31 | $16 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 25 | 2 hours a day | $0.33 | $4 |
| Soundbar | 30 | 5 hours a day | $1.13 | $14 |
| Nintendo Switch | 13 | 2 hours a day | $0.20 | $2 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a cable box / DVR per hour?
A cable box / DVR drawing 25 watts uses 0.03 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.4¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.3¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 1.1¢.
How much does it cost to run a cable box / DVR per month?
At typical use (24 hours a day), a cable box / DVR costs about $3.29 a month and $39 a year, at the U.S. average rate. Enter your ZIP in the calculator above for your utility's rate.
How many watts does a cable box / DVR use?
Most cable box / DVRs use 10 to 40 watts, depending on the setting (non-dvr cable box 15 W, hd dvr 25 W, whole-home dvr server 35 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a cable box / DVR use?
About 0.60 kWh a day and 219 kWh a year at typical use (24 hours a day).
Does a cable box / DVR use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 219 kWh a year it's a small share (2.1%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a cable box / DVR or a TV?
At typical use, a cable box / DVR costs about $39 a year versus $27 for a TV. So the TV is cheaper by about $13 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a cable box / DVR?
- Enable the box's power-saving or deep sleep setting (Xfinity: Settings > Power Preferences).
- Return extra boxes and use the provider's streaming app on a smart TV or stick.
- Ask for a newer, non-DVR thin client for secondary TVs; they draw under 10 W.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.