How much does it cost to run a desktop computer?
The same desktop computer costs $19 a year in Hawaii (40.40 ¢ per kWh) and $6 in North Dakota (11.82 ¢), a gap of $14 or 3.4 times. Model range at 17.23 ¢: $3.81 to $14.69 a year (428 listed).
Map
- $5.63 to $6.29
- $6.29 to $7.07
- $7.07 to $7.66
- $7.66 to $10.85
- $10.85 to $19.23
Darker = costlier to run desktop computer. Click a state for its hub.
Your numbers
All 51 states
| 1 | Hawaii | 40.40 | $19.23 | $8.93 | $34.43 | $1.60 | 30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | California | 31.35 | $14.92 | $6.93 | $26.72 | $1.24 | 8 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 30.41 | $14.48 | $6.72 | $25.92 | $1.21 | 18 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 29.48 | $14.03 | $6.52 | $25.13 | $1.17 | 18 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 29.31 | $13.95 | $6.48 | $24.98 | $1.16 | 12 |
| 6 | Maine | 27.69 | $13.18 | $6.12 | $23.60 | $1.10 | 7 |
| 7 | New York | 26.39 | $12.56 | $5.83 | $22.49 | $1.05 | 10 |
| 8 | Alaska | 26.11 | $12.43 | $5.77 | $22.25 | $1.04 | 17 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 24.53 | $11.68 | $5.42 | $20.91 | $0.97 | 6 |
| 10 | Vermont | 22.79 | $10.85 | $5.04 | $19.42 | $0.90 | 1 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 22.48 | $10.70 | $4.97 | $19.16 | $0.89 | 10 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 21.92 | $10.43 | $4.84 | $18.68 | $0.87 | 9 |
| 13 | Michigan | 20.03 | $9.53 | $4.43 | $17.07 | $0.79 | 17 |
| 14 | Maryland | 19.53 | $9.30 | $4.32 | $16.65 | $0.77 | 11 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 19.29 | $9.18 | $4.26 | $16.44 | $0.77 | 14 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 18.08 | $8.61 | $4.00 | $15.41 | $0.72 | 25 |
| 17 | Illinois | 17.67 | $8.41 | $3.91 | $15.06 | $0.70 | 10 |
| 18 | Delaware | 17.15 | $8.16 | $3.79 | $14.62 | $0.68 | 15 |
| 19 | Ohio | 16.90 | $8.04 | $3.73 | $14.40 | $0.67 | 23 |
| 20 | Alabama | 16.09 | $7.66 | $3.56 | $13.71 | $0.64 | 15 |
| 21 | Indiana | 15.96 | $7.60 | $3.53 | $13.60 | $0.63 | 31 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 15.83 | $7.54 | $3.50 | $13.49 | $0.63 | 16 |
| 23 | Colorado | 15.69 | $7.47 | $3.47 | $13.37 | $0.62 | 23 |
| 24 | Oregon | 15.46 | $7.36 | $3.42 | $13.18 | $0.61 | 8 |
| 25 | Texas | 15.40 | $7.33 | $3.40 | $13.13 | $0.61 | 17 |
| 26 | West Virginia | 15.39 | $7.33 | $3.40 | $13.12 | $0.61 | 42 |
| 27 | Virginia | 15.28 | $7.27 | $3.38 | $13.02 | $0.61 | 12 |
| 28 | Arizona | 15.26 | $7.26 | $3.37 | $13.01 | $0.61 | 15 |
| 29 | Florida | 15.21 | $7.24 | $3.36 | $12.96 | $0.60 | 17 |
| 30 | South Carolina | 15.12 | $7.20 | $3.34 | $12.89 | $0.60 | 12 |
| 31 | New Mexico | 14.85 | $7.07 | $3.28 | $12.66 | $0.59 | 17 |
| 32 | Georgia | 14.74 | $7.02 | $3.26 | $12.56 | $0.58 | 15 |
| 33 | Kansas | 14.44 | $6.87 | $3.19 | $12.31 | $0.57 | 16 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 14.03 | $6.68 | $3.10 | $11.96 | $0.56 | 18 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.00 | $6.66 | $3.09 | $11.93 | $0.56 | 13 |
| 36 | Iowa | 13.62 | $6.48 | $3.01 | $11.61 | $0.54 | 14 |
| 37 | Wyoming | 13.37 | $6.36 | $2.95 | $11.40 | $0.53 | 39 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 13.32 | $6.34 | $2.94 | $11.35 | $0.53 | 7 |
| 39 | Missouri | 13.30 | $6.33 | $2.94 | $11.34 | $0.53 | 31 |
| 40 | Nevada | 13.26 | $6.31 | $2.93 | $11.30 | $0.53 | 14 |
| 41 | Tennessee | 13.22 | $6.29 | $2.92 | $11.27 | $0.52 | 14 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | 13.21 | $6.29 | $2.92 | $11.26 | $0.52 | 14 |
| 43 | Washington | 13.17 | $6.27 | $2.91 | $11.22 | $0.52 | 6 |
| 44 | Kentucky | 13.13 | $6.25 | $2.90 | $11.19 | $0.52 | 37 |
| 45 | Utah | 13.02 | $6.20 | $2.88 | $11.10 | $0.52 | 31 |
| 46 | Montana | 12.99 | $6.18 | $2.87 | $11.07 | $0.52 | 23 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 12.87 | $6.13 | $2.84 | $10.97 | $0.51 | 21 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 12.52 | $5.96 | $2.77 | $10.67 | $0.50 | 16 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 12.05 | $5.74 | $2.66 | $10.27 | $0.48 | 22 |
| 50 | Idaho | 11.83 | $5.63 | $2.61 | $10.08 | $0.47 | 7 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 11.82 | $5.63 | $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 $10.88 a year at 17.23 ¢ and $25.50 at 40.40 ¢ (Hawaii).
- Location: 3.4 times between Hawaii ($19.23) and North Dakota ($5.63); 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 | 26 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?
$8.20 at 17.23 ¢ and 48 kWh; $5.63 in North Dakota to $19.23 in Hawaii.
Most expensive state for a desktop computer?
Hawaii: $19.23 at 40.40 ¢.
Cheapest state for a desktop computer?
North Dakota: $5.63 at 11.82 ¢.
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 $10.88 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; 17.23 ¢ is an average.
Fixed charges in the desktop computer cost?
Not included.