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Usually, no. A PS5 in its lowest-power rest setting uses only a fraction of a watt in Sony’s published measurements. Charging through USB, maintaining an internet connection, and automatic downloads or updates raise the draw to several watts. Your electricity cost therefore depends on the console model, enabled rest-mode features, the number of hours it remains there, and your local price per kilowatt-hour.
What PS5 rest mode actually does
Rest mode is a low-powered state between a full shutdown and leaving the console running. The PS5 can wake more quickly, charge a controller, stay online for downloads, and install game or system updates while it is in this state. Those conveniences require some circuits to remain active, so rest mode is not the same as zero consumption.
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Sony explicitly warns that “The more features you enable, the more power your console consumes while in rest mode.” The statement appears in PlayStation’s power-saving support guidance. A console with every available feature enabled will therefore use more electricity than one configured only to enter its lowest-power state.
What “low-power” means in practical terms
A watt is a rate, not the amount shown on an electricity bill. Sony’s 0.30 W figure means the console is drawing three-tenths of a watt at that measured moment and configuration. It is small compared with the power used while playing, but it is not zero. Leaving any electrical device connected for many hours turns its rate into cumulative energy use.
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For an overnight illustration, eight hours at 0.30 W equals 0.0024 kWh. Eight hours at 4.71 W equals 0.03768 kWh. Those are energy quantities, not prices; multiply each by the rate on your own electricity bill to estimate the cost. The example also shows why an apparently small change in watts matters more when the console spends every night in the higher-draw configuration.
Sony’s measured rest-mode wattage
The following figures are manufacturer-reported measurements for named PS5 model groups and test configurations. They were not presented as a guarantee that every individual console will draw exactly the same amount continuously.
| Rest-mode state | Newer CFI-21 and CFI-71 groups Measurement dated 2 May 2026 |
CFI-2016 Measurement dated 26 January 2024 |
PS5 Pro CFI-7021 Measurement dated 31 January 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-power rest | 0.30 W | 0.31 W | 0.30 W |
| Power supplied to USB ports | 4.65 W | 3.6 W | 3.4 W |
| Staying connected to the internet | 0.84 W | 1.2 W | 1.0 W |
| All listed rest-mode features enabled | 4.71 W | 3.8 W | 3.6 W |
The 2026 CFI-21 and CFI-71 values come from Sony’s energy-efficiency disclosure. The CFI-2016 and PS5 Pro figures come from Sony’s Australian energy-efficiency disclosure. The model codes matter: hardware revisions, firmware, connected accessories, and the exact test configuration can all make a household reading differ from a published number.
Across these model groups, the low-power figures are tightly clustered around 0.30 W, while USB-powered and all-feature measurements vary more. That pattern is a reason to identify your model before using a published number as a benchmark. It is also why comparing one owner’s meter reading with another owner’s reading can be misleading if their settings differ.
Putting the watts into annual energy
Watts describe the rate of consumption; electricity bills are based on kilowatt-hours (kWh). To convert a reading, use:
energy in kWh = watts × hours used ÷ 1,000
If a console stayed at the same measured level for every hour of a 365-day year (8,760 hours), the arithmetic would be:
| Constant draw | Annual energy | What the calculation represents |
|---|---|---|
| 0.30 W | 2.628 kWh | Low-power rest for 8,760 hours |
| 4.71 W | 41.2596 kWh | All listed features enabled for 8,760 hours |
These are extrapolations from Sony’s reported wattages, not additional Sony tests. Most consoles do not remain in one state continuously: you may use the PS5 for a few hours, leave it in rest mode overnight, and shut it down during a holiday. Multiply each state’s wattage by the hours you actually use it, then add the results.
For a mixed schedule, calculate each block separately. For example, multiply the low-power-rest wattage by the hours with every feature off, multiply the USB or internet figure by the hours those services are enabled, and then total the kWh. This avoids treating a controller that charges for three hours as though it draws USB power for the whole night.
How much could it add to your bill?
There is no universal dollar answer because electricity tariffs differ by country, utility, time of day, taxes, and tier. After calculating kWh, multiply by the rate on your bill:
cost = kWh × your electricity price per kWh
For example, use the rate printed on your latest bill rather than an online average. If your tariff changes between peak and off-peak periods, calculate the hours in each period separately. A one-time promotional rate, a standing charge, and the rest of your household’s equipment are outside this console-only calculation.
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Because the annual figures are only 2.628 kWh and 41.2596 kWh under the stated constant assumptions, the difference in your bill depends directly on your tariff and how often the higher-power features operate. A household that uses rest mode only during short overnight periods will have a smaller result than one that leaves all services enabled every day.
Which settings increase standby draw?
USB power for charging
Supplying power to the USB ports is the largest single change in Sony’s newer-model measurements: 4.65 W compared with 0.30 W in low-power rest. The older CFI-2016 measured 3.6 W with USB power, while the PS5 Pro CFI-7021 measured 3.4 W. The actual load can vary with the controller or accessory connected and whether its battery is still charging.
Sony’s controller guidance lists USB power options of Always and 3 Hours; Adaptive is available for the CFI-2000 model group. The instructions are on PlayStation’s controller-charging support page. Selecting a time-limited option avoids powering the ports indefinitely after a controller has charged, while Always keeps the convenience of charging for as long as the console remains in rest mode.
Internet connection
Keeping the PS5 connected allows downloads and remote functions to continue. Sony measured 0.84 W for the newer CFI-21 and CFI-71 groups, 1.2 W for CFI-2016, and 1.0 W for PS5 Pro CFI-7021. This is substantially below the USB-powered or all-features figures, but it is still higher than the lowest-power state.
