How much does it cost to run a smart speaker?
A smart speaker costs about 0.05¢ per hour, 1.3¢ a day, $0.39 a month and $5 a year at typical use (24 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. Smart speakers stay on 24/7 listening for a wake word, drawing 2-4 W idle; smart displays with screens draw 5-8 W. Playing music adds a few watts.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Dot / Nest Mini | 2 | 0.04¢ | 0.9¢ | $0.26 | $3 |
| Echo / Nest Audio | 3 | 0.05¢ | 1.3¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| Echo Show / smart display | 6 | 0.1¢ | 2.6¢ | $0.79 | $9 |
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 | 0.00 | 0.05¢ | $0.02 | $0 |
| 2 hours | 0.01 | 0.1¢ | $0.03 | $0 |
| 4 hours | 0.01 | 0.2¢ | $0.07 | $1 |
| 8 hours | 0.02 | 0.4¢ | $0.13 | $2 |
| 12 hours | 0.04 | 0.6¢ | $0.20 | $2 |
| 24 hours | 0.07 | 1.3¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
Cost to run a smart speaker in every state
The same smart speaker costs $3 a year in North Dakota and $11 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¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.27 | $3 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.28 | $3 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.29 | $4 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.29 | $4 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.29 | $4 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.31 | $4 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.04¢ | $0.32 | $4 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.33 | $4 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.34 | $4 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.35 | $4 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.36 | $4 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.37 | $4 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.39 | $5 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.05¢ | $0.40 | $5 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.41 | $5 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.41 | $5 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.45 | $5 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.46 | $6 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.06¢ | $0.46 | $6 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.52 | $6 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.52 | $6 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.07¢ | $0.53 | $6 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.58 | $7 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.59 | $7 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.08¢ | $0.61 | $7 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.09¢ | $0.62 | $7 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.09¢ | $0.64 | $8 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.09¢ | $0.64 | $8 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.09¢ | $0.67 | $8 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 0.10¢ | $0.72 | $9 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 0.1¢ | $0.95 | $11 |
How to cut the cost
- Turn off the screen at night on Echo Show or Nest Hub (Do Not Disturb or sleep schedule).
- Remove extra speakers in rooms you rarely use; each costs about 26 kWh a year.
- Use them to schedule other devices off, such as smart plugs on TVs and space heaters.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Lets the speaker shut off standby loads elsewhere in the house.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart speaker | 3 | 24 hours a day | $0.39 | $5 |
| Streaming device | 3 | 5 hours a day | $0.24 | $3 |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 | 24 hours a day | $1.31 | $16 |
| Soundbar | 30 | 5 hours a day | $1.13 | $14 |
| Nintendo Switch | 13 | 2 hours a day | $0.20 | $2 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 25 | 2 hours a day | $0.33 | $4 |
| Cable box / DVR | 25 | 24 hours a day | $3.29 | $39 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a smart speaker per hour?
A smart speaker drawing 3 watts uses 0.00 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.05¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.04¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 0.1¢.
How much does it cost to run a smart speaker per month?
At typical use (24 hours a day), a smart speaker costs about $0.39 a month and $5 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 smart speaker use?
Most smart speakers use 2 to 10 watts, depending on the setting (echo dot / nest mini 2 W, echo / nest audio 3 W, echo show / smart display 6 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a smart speaker use?
About 0.07 kWh a day and 26 kWh a year at typical use (24 hours a day).
Does a smart speaker use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 26 kWh a year it's a small share (0.3%) of the average U.S. home's 10,492 kWh.
Is it cheaper to run a smart speaker or a streaming device?
At typical use, a smart speaker costs about $5 a year versus $3 for a streaming device. So the streaming device is cheaper by about $2 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a smart speaker?
- Turn off the screen at night on Echo Show or Nest Hub (Do Not Disturb or sleep schedule).
- Remove extra speakers in rooms you rarely use; each costs about 26 kWh a year.
- Use them to schedule other devices off, such as smart plugs on TVs and space heaters.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.