How much does it cost to run a soundbar?
A soundbar costs about 0.5¢ per hour, 3.7¢ a day, $1.13 a month and $14 a year at typical use (5 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. At normal listening volume soundbars draw 15-40 W; a wireless subwoofer adds 20-40 W. Network standby keeps many at 2-5 W around the clock.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundbar only | 20 | 0.4¢ | 2.8¢ | $0.86 | $10 |
| Soundbar typical volume | 30 | 0.5¢ | 3.7¢ | $1.13 | $14 |
| With wireless subwoofer | 60 | 1.1¢ | 6.4¢ | $1.95 | $23 |
At 5 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 | 0.10 | 1.8¢ | $0.54 | $7 |
| 2 hours | 0.13 | 2.3¢ | $0.69 | $8 |
| 4 hours | 0.18 | 3.2¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| 8 hours | 0.29 | 5.2¢ | $1.58 | $19 |
| 12 hours | 0.40 | 7.1¢ | $2.17 | $26 |
| 24 hours | 0.72 | 13¢ | $3.94 | $47 |
Cost to run a soundbar in every state
The same soundbar costs $9 a year in North Dakota and $33 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¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.78 | $9 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.80 | $10 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.81 | $10 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.82 | $10 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.84 | $10 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.85 | $10 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.86 | $10 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.87 | $10 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.88 | $11 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.89 | $11 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.93 | $11 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.4¢ | $0.93 | $11 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.95 | $11 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.95 | $11 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.97 | $12 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.98 | $12 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.98 | $12 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.5¢ | $0.99 | $12 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.01 | $12 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.02 | $12 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.04 | $12 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.04 | $12 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.04 | $13 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.07 | $13 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.12 | $13 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 0.5¢ | $1.15 | $14 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.18 | $14 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.18 | $14 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.30 | $16 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.33 | $16 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 0.6¢ | $1.33 | $16 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.50 | $18 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.50 | $18 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 0.7¢ | $1.52 | $18 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.68 | $20 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.69 | $20 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 0.8¢ | $1.76 | $21 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.79 | $21 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.84 | $22 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.85 | $22 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 0.9¢ | $1.92 | $23 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.0¢ | $2.08 | $25 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 1.3¢ | $2.74 | $33 |
How to cut the cost
- Turn off 'network standby' or 'quick start' if you control it with the TV remote via HDMI-CEC; standby drops to under 1 W.
- Plug the soundbar into a smart power strip slaved to the TV.
- Turn down the subwoofer level; bass draws most of the amplifier power.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Cuts standby to the soundbar and subwoofer when the TV is off.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundbar | 30 | 5 hours a day | $1.13 | $14 |
| TV | 80 | 5 hours a day | $2.24 | $27 |
| Home theater receiver | 90 | 4 hours a day | $2.19 | $26 |
| Smart speaker | 3 | 24 hours a day | $0.39 | $5 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 25 | 2 hours a day | $0.33 | $4 |
| Cable box / DVR | 25 | 24 hours a day | $3.29 | $39 |
| 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 soundbar per hour?
A soundbar drawing 30 watts uses 0.03 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 0.5¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.4¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 1.3¢.
How much does it cost to run a soundbar per month?
At typical use (5 hours a day), a soundbar costs about $1.13 a month and $14 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 soundbar use?
Most soundbars use 10 to 120 watts, depending on the setting (soundbar only 20 W, soundbar typical volume 30 W, with wireless subwoofer 60 W). Plugged in but off, it still draws about 3 W of standby power. Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a soundbar use?
About 0.21 kWh a day and 76 kWh a year at typical use (5 hours a day).
Does a soundbar use a lot of electricity?
No. At about 76 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 soundbar or a TV?
At typical use, a soundbar costs about $14 a year versus $27 for a TV. So the soundbar 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 soundbar?
- Turn off 'network standby' or 'quick start' if you control it with the TV remote via HDMI-CEC; standby drops to under 1 W.
- Plug the soundbar into a smart power strip slaved to the TV.
- Turn down the subwoofer level; bass draws most of the amplifier power.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.