How much does it cost to run a PS5 or Xbox Series X? Console power math

A PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X running 3 hours a day at 80% load costs about $39.42 a year in electricity at $0.18/kWh, $3.29 a month and 219 kWh annually. Consoles are noticeably cheaper to run than even a mid-range gaming PC, because their total system power is bounded at 200-220 W and real-world draw during gaming settles lower still.

Annual cost

$39

At $0.18/kWh

Monthly cost

3 h/day at 80% load

Annual consumption

219 kWh

250 W rated

Device Configuration

Device Preset

Max Power Consumption (Watts)

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Utilization: 80%

Effective Power: 200W

Usage per Day (Hours)

Hours

Electricity Price ($/kWh)

$/kWh

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Daily Cost

$0.11

Monthly Cost

$3.24

Yearly Cost

$39.42

219 kWh / year

How this is calculated

The 250 W figure is the rated PSU ceiling; actual draw during typical AAA gameplay sits at 180-210 W on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. The real hidden cost is standby. Both consoles default to "instant on" mode drawing 10-15 W 24/7, which adds about $18/year entirely to standby power. Switching to full-shutdown standby (4-5 W) cuts that to about $6/year.

Verdict

$39/year for 3 hours of gaming a day is the cheapest way to play, about half what a 500 W gaming PC costs on the same schedule. Fix the standby setting and you can shave another $12/year off without any functional downside.