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Free phantom load electricity cost calculator. Estimate annual and monthly cost from combined standby watts, hours per day at that draw, and your electricity rate. Explore more in our energy and sustainability calculator category.
Last updated: April 18, 2026
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Add up idle draw from chargers, TVs, set-top boxes, game consoles, and always-on gadgets.
Use 24 if devices stay in standby all day; lower if you unplug or cut power part of the day.
Annual
$70.08
Monthly (÷12)
$5.84
Draw: 50 W (0.1 kW)
Energy: 1.2 kWh/day · 438 kWh/year
Planning note
Total W
Sum standby draw
Chargers, monitors, and set-top boxes each contribute a few watts continuously.
Hours
Less than 24
Use smart strips or schedules to reduce hours phantom power runs.
Rate
$/kWh
The same phantom watts cost more where electricity is expensive.
Focus
One strip total
Measure one power strip to get a realistic subtotal for that zone.
Tip
Meter a desk
Laptop adapters and hubs often draw idle power even when the PC sleeps.
Use
Two runs
Run the calculator with old and new watt totals to estimate savings from upgrades.
Default scenario: about $70.08 per year ($5.84 / month avg) for 50 W, 24 hr/day, at $0.16/kWh.
Standby power in watts is converted to kilowatts by dividing by one thousand. Multiplying kilowatts by hours per day and by three hundred sixty-five gives estimated kilowatt-hours per year. Multiplying annual kilowatt-hours by your price per kilowatt-hour yields annual electricity cost. Monthly cost divides annual cost by twelve for a simple average; it is not a utility billing simulation with proration or demand charges.
kWh/yr ≈ (W ÷ 1000) × hours/day × 365Annual $ ≈ kWh/yr × $/kWhReplace total watts with your measured standby sum for a personalized estimate.
Share it with anyone auditing standby electricity use
Suggested hashtags: #PhantomLoad #Electricity #Energy #Standby #Calculator