How much does it cost to run a Starlink?
A Starlink costs about 1.0¢ per hour, 24¢ a day, $7.23 a month and $87 a year at typical use (24 hours a day) and the U.S. average rate of 17.99¢/kWh. A Standard Starlink kit averages about 50-75 W including the router, roughly 500 kWh a year; snow melt mode raises draw in winter.
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Cost by setting
| Setting | Watts | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink Mini | 25 | 0.4¢ | 11¢ | $3.29 | $39 |
| Standard (Gen 3) | 55 | 1.0¢ | 24¢ | $7.23 | $87 |
| Snow melt active | 100 | 1.8¢ | 43¢ | $13.14 | $158 |
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 | 0.06 | 1.0¢ | $0.30 | $4 |
| 2 hours | 0.11 | 2.0¢ | $0.60 | $7 |
| 4 hours | 0.22 | 4.0¢ | $1.20 | $14 |
| 8 hours | 0.44 | 7.9¢ | $2.41 | $29 |
| 12 hours | 0.66 | 12¢ | $3.61 | $43 |
| 24 hours | 1.32 | 24¢ | $7.23 | $87 |
Cost to run a Starlink in every state
The same Starlink costs $59 a year in North Dakota and $210 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¢ | 0.7¢ | $4.95 | $59 |
| Idaho | 12.65¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.08 | $61 |
| Nebraska | 12.86¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.17 | $62 |
| Louisiana | 12.99¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.22 | $63 |
| Utah | 13.32¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.35 | $64 |
| Nevada | 13.36¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.37 | $64 |
| Arkansas | 13.43¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.40 | $65 |
| Tennessee | 13.56¢ | 0.7¢ | $5.45 | $65 |
| Oklahoma | 13.70¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.50 | $66 |
| Montana | 13.84¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.56 | $67 |
| Kentucky | 13.92¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.59 | $67 |
| Missouri | 13.95¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.60 | $67 |
| Wyoming | 14.01¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.63 | $68 |
| Washington | 14.12¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.67 | $68 |
| Iowa | 14.13¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.68 | $68 |
| South Dakota | 14.20¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.71 | $68 |
| Mississippi | 14.77¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.93 | $71 |
| North Carolina | 14.77¢ | 0.8¢ | $5.93 | $71 |
| Kansas | 15.09¢ | 0.8¢ | $6.06 | $73 |
| Georgia | 15.12¢ | 0.8¢ | $6.07 | $73 |
| New Mexico | 15.32¢ | 0.8¢ | $6.16 | $74 |
| Florida | 15.39¢ | 0.8¢ | $6.18 | $74 |
| Arizona | 15.40¢ | 0.8¢ | $6.19 | $74 |
| West Virginia | 15.48¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.22 | $75 |
| Oregon | 15.50¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.23 | $75 |
| South Carolina | 15.64¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.28 | $75 |
| Texas | 15.96¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.41 | $77 |
| Minnesota | 16.22¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.52 | $78 |
| Alabama | 16.44¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.61 | $79 |
| Virginia | 16.48¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.62 | $79 |
| Colorado | 16.58¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.66 | $80 |
| Indiana | 16.94¢ | 0.9¢ | $6.81 | $82 |
| Delaware | 17.79¢ | 1.0¢ | $7.15 | $86 |
| Ohio | 18.25¢ | 1.0¢ | $7.33 | $88 |
| Wisconsin | 18.74¢ | 1.0¢ | $7.53 | $90 |
| Illinois | 18.79¢ | 1.0¢ | $7.55 | $91 |
| Pennsylvania | 20.70¢ | 1.1¢ | $8.32 | $100 |
| Maryland | 21.03¢ | 1.2¢ | $8.45 | $101 |
| Michigan | 21.05¢ | 1.2¢ | $8.46 | $101 |
| New Jersey | 23.78¢ | 1.3¢ | $9.55 | $115 |
| Vermont | 23.80¢ | 1.3¢ | $9.56 | $115 |
| District of Columbia | 24.20¢ | 1.3¢ | $9.72 | $117 |
| New Hampshire | 26.67¢ | 1.5¢ | $10.72 | $129 |
| Alaska | 26.85¢ | 1.5¢ | $10.79 | $129 |
| Connecticut | 27.99¢ | 1.5¢ | $11.25 | $135 |
| New York | 28.39¢ | 1.6¢ | $11.41 | $137 |
| Rhode Island | 29.27¢ | 1.6¢ | $11.76 | $141 |
| Maine | 29.31¢ | 1.6¢ | $11.78 | $141 |
| Massachusetts | 30.43¢ | 1.7¢ | $12.23 | $147 |
| California | 32.99¢ | 1.8¢ | $13.25 | $159 |
| Hawaii | 43.51¢ | 2.4¢ | $17.48 | $210 |
How to cut the cost
- Set snow melt to Pre-heat Off or Auto rather than Always on.
- Use the app's sleep schedule to power down overnight; it can cut energy use by a third.
- Run the Mini on off-grid setups; it draws less than half the standard dish.
Cheaper ways to get the job done
Draws about 25 W versus 55 W for the standard dish.
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Compare with similar appliances
| Appliance | Watts | Typical use | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starlink | 55 | 24 hours a day | $7.23 | $87 |
| Wi-Fi router | 10 | 24 hours a day | $1.31 | $16 |
| Modem | 8 | 24 hours a day | $1.05 | $13 |
| Mesh Wi-Fi system | 24 | 24 hours a day | $3.15 | $38 |
| NAS | 35 | 24 hours a day | $4.60 | $55 |
| 3D printer | 120 | 4 hours a day, 3 days a week | $1.74 | $21 |
| Paper shredder | 200 | 6 minutes a day, 2 days a week | $0.10 | $1 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a Starlink per hour?
A Starlink drawing 55 watts uses 0.06 kWh per hour. At the U.S. average of 17.99¢/kWh that's 1.0¢ per hour. In North Dakota (12.32¢) it's 0.7¢. In Hawaii (43.51¢) it's 2.4¢.
How much does it cost to run a Starlink per month?
At typical use (24 hours a day), a Starlink costs about $7.23 a month and $87 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 Starlink use?
Most Starlinks use 20 to 110 watts, depending on the setting (starlink mini 25 W, standard (gen 3) 55 W, snow melt active 100 W). Check the label on the back or bottom for your model's exact rating.
How many kWh does a Starlink use?
About 1.32 kWh a day and 482 kWh a year at typical use (24 hours a day).
Does a Starlink use a lot of electricity?
It's a moderate load: 482 kWh a year is about 5% of the average U.S. home's yearly use.
Is it cheaper to run a Starlink or a Wi-Fi router?
At typical use, a Starlink costs about $87 a year versus $16 for a Wi-Fi router. So the Wi-Fi router is cheaper by about $71 a year. Use the comparison table above to compare them at your own settings.
How can I lower the cost of running a Starlink?
- Set snow melt to Pre-heat Off or Auto rather than Always on.
- Use the app's sleep schedule to power down overnight; it can cut energy use by a third.
- Run the Mini on off-grid setups; it draws less than half the standard dish.
Rates updated 2026-10-21: EIA data through July 2026. Typical wattage and usage reviewed against DOE, ENERGY STAR and manufacturer specs. Methodology.