Standby Cost Calculator
Find out what your TVs, consoles and other "vampire" devices really cost left on standby all year, and how fast a smart plug pays for itself.
Estimate only. Estimates based on the standby wattage, hours and electricity rate you enter, actual device draw varies by make and model; check the device's power label or a plug-in energy monitor for a precise figure. Source: Energy Saving Trust.
A month: £6.56
Cost per device
| Device | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Television | £17.89 |
| Set-top box / TV box | £26.83 |
| Games console | £17.89 |
| Microwave (clock display) | £5.37 |
| Printer | £7.15 |
| Smart speaker | £3.58 |
Smart plug payback
Add a smart plug cost above to see its payback period.
Cutting standby waste
- Set-top boxes and games consoles in "instant on" mode are usually the worst offenders, check their settings for a proper full power-off option.
- A smart plug with a schedule switches devices off automatically overnight or while you're out, without you having to remember.
- Group devices you always use together, TV, box and soundbar, onto one extension lead with a single switch, so one flick kills them all.
- Chargers left plugged in with nothing attached still draw a small trickle of power, unplug them, not just the device.
What standby power actually costs
Almost every device with a remote control, a clock display or a "quick start" feature keeps drawing power even when you're not using it, so it can respond instantly or keep a display lit. Individually these draws are small, a few watts here and there, but left on 20 hours a day, 365 days a year, across a TV, a set-top box, a games console and a handful of other gadgets, they add up to a genuine annual cost that most households never see itemised on a bill. This calculator totals your own devices' standby draw at your electricity rate, and shows how quickly a smart plug, which can cut that draw to zero, pays for itself.