How much does it cost to run a desktop computer?
The same desktop computer costs $19 a year in Hawaii (40.59 ¢ per kWh) and $6 in North Dakota (11.81 ¢), a gap of $14 or 3.4 times. Model range at 17.30 ¢: $3.82 to $14.74 a year (428 listed).
Map
- $5.62 to $6.27
- $6.27 to $7.12
- $7.12 to $7.73
- $7.73 to $10.91
- $10.91 to $19.32
Darker = costlier to run desktop computer. Click a state for its hub.
Your numbers
All 51 states
| 1 | Hawaii | 40.59 | $19.32 | $8.97 | $34.59 | $1.61 | 30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | California | 32.54 | $15.49 | $7.19 | $27.73 | $1.29 | 8 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 30.48 | $14.51 | $6.74 | $25.98 | $1.21 | 18 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 29.46 | $14.02 | $6.51 | $25.11 | $1.17 | 18 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 29.38 | $13.98 | $6.49 | $25.04 | $1.17 | 12 |
| 6 | Maine | 27.78 | $13.22 | $6.14 | $23.68 | $1.10 | 7 |
| 7 | New York | 26.39 | $12.56 | $5.83 | $22.49 | $1.05 | 10 |
| 8 | Alaska | 26.09 | $12.42 | $5.77 | $22.24 | $1.03 | 17 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 24.56 | $11.69 | $5.43 | $20.93 | $0.97 | 6 |
| 10 | Vermont | 22.92 | $10.91 | $5.07 | $19.53 | $0.91 | 1 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 22.63 | $10.77 | $5.00 | $19.29 | $0.90 | 10 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 21.94 | $10.44 | $4.85 | $18.70 | $0.87 | 9 |
| 13 | Michigan | 20.01 | $9.52 | $4.42 | $17.05 | $0.79 | 17 |
| 14 | Maryland | 19.48 | $9.27 | $4.31 | $16.60 | $0.77 | 11 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 19.30 | $9.19 | $4.27 | $16.45 | $0.77 | 14 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 18.16 | $8.64 | $4.01 | $15.48 | $0.72 | 25 |
| 17 | Illinois | 17.69 | $8.42 | $3.91 | $15.08 | $0.70 | 10 |
| 18 | Delaware | 17.13 | $8.15 | $3.79 | $14.60 | $0.68 | 15 |
| 19 | Ohio | 16.96 | $8.07 | $3.75 | $14.46 | $0.67 | 23 |
| 20 | Indiana | 16.23 | $7.73 | $3.59 | $13.83 | $0.64 | 31 |
| 21 | Alabama | 16.10 | $7.66 | $3.56 | $13.72 | $0.64 | 15 |
| 22 | Colorado | 15.85 | $7.54 | $3.50 | $13.51 | $0.63 | 23 |
| 23 | Minnesota | 15.82 | $7.53 | $3.50 | $13.48 | $0.63 | 16 |
| 24 | Texas | 15.47 | $7.36 | $3.42 | $13.19 | $0.61 | 17 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 15.41 | $7.34 | $3.41 | $13.13 | $0.61 | 42 |
| 26 | Oregon | 15.37 | $7.32 | $3.40 | $13.10 | $0.61 | 8 |
| 27 | Arizona | 15.32 | $7.29 | $3.39 | $13.06 | $0.61 | 15 |
| 28 | Virginia | 15.28 | $7.27 | $3.38 | $13.02 | $0.61 | 12 |
| 29 | Florida | 15.24 | $7.25 | $3.37 | $12.99 | $0.60 | 17 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 15.08 | $7.18 | $3.33 | $12.85 | $0.60 | 17 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 14.96 | $7.12 | $3.31 | $12.75 | $0.59 | 12 |
| 32 | Georgia | 14.73 | $7.01 | $3.26 | $12.55 | $0.58 | 15 |
| 33 | Kansas | 14.56 | $6.93 | $3.22 | $12.41 | $0.58 | 16 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 14.03 | $6.68 | $3.10 | $11.96 | $0.56 | 18 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.02 | $6.67 | $3.10 | $11.95 | $0.56 | 13 |
| 36 | Iowa | 13.72 | $6.53 | $3.03 | $11.69 | $0.54 | 14 |
| 37 | Missouri | 13.49 | $6.42 | $2.98 | $11.50 | $0.54 | 31 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 13.38 | $6.37 | $2.96 | $11.40 | $0.53 | 7 |
| 39 | Wyoming | 13.38 | $6.37 | $2.96 | $11.40 | $0.53 | 39 |
| 40 | Kentucky | 13.24 | $6.30 | $2.93 | $11.28 | $0.53 | 37 |
| 41 | Tennessee | 13.18 | $6.27 | $2.91 | $11.23 | $0.52 | 14 |
| 42 | Nevada | 13.15 | $6.26 | $2.91 | $11.21 | $0.52 | 14 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 13.12 | $6.25 | $2.90 | $11.18 | $0.52 | 14 |
| 44 | Washington | 13.11 | $6.24 | $2.90 | $11.17 | $0.52 | 6 |
| 45 | Utah | 13.07 | $6.22 | $2.89 | $11.14 | $0.52 | 31 |
| 46 | Montana | 12.98 | $6.18 | $2.87 | $11.06 | $0.51 | 23 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 12.84 | $6.11 | $2.84 | $10.94 | $0.51 | 21 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 12.57 | $5.98 | $2.78 | $10.71 | $0.50 | 16 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 12.34 | $5.87 | $2.73 | $10.52 | $0.49 | 22 |
| 50 | Idaho | 11.82 | $5.63 | $2.61 | $10.07 | $0.47 | 7 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 11.81 | $5.62 | $2.61 | $10.07 | $0.47 | 28 |
48 kWh a year times each state's 2025 home price (428 desktop models, ENERGY STAR data as of 2 Oct 2026).
CSVPay less
- Model spread: 10th percentile 22 kWh, 90th 85; the 63 kWh gap is $10.92 a year at 17.30 ¢ and $25.62 at 40.59 ¢ (Hawaii).
- Location: 3.4 times between Hawaii ($19.32) and North Dakota ($5.62); 100% of utilities in Hawaii list a time-of-use rate (EIA-861).
Where the kWh comes from
Typical energy consumption (TEC) of the model per year, the ENERGY STAR computer metric. Median 48 kWh, 10th to 90th percentile 22 to 85, range 8 to 122, 428 desktop models. Certified models only. Method: appliance hub.
Sources
| Source | Retrieved |
|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR Certified products | 2 Oct 2026 |
| EIA retail sales | 1 Oct 2026 |
| EPA eGRID2023 | 2 Oct 2026 |
| DOE formula | 2 Oct 2026 |
More
a computer monitor, a ceiling fan, a laptop, all appliances, EV charging, calculators.
Questions
Cost to run a desktop computer for a year?
$8.23 at 17.30 ¢ and 48 kWh; $5.62 in North Dakota to $19.32 in Hawaii.
Most expensive state for a desktop computer?
Hawaii: $19.32 at 40.59 ¢.
Cheapest state for a desktop computer?
North Dakota: $5.62 at 11.81 ¢.
kWh used by a desktop computer?
Median 48; 10th to 90th percentile 22 to 85; 428 desktop models.
Does the model matter for a desktop computer?
Yes: 90th against 10th percentile is $10.92 a year at the U.S. price.
CO2 from a desktop computer?
17 kg a year at 0.348 kg per kWh (U.S.).
Why would my desktop computer bill differ?
Median 48 kWh is for new certified models; 17.30 ¢ is an average.
Fixed charges in the desktop computer cost?
Not included.