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To estimate the electricity cost of a 24/7 YouTube stream, multiply the equipment’s continuous power draw in kilowatts by its runtime, then multiply the resulting kilowatt-hours (kWh) by your electricity rate. For example, a steady 100-watt load running for 30 days uses 72 kWh. At an illustrative rate of $0.20/kWh, that is $14.40 in energy charges, before fixed fees and taxes.
Calculate the electricity cost of a 24/7 stream
Use this formula for a steady load:
Energy (kWh) = power (watts) ÷ 1,000 × hours
Energy cost = energy (kWh) × electricity rate per kWh
A 30-day month contains 720 hours, so a constant load uses 0.72 kWh per watt over that period. A 365-day year contains 8,760 hours. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) explains the distinction: watts measure power, while watt-hours measure energy over time. Its illustrative example says a 40 W load used for five hours consumes 0.2 kWh (EIA guide to measuring electricity).
Monthly cost at different power draws and rates
The figures below assume the equipment draws the listed amount continuously for a 30-day month (720 hours). They are arithmetic scenarios, not measurements of a particular streaming computer. The rate is an input: use the applicable per-kWh energy price from your own tariff.
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| Continuous load | Energy in 30 days | At $0.10/kWh | At $0.20/kWh | At $0.30/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 W | 36 kWh | $3.60 | $7.20 | $10.80 |
| 100 W | 72 kWh | $7.20 | $14.40 | $21.60 |
| 200 W | 144 kWh | $14.40 | $28.80 | $43.20 |
| 300 W | 216 kWh | $21.60 | $43.20 | $64.80 |
For an exact 365-day estimate with an unchanged load and rate, calculate using 8,760 hours rather than multiplying the 30-day figure by 12. For instance, the annual energy use of a steady 100 W load is 876 kWh; multiply that by your rate to estimate its annual energy charge.
What equipment should you include?
First set the boundary for the bill estimate. You might count only the streaming computer, or include equipment that stays on to support the broadcast:
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- The computer or dedicated streaming device.
- Capture or encoding equipment, if used.
- A monitor, if it remains on during the stream.
- Networking equipment, if you want its electricity included.
A computer’s power-supply rating is its capacity, not a measurement of how much electricity the system continuously draws. Use measured wall power where possible, or clearly label the wattage as an assumption. The EIA describes meters as instruments for measuring electricity use (EIA guide); a plug-in usage monitor is one product category that can measure a device at the outlet, but no specific model is endorsed here.
Loads can rise and fall with the workload. A momentary reading may not represent a full day of streaming. Measure cumulative energy over a representative interval while the actual stream is running, or use a time-weighted average for periods with different loads. If devices have different usage schedules, calculate each period separately and include only the devices relevant to your estimate.
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Use your actual electricity rate
The example rates in the table are not universal prices. Check the per-kWh energy rate on your current bill or tariff. If your price changes by time of day, calculate each period separately: multiply the kWh used during each price period by that period’s rate, then add the results. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that utility pricing can include time-of-use and dynamic-rate structures (DOE guidance on evaluating utility rate options).
Location makes a substantial difference. The EIA reports that 2025 annual average U.S. retail electricity prices ranged from 8.20¢/kWh in North Dakota to 35.72¢/kWh in Hawaii. These are state-level averages, not an individual household’s tariff. Your bill may also include fixed charges, delivery costs, taxes, and other items, so the calculation above estimates the variable energy charge rather than necessarily matching the full bill (EIA discussion of electricity prices).
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Keep creator electricity separate from video-delivery estimates
A creator’s local electricity estimate is based on the power drawn by the equipment at home or in a studio. Studies of video-streaming energy may include other parts of the system, such as viewing devices, data centres, or networks; they may also describe a viewer watching video rather than a creator transmitting a live stream.
- The International Energy Agency’s analysis estimated about 0.077 kWh per viewing hour for typical Netflix video streaming in 2019. The analysis, updated in 2020, notes that the result depends on factors including device, network connection, and resolution. It is viewing-side context, not a measurement of a YouTube creator’s computer (IEA analysis of streaming’s carbon footprint).
- The German Environment Agency gives about 2.3 W per stream for the data-centre component in its HD video case study, excluding data transmission and local IT. That figure does not represent the complete electricity use of a YouTube broadcast or a household bill (Umweltbundesamt overview of digital services and cloud computing).
Do not multiply all of a YouTube audience’s viewing hours by either figure and call the result the broadcaster’s electricity bill. Those numbers describe different parts of the system and different users’ electricity.
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If your goal is specifically to keep uploaded videos playing as a YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to remain on. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams, not camera broadcasts or other platforms. See StreamNeo.
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Quick Recap
Common estimate mistakes
- Using the power-supply rating as actual draw: capacity is not a continuous wall-power measurement. Measure the running system or label the estimate as an assumption.
- Using watts as if they were kWh: convert watts to kilowatts and multiply by the hours of use before applying the rate.
- Applying one rate to a variable tariff: split usage across the applicable time periods and use each period’s rate.
- Counting equipment outside the chosen boundary: decide whether monitors, networking, or capture gear are included and keep that choice consistent.
- Confusing viewing energy with creator energy: delivery-system or viewer-side figures do not tell you what your own streaming equipment draws.
- Treating the estimate as the entire utility bill: the calculation covers variable energy charges; fixed fees, taxes, and delivery charges may be additional.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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