Standby Power Cost Calculator (Phantom Load)
Enter the standby power of your devices to see what idle electricity costs you.
Your numbers
Measure with a plug-in power meter, or add up the standby figures from device manuals
$
Your results
Cost per year
Cost per year
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Energy per year (kWh)
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CO₂ per year (kg)
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Over 10 years
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Standby Power Cost Calculator (Phantom Load) by TheCalcTools
How the Standby Power Cost Calculator (Phantom Load) works
Devices that are switched off but still plugged in (TVs, consoles, chargers, set-top boxes) can draw a few watts each all day. Multiply the total standby watts by the hours and the price.
Switching them off at the wall or with a smart strip removes the load.
The formula
Cost = W × hours/day × 365 ÷ 1000 × price
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Total standby power (W) | 25 |
|---|---|
| Hours per day on standby | 20 |
| Electricity price per kWh | $0.18 |
| Grid carbon intensity (g CO₂ per kWh) | 400 |
- 25 W × 20 h × 365 = 182.5 kWh, costing $32.85 a year.
Result:
| Cost per year | $32.85 |
|---|---|
| Energy per year (kWh) | 182.5 |
| CO₂ per year (kg) | 73.0 |
| Over 10 years | $328 |
Frequently asked questions
Is standby power significant?
A typical home’s always-on load is often tens of watts; 25 W all year is about 220 kWh.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.