How much electricity does a game console use?
Short answer: Sony says the PS5 draws from below 100 W to around 200 W while gaming, with new games near the top. At 200 W and 18 cents/kWh, an hour costs about 3.6 cents. Standby choice matters: Xbox Sleep mode reportedly draws 10-15 W, while Shutdown (energy saving) uses about 0.5 W.
How many watts does a PS5 or Xbox use while gaming?
Sony says the PS5 draws “from below 100 W to around 200 W” during play. Newer, more demanding games sit near the high end. Sony also lists annual energy estimates of 133-135 kWh per year for the launch PS5 models (CFI-1016A disc, CFI-1016B digital). Sony says these are EU/UK-model estimates assuming more than 3 hours of active use a day, with a mix of 25% PS4 and 75% PS5 games at UHD resolution.
For the Xbox Series X|S, we did not find an official gaming wattage we could verify. Treat the PS5 range as a rough guide for a current console. The smaller Series S likely draws less than the Series X, but we have no official figure.
What do standby and rest modes draw?
| Mode | Power draw |
|---|---|
| PS5 Rest mode (suspend) | 0.5 W or less |
| Xbox Shutdown (energy saving) | about 0.5 W (reported) |
| Xbox Sleep | 10-15 W (reported) |
The Xbox figures come from Tom’s Guide reporting on Microsoft’s energy-saving change, not a Microsoft spec sheet we could verify. Sony does not publish a wattage for Rest mode with USB charging and network on. It says only that this setting uses 28-39% less than PS4 models.
Xbox Sleep keeps the console ready for instant-on and background updates. That convenience costs 20 to 30 times more power than Shutdown mode. See our guide to standby power and phantom load for more on always-on devices.
How much does an hour of gaming cost?
Formula: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh.
At 200 W and 18¢: 0.2 kWh × $0.18 = 3.6¢ per hour.
| Rate (¢/kWh) | 100 W, per hour | 200 W, per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1.2¢ | 2.4¢ |
| 15 | 1.5¢ | 3.0¢ |
| 18 | 1.8¢ | 3.6¢ |
| 25 | 2.5¢ | 5.0¢ |
| 30 | 3.0¢ | 6.0¢ |
The EIA expects the 2026 U.S. average residential price at about 18.2¢/kWh. Check your bill for your actual rate.
What does a console cost per year?
Scenario: 2 hours of gaming a day, 22 hours in standby, 365 days.
- 200 W gaming + 0.5 W standby: 146 + 4.0 = 150.0 kWh/yr
- 200 W gaming + 15 W Sleep: 146 + 120.5 = 266.5 kWh/yr
| Rate (¢/kWh) | 200 W + 0.5 W standby | 200 W + 15 W Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | $18.00 | $31.97 |
| 15 | $22.50 | $39.97 |
| 18 | $27.00 | $47.96 |
| 25 | $37.50 | $66.61 |
| 30 | $45.00 | $79.94 |
In the Sleep scenario, standby uses more energy than the gaming itself. Sleep at 15 W for 22 hours a day costs about $21.68 a year at 18¢. Shutdown mode at 0.5 W costs about 72¢ a year.
How do I cut a console’s electricity use?
- On Xbox, choose Shutdown (energy saving) in power settings if you can live without instant-on.
- On PS5, turn off USB power and internet in Rest mode if you do not need them.
- Turn the console fully off when you leave for several days.
- A smart plug can cut standby, but cutting power during a system update can corrupt it. See do smart plugs save electricity.
Safety: keep vents clear and do not put a console in a closed cabinet. Heat buildup shortens component life and raises fire risk.
Quick answers
Does a PS5 use a lot of electricity? Not compared with major appliances. Sony puts gaming draw at under 100 W to around 200 W. That is about 3.6¢ an hour at 200 W and 18¢/kWh.
Is Xbox Sleep mode expensive? It reportedly draws 10-15 W whenever the console is off. At 22 hours a day and 18¢, that is about $14 to $22 a year.
How much does Xbox Shutdown mode save? Shutdown reportedly draws about 0.5 W versus 10-15 W in Sleep. That saves roughly $14 to $21 a year at 18¢/kWh.
Does PS5 Rest mode use much power? Sony says Rest mode suspend draws 0.5 W or less. USB charging and network features add more, but Sony gives no watt figure.
Is it OK to unplug a console? Yes, once it is fully shut down. Do not cut power while it is updating.