How much does it cost to run a modem?
A modem costs about 0.1¢ per hour, 3.5¢ a day, $1.05 a month and $13 a year at typical use (24 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Cable modems and fiber ONTs draw 5-12 W continuously, about 70 kWh a year.
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Cost by hours of use
| Hours per day | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year (all year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.01 | 0.1¢ | $0.04 | $1 |
| 2 hours | 0.02 | 0.3¢ | $0.09 | $1 |
| 4 hours | 0.03 | 0.6¢ | $0.18 | $2 |
| 8 hours | 0.06 | 1.2¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| 12 hours | 0.10 | 1.7¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| 24 hours | 0.19 | 3.5¢ | $1.05 | $13 |
Cost to run a modem in every state
The same modem costs $9 a year in North Dakota and $31 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¢ | 0.10¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.74 | $9 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.75 | $9 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.76 | $9 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.78 | $9 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.78 | $9 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.78 | $9 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.79 | $10 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.80 | $10 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.82 | $10 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.82 | $10 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.83 | $10 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.86 | $10 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.86 | $10 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.90 | $11 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.91 | $11 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.93 | $11 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.95 | $11 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.96 | $12 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.96 | $12 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.1¢ | $1.04 | $12 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.1¢ | $1.07 | $13 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.1¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.10 | $13 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.21 | $15 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.23 | $15 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.23 | $15 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.39 | $17 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.39 | $17 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.41 | $17 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.56 | $19 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.57 | $19 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.64 | $20 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.66 | $20 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.71 | $21 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.71 | $21 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.2¢ | $1.78 | $21 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.3¢ | $1.93 | $23 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 0.3¢ | $2.54 | $31 |
How to cut the cost
- Buy your own DOCSIS 3.1 modem instead of renting; it saves $10-15 a month in rental fees.
- Use a modem-router combo to eliminate a second always-on device.
- Don't put the modem on a timer; reconnecting can take several minutes and some ISPs flag frequent drops.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Replaces two always-on devices with one.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modem | 8 | 24 hours a day | $1.05 | $13 |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 | 24 hours a day | $1.31 | $16 |
| Mesh Wi-Fi system | 24 | 24 hours a day | $3.15 | $38 |
| Starlink | 55 | 24 hours a day | $7.23 | $87 |
| Inkjet printer | 15 | 6 minutes a day, 3 days a week | $0.20 | $2 |
| NAS | 35 | 24 hours a day | $4.60 | $55 |
| 3D printer | 120 | 4 hours a day, 3 days a week | $1.74 | $21 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a modem per hour?
A modem drawing 8 watts uses 0.01 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.1¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.10¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 0.3¢.
How much does it cost to run a modem per month?
At typical use (24 hours a day), a modem costs about $1.05 a month and $13 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 modem use?
Most modems use 4 to 15 watts. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a modem use?
About 0.19 kWh a day and 70 kWh a year at typical use (24 hours a day).
Does a modem use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 70 kWh a year it's a small share (0.7%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a modem or a Wi-Fi router?
At typical use, a modem costs about $13 a year versus $16 for a Wi-Fi router. So the modem is cheaper by about $3 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a modem?
- Buy your own DOCSIS 3.1 modem instead of renting; it saves $10-15 a month in rental fees.
- Use a modem-router combo to eliminate a second always-on device.
- Don't put the modem on a timer; reconnecting can take several minutes and some ISPs flag frequent drops.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.