ENERGY · RUNNING COSTS

What a TV costs to run

On the price cap from 1 October to 31 December 2026, a 79 W TV at full power costs 2.1p an hour, in Great Britain on average and paying by Direct Debit. Put in your own model and region below.

Your region
Today's cap
Real models

An hour at full power

2.1p

At 26.32p a kWh: the cap's Great Britain average on Direct Debit, 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.

Each time: 6.2p
A week: 43.7p
A month: £1.90
A year: £22.77

The working

79 W for 3 hours uses 0.237 kWh at full power.
0.237 kWh × 26.32p a kWh (Great Britain average, Direct Debit, VAT included) = 6.2p each time.
7 times a week is 43.7p; × 52.14 weeks = £22.77 a year, or £1.90 a month.

The standing charge (54.83p a day here) isn't in these figures: you pay it whatever you run. On Economy 7 or another time-of-use tariff, the cost depends on when it runs and your supplier's rates.

Real models

Ratings from each maker's or retailer's page. Great Britain average, Direct Debit.

Model	Rating	An hour
Samsung UE43U8000FK 43in Crystal UHD U8000F, class G (SDR)	52 W	1.4p
Samsung UE55U8000FK 55in Crystal UHD U8000F, class G (SDR)	79 W	2.1p
Samsung UE65U8000FK 65in Crystal UHD U8000F, class G (SDR)	109 W	2.9p

Where you live

A 79 W TV at full power, on Direct Debit. The Great Britain average is 27.80p a kWh paying on receipt of a bill, and 25.52p on prepayment.

Region	A kWh	An hour	A year
Great Britain average	26.32p	2.1p	£22.77
Eastern England	26.61p	2.1p	£23.02
East Midlands	25.36p	2p	£21.93
London	26.60p	2.1p	£23.01
Merseyside and North Wales	27.86p	2.2p	£24.10
West Midlands	25.60p	2p	£22.15
North East England	25.46p	2p	£22.02
North West England	26.49p	2.1p	£22.91
Southern England	26.47p	2.1p	£22.89
South East England	26.88p	2.1p	£23.25
South Wales	26.55p	2.1p	£22.97
South West England	26.58p	2.1p	£22.99
Yorkshire	25.60p	2p	£22.15
South Scotland	26.11p	2.1p	£22.58
North Scotland	26.35p	2.1p	£22.79

A year is 3 hours a day, every day: my assumption, so put in your own use above.

What it uses

The energy label gives kWh/1000h for SDR and for HDR. That's the same number as its average watts while playing (1 kWh per 1,000 hours is 1 W), so 79 kWh/1000h is 79 W.

Does it always use this much? No. The label figure is the average power while the set plays a standard moving-picture test sequence; real draw changes with what's on screen and the picture settings, and HDR content draws more than SDR. Samsung's 55-inch UE55U8000FK, for one, draws 79 W playing SDR and 118 W playing HDR.

Spending less

Switch the TV off at the plug rather than leaving it on standby. The Energy Saving Trust warns that some satellite and digital TV recorders may need to stay plugged in to record programmes. (Energy Saving Trust: Quick tips to save energy at home)
When buying, compare the kWh/1000h figure on the energy label: Citizens Advice says TV labels show how much energy is used for every 1,000 hours. (Citizens Advice: Buying a more energy efficient appliance)

Questions

How much does a TV cost to run?

A 79 W TV at full power costs 2.1p an hour at the price cap's 26.32p a kWh (Great Britain average, Direct Debit, from 1 October to 31 December 2026). For 3 hours a day, every day, that's £22.77 a year. The calculator above takes your own model, use, region and how you pay.

Does leaving the TV on standby use electricity?

A little. Samsung's sheets for its 2025 U8000F sets list 0.5 W in standby and 2.0 W in networked standby, far below the 52 to 109 W they draw when on.

What does kWh/1000h on a TV energy label mean?

It is the electricity the TV uses in 1,000 hours of use. The European Commission's label FAQ says it is the same number as the TV's power in watts, so a label reading 79 kWh/1000h means the set averages 79 W.

Does HDR use more electricity than SDR?

Yes, the label gives a separate, higher HDR figure. Samsung's 55in UE55U8000FK lists 79 W for SDR and 118 W for HDR.