How much does it cost to run a computer monitor? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a computer monitor rated at 30W costs 0.8p an hour to run and around £17.29 a year assuming 6 hours of use a day.
Per hour
0.8p
Per typical use
4.7p
Per day
4.7p
Per week
33p
Per year
£17.29
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 30W for a computer monitor; published figures for this appliance range from 25W to 80W. A basic 24-inch monitor typically draws around 25–30W, rising toward 80W for a large, curved or high-refresh-rate gaming display. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as 6 hours of use a day, which is how the per-day, per-week and per-year figures above were calculated — see the cost-to-run calculator to change the wattage, hours or region yourself.
Rate used: Ofgem price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, GB average electricity — 26.32p/kWh (excl. VAT, removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027).
Cost by region
Same appliance, same use — ranked most to least expensive by region under the price cap:
| Region | Elec p/kWh | Cost per hour | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside and Northern Wales | 27.86 | 0.8p | £18.30 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 0.8p | £17.66 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 0.8p | £17.48 |
| London | 26.60 | 0.8p | £17.48 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 0.8p | £17.46 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 0.8p | £17.44 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 0.8p | £17.40 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 0.8p | £17.39 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 0.8p | £17.31 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 0.8p | £17.15 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 0.8p | £16.82 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 0.8p | £16.82 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 0.8p | £16.73 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 0.8p | £16.66 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 0.8p | £17.29 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £16.66 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £18.30 a year — a gap of £1.64 for identical use.
How a computer monitor compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in entertainment & office, GB average:
- computer monitor — £17.29 a year (this page)
- broadband router — £18.45 a year
- laptop — £19.21 a year
- 43-inch LED TV — £28.82 a year
- smart speaker — £2.88 a year
- home printer — 40p a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Lower brightness — most monitors ship brighter than a typically lit room needs
- Enable the monitor's own sleep timeout separately from the computer's
- Choose a lower-brightness office monitor over a high-refresh gaming panel for everyday work
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a computer monitor for an hour?
- 0.8p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 30W). One typical use — 6 hours of use a day — costs closer to 4.7p.
- How much does a computer monitor cost to run per year?
- Around £17.29 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming 6 hours of use a day — about 33p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a computer monitor in?
- East Midlands, at £16.66 a year, against £18.30 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £1.64 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my computer monitor change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 25W–80W, so the top of that range costs about 3.2x the bottom. This page uses 30W; check your own rating plate.
- Does the October 2026 price cap affect this figure?
- Yes — figures use the Ofgem cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Electricity excludes VAT (removed 1 Oct 2026–31 Mar 2027); gas includes 5%. See the price cap page for the full breakdown.
Sources
- EnergySage — how many watts does a computer use — wattage and usage figures for this appliance.
- Ofgem — Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (regional tables, read 12 September 2026).
Related
- Cost-to-run calculator and full A–Z — check any appliance or enter a custom wattage.
- Energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026 — every region, every payment method.
- Back-billing calculator — if a bill for this or any appliance looks like it covers too many months.
- Free bill audit — if your overall energy costs look high regardless of any one appliance.
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