Automatic updates and downloads
Automatic game and system updates rely on the console’s network connection and background activity. If you do not need overnight downloads, disabling the relevant rest-mode connectivity features removes that activity. You may then need to start downloads manually when you next use the PS5.
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With every listed rest-mode feature enabled, Sony reported 4.71 W for the newer CFI-21 and CFI-71 groups, 3.8 W for CFI-2016, and 3.6 W for PS5 Pro CFI-7021. Sony also notes that enabling rest-mode features means the PS5 does not automatically lower consumption below 0.5 W when entering rest mode. In other words, “rest mode” is not one fixed electrical state; the selected services determine the result.
Review and change your PS5 rest-mode settings
- Open Settings on the PS5 home screen.
- Select System.
- Choose Power Saving.
- Open Features Available in Rest Mode.
- Decide whether to keep USB power, internet connectivity, and automatic update or download functions enabled.
- For USB charging, choose the shortest option that meets your routine: 3 Hours limits the charging window, while Always keeps the ports powered throughout rest mode. On a CFI-2000 model group, Adaptive is another available choice.
Turn off only the features you do not use. Disabling everything produces the lowest standby draw but also removes the ability to charge accessories or download updates while the PS5 is resting. Leaving one feature enabled is a reasonable compromise when its convenience matters more than the small additional consumption.
Rest mode versus leaving the PS5 fully on
Sony says the PS5 can enter rest mode automatically after a period of inactivity. Choosing Don’t Put in Rest Mode leaves the console on instead, which consumes more power than a low-powered rest state. If you often walk away without shutting down, an automatic rest-mode timer prevents an idle game or menu from running for hours at full operating power.
Automatic rest mode is different from a full shutdown: downloads, charging, and network functions can continue if you have enabled them. Use a complete shutdown when you want those background functions stopped; use rest mode when quick resume or overnight maintenance is valuable.
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Why your plug-in reading may differ from Sony’s number
- Different model: CFI-21, CFI-71, CFI-2016, and CFI-7021 are not the same hardware group.
- Different feature combination: USB power, internet access, and updates can be enabled in different combinations.
- Accessory load: A controller, headset, or other device drawing power through USB changes the measurement.
- Measurement resolution: Inexpensive plug-in meters may round very small loads or update slowly.
- Operating state: A console downloading, installing, waking, or displaying a game is not in the low-power rest condition.
- Household circuit: A meter at the wall may include a television, sound system, charger, or power strip unless the PS5 is isolated.
Sony’s figures are useful reference points, not a promise of an identical household result. If you want to check your own setup, place a plug-in electricity usage monitor between the wall outlet and the PS5, record the reading with each rest-mode option, and leave the console undisturbed long enough for the meter to settle. Test USB charging with and without a connected accessory so you know which part of the draw comes from the console and which comes from the device.
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Practical ways to reduce electricity use
Keep the convenience you need
If you download large games overnight, retain internet connectivity and automatic downloads but disable USB power when no controller is charging. If you regularly charge a controller after playing, select 3 Hours rather than Always. This preserves a charging window without powering the ports indefinitely.
Use low-power rest when the PS5 is idle
Make sure the console is actually entering rest mode instead of remaining on. An automatic inactivity setting is preferable to leaving the PS5 at the home screen or paused in a game for long periods.
Shut down for long absences
For a trip or any period when you do not need charging, downloads, or remote access, a full shutdown eliminates rest-mode services during that interval. Factor the hours saved into the kWh calculation rather than assuming the annual figures above apply unchanged.
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Low-power PS5 rest mode is not a large electricity user by itself: Sony’s current published measurements are around 0.30 W. The draw becomes several watts when USB power, internet access, and other rest-mode functions operate together. Check your model and settings, use the kWh formula with your own tariff, and disable services you do not need. That approach gives a more accurate answer than treating every PS5 and every rest-mode session as electrically identical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does leaving a PS5 in rest mode overnight use a lot of electricity?
Usually not. Sony measured 0.30 W in low-power rest for newer model groups. Internet connectivity, USB charging, or all listed features can raise the draw to roughly 0.84–4.71 W, depending on model and configuration.
Is it cheaper to turn the PS5 off instead of using rest mode?
A full shutdown stops rest-mode services such as charging and background downloads. Rest mode uses more than a shutdown when those services are enabled, but it uses far less power than leaving the console fully on and idle.
Which PS5 rest-mode setting uses the most power?
USB power is the largest single increase in Sony’s measurements. With all listed features enabled, newer CFI-21 and CFI-71 groups measured 4.71 W; CFI-2016 measured 3.8 W and PS5 Pro CFI-7021 measured 3.6 W.
How do I stop USB charging from running all night?
Go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode. Set USB power to 3 Hours. The CFI-2000 model group also offers Adaptive, while Always keeps the ports powered throughout rest mode.
Why does my electricity monitor show a different number?
Your model, firmware, enabled features, connected accessories, and current activity may differ from Sony’s test configuration. A meter may also round small loads or include other equipment connected to the same power strip.
How can I calculate the exact cost for my home?
Multiply the PS5’s wattage by the hours in that state, divide by 1,000 to get kWh, and multiply by your electricity price per kWh. Use separate calculations if your tariff changes by time of day.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Low-power rest mode generally uses very little electricity, but USB charging and online features can increase the draw several-fold. Check your model, choose only the rest-mode services you need, and apply your own tariff to the actual hours used.
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