How much electricity does a TV consume in standby mode? Let’s break down the numbers.

Even when you turn off the TV using the remote, it consumes between 0.5 and 3 watts of electricity every hour. Find out how much your monthly electricity bill increases if the TV stays in standby mode around the clock, and learn how to prevent this unnecessary expense.

After watching TV, most people turn it off using the remote but forget to switch it off at the wall socket. Consequently, the TV doesn’t shut down completely; instead, it enters standby mode. In this mode, the screen remains off, but certain internal circuits and sensors stay active so the TV can turn on instantly upon receiving a remote signal. This is why the TV continues to draw a small amount of power even when it appears to be off—a phenomenon technically known as “phantom load” or “vampire power.”

How much electricity does a TV consume?

According to experts, most modern LED and smart TVs consume between 0.5 and 3 watts of electricity in standby mode. Older CRT or plasma TVs could consume significantly more—ranging from 5 to 10 watts. Meanwhile, some modern smart TVs feature “Quick Start” or “Instant On” capabilities to ensure the picture appears immediately upon activation; with these features enabled, standby power consumption can rise to between 10 and 20 watts.

Annual calculation

Let’s assume a TV draws an average of 3 watts of power in standby mode and remains plugged in 24 hours a day. At this rate, the TV would consume approximately 26 units of electricity over the course of a year. If the average electricity rate is ₹7 per unit, a single TV consumes about ₹180 to ₹190 worth of electricity annually just by being in standby mode—even if not a single minute of programming is watched on it. If the TV is a low-power model consuming 1 watt, this figure drops to approximately ₹60–₹65 per year.

Overall Impact on Electricity Bills

If a household has multiple devices—such as a TV, set-top box, and music system—their combined standby power consumption can add a significant amount to the annual electricity bill. Estimates suggest that the standby power consumed by all household appliances can account for roughly 7% to 10% of the total electricity bill.

Easy Ways to Save

The simplest way to avoid this unnecessary expense is to completely switch off the TV at the wall socket or main switch after use, rather than just turning it off with the remote. Using a switched extension board makes this convenient, allowing both the TV and the set-top box to be turned off with a single switch. Additionally, if the TV has features like “Quick Start” or “Instant On,” it is advisable to disable them in the settings, as these features significantly increase standby power consumption.