How much does it cost to run a WiFi security camera? (2026 price cap)
At the GB-average Ofgem price cap for 1 October to 31 December 2026, a WiFi security camera rated at 6W costs 0.2p an hour to run and around £13.83 a year assuming runs continuously.
Per hour
0.2p
Per typical use
3.8p
Per day
3.8p
Per week
27p
Per year
£13.83
Typical rating and how we worked this out
This page uses a typical rating of 6W for a WiFi security camera; published figures for this appliance range from 4W to 25W. A mains-powered WiFi security camera typically draws very little power sitting in standby between motion events, rising briefly when recording or if it has an integrated spotlight or siren active. The running cost follows the same formula used across this site: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × unit rate. Typical use is modelled as runs continuously, 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 | 0.2p | £14.64 |
| South Eastern England | 26.88 | 0.2p | £14.13 |
| Eastern England | 26.61 | 0.2p | £13.99 |
| London | 26.60 | 0.2p | £13.98 |
| South Western England | 26.58 | 0.2p | £13.97 |
| Southern Wales | 26.55 | 0.2p | £13.95 |
| North Western England | 26.49 | 0.2p | £13.92 |
| Southern England | 26.47 | 0.2p | £13.91 |
| Northern Scotland | 26.35 | 0.2p | £13.85 |
| Southern Scotland | 26.11 | 0.2p | £13.72 |
| West Midlands | 25.60 | 0.2p | £13.46 |
| Yorkshire | 25.60 | 0.2p | £13.46 |
| North Eastern England | 25.46 | 0.2p | £13.38 |
| East Midlands | 25.36 | 0.2p | £13.33 |
| Great Britain average | 26.32 | 0.2p | £13.83 |
East Midlands is cheapest at £13.33 a year; Merseyside and Northern Wales is most expensive at £14.64 a year — a gap of £1.31 for identical use.
How a WiFi security camera compares with similar appliances
Ranked by typical annual cost in garden & other, GB average:
- WiFi security camera — £13.83 a year (this page)
- electric lawnmower — £10.95 a year
- vacuum cleaner — £7.98 a year
- humidifier — £20.17 a year
- e-bike battery charge — £20.53 a year
- video doorbell — £6.92 a year
Three practical ways to cut the cost
- Choose a battery or solar-powered model for a location without existing mains wiring
- Disable an integrated floodlight/spotlight if you don't need it — the light, not the sensor, is usually the biggest draw
- Adjust motion-sensitivity settings to avoid unnecessary recording triggers
FAQs
- How much does it cost to run a WiFi security camera for an hour?
- 0.2p at the GB-average rate (26.32p/kWh, 6W). One typical use — runs continuously — costs closer to 3.8p.
- How much does a WiFi security camera cost to run per year?
- Around £13.83 a year at the GB-average rate, assuming runs continuously — about 27p a week.
- Which UK region is cheapest to run a WiFi security camera in?
- East Midlands, at £13.33 a year, against £14.64 in Merseyside and Northern Wales — £1.31 apart for identical use, purely from the regional rate.
- Does the exact wattage of my WiFi security camera change the cost much?
- Yes — ratings range 4W–25W, so the top of that range costs about 6.3x the bottom. This page uses 6W; 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
- Daftlogic — power consumption of typical household appliances — 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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