A Raspberry Pi 4 Model B’s documented average draw is about 3.9 watts during H.264 video playback, or roughly 34 kWh over a year if that draw continues around the clock. At idle, the same documentation gives about 3.0 watts, or 26 kWh per year. These are approximate older workload figures—not a direct measurement of YouTube playback in a current browser—and they do not include every accessory or the display.
What the Raspberry Pi 4 figures mean
Raspberry Pi’s hardware documentation reports an average of 0.6A at idle and 0.78A during H.264 video playback for the Pi 4. Using the documented 5V supply level, watts = volts × amps gives approximately 3.0W idle and 3.9W during H.264 playback. Those wattages are calculations from the published current readings, not separately measured YouTube results. Raspberry Pi’s hardware documentation describes the measurements as approximate and identifies the test image as dated June 2019.
The Pi 4 test setup used HDMI, a keyboard, a mouse and Ethernet. Raspberry Pi warns that the figures exclude additional USB devices and HATs, whose power can raise total consumption. The published table also gives 0.85A maximum during H.264 playback and 1.2A average under stress; neither figure should be mistaken for the expected average of a YouTube session.
Estimated energy for continuous operation
A non-leap year has 8,760 hours. Annual energy is average watts × 8,760 ÷ 1,000:
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| Workload used for estimate | Approximate draw | Estimated energy for 8,760 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pi 4 idle | 3.0W, calculated from the documented 0.6A at 5V | 26.28 kWh, about 26 kWh |
| Pi 4 H.264 playback | 3.9W, calculated from the documented 0.78A at 5V | 34.164 kWh, about 34 kWh |
These are arithmetic estimates assuming the respective average draw persists for every hour of the year. They are not direct measurements of a full-year setup.
How to estimate your electricity cost
Multiply annual energy use in kWh by your electricity tariff per kWh. For example, use 34 × your tariff per kWh for a rough annual cost based on the Pi 4 H.264 playback estimate. The result depends on your location and plan, so there is no single reliable price to insert here.
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Be clear about what the estimate covers. A board-side reading excludes the power supply’s conversion losses; a reading at the wall includes those losses and the equipment connected downstream of the meter. A separate monitor or television can add power beyond the Pi reading. For a useful bill estimate of the complete setup, measure the whole setup at the wall and include its display and peripherals.
Why actual YouTube playback can differ
The Pi 4 specifications list H.264 decoding up to 1080p60, but that capability does not establish which codec YouTube will deliver or guarantee a particular browser playback result. Raspberry Pi OS uses Chromium as the default browser in a new installation unless another browser is selected. YouTube recommends an up-to-date supported browser, but its general guidance does not identify the Raspberry Pi as a certified supported device or specify the codec served to a particular Pi and browser.
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Actual playback load can therefore vary with the Pi model, browser and software version, selected resolution, delivered codec, and whether video decoding is accelerated. The official power table is an H.264 workload measurement, not an end-to-end test of YouTube in a current browser. YouTube’s cited bandwidth recommendations—5 Mbps sustained for 1080p HD and 20 Mbps for 4K UHD—are network guidance, not power readings or a Pi compatibility guarantee. YouTube’s system requirements and supported devices provide that general guidance.
Measure your own setup for a better estimate
- Choose the boundary. Decide whether you want the Pi alone or the entire setup, including power supply, display, network equipment and peripherals.
- Run the real workload. Play the YouTube content and resolution you actually use, with your normal browser and connected devices. Allow the setup to reach its usual operating state.
- Measure average wall draw. A plug-in energy meter at the wall can capture the power supply and downstream equipment. A board-side reading will not include those losses or a separate display.
- Convert the reading. For an average wall draw in watts, calculate annual kWh as watts × 8,760 ÷ 1,000, then multiply by your local tariff per kWh.
A USB power meter can also help investigate consumption, but check whether its measurement point includes the parts of the setup you mean to count. Raspberry Pi’s published figures are approximate, and the documentation specifically cautions that additional USB devices and HATs can increase consumption.
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Do not confuse a power supply’s rating with power use
Raspberry Pi recommends a 15W USB-C supply for the Pi 4 and Pi 400. That is the supply’s available capacity, not a claim that the Pi continuously consumes 15W. The official Pi 4 supply is rated at 5.1V/3.0A and has stated no-load consumption of 0.05W; its output rating still does not tell you the Pi’s playback draw. Raspberry Pi’s supply recommendations and the 15W USB-C supply specifications describe the supply, not a continuous-use estimate for your complete setup.
Older Raspberry Pi thermal testing reported 2.89W idle at launch and 2.47W idle after firmware updates. Those are historical idle measurements under that article’s desktop setup, not YouTube playback readings, so they are not directly comparable to the H.264 workload estimate above. See Raspberry Pi’s thermal testing article.
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If your goal is a 24/7 YouTube live channel
A Pi playing YouTube continuously is different from keeping a YouTube channel live with pre-recorded video. If your goal is the latter, StreamNeo is a cloud service for looping uploaded videos or playlists as a YouTube live stream. Upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live; the cloud keeps the stream running without a home computer staying on. It does not play YouTube on your Pi or make the Pi’s playback use less electricity.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo keeps an uploaded-video YouTube stream running from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers, and it automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card; it is one free day per account. Monthly: $9.99 per month.
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