How much does it cost to run a laptop?
The same laptop computer costs $5 a year in Hawaii (40.59 ¢ per kWh) and $2 in North Dakota (11.81 ¢), a gap of $4 or 3.4 times. Model range at 17.30 ¢: $1.59 to $3.22 a year (1,197 listed).
Map
- $1.57 to $1.75
- $1.75 to $1.99
- $1.99 to $2.16
- $2.16 to $3.05
- $3.05 to $5.40
Darker = costlier to run laptop computer. Click a state for its hub.
Your numbers
All 51 states
| 1 | Hawaii | 40.59 | $5.40 | $3.73 | $7.55 | $0.45 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | California | 32.54 | $4.33 | $2.99 | $6.05 | $0.36 | 2 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 30.48 | $4.05 | $2.80 | $5.67 | $0.34 | 5 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 29.46 | $3.92 | $2.71 | $5.48 | $0.33 | 5 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 29.38 | $3.91 | $2.70 | $5.46 | $0.33 | 3 |
| 6 | Maine | 27.78 | $3.69 | $2.56 | $5.17 | $0.31 | 2 |
| 7 | New York | 26.39 | $3.51 | $2.43 | $4.91 | $0.29 | 3 |
| 8 | Alaska | 26.09 | $3.47 | $2.40 | $4.85 | $0.29 | 5 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 24.56 | $3.27 | $2.26 | $4.57 | $0.27 | 2 |
| 10 | Vermont | 22.92 | $3.05 | $2.11 | $4.26 | $0.25 | 0 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 22.63 | $3.01 | $2.08 | $4.21 | $0.25 | 3 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 21.94 | $2.92 | $2.02 | $4.08 | $0.24 | 2 |
| 13 | Michigan | 20.01 | $2.66 | $1.84 | $3.72 | $0.22 | 5 |
| 14 | Maryland | 19.48 | $2.59 | $1.79 | $3.62 | $0.22 | 3 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 19.30 | $2.57 | $1.78 | $3.59 | $0.21 | 4 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 18.16 | $2.42 | $1.67 | $3.38 | $0.20 | 7 |
| 17 | Illinois | 17.69 | $2.35 | $1.63 | $3.29 | $0.20 | 3 |
| 18 | Delaware | 17.13 | $2.28 | $1.58 | $3.19 | $0.19 | 4 |
| 19 | Ohio | 16.96 | $2.26 | $1.56 | $3.15 | $0.19 | 6 |
| 20 | Indiana | 16.23 | $2.16 | $1.49 | $3.02 | $0.18 | 9 |
| 21 | Alabama | 16.10 | $2.14 | $1.48 | $2.99 | $0.18 | 4 |
| 22 | Colorado | 15.85 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $2.95 | $0.18 | 7 |
| 23 | Minnesota | 15.82 | $2.10 | $1.46 | $2.94 | $0.18 | 5 |
| 24 | Texas | 15.47 | $2.06 | $1.42 | $2.88 | $0.17 | 5 |
| 25 | West Virginia | 15.41 | $2.05 | $1.42 | $2.87 | $0.17 | 12 |
| 26 | Oregon | 15.37 | $2.04 | $1.41 | $2.86 | $0.17 | 2 |
| 27 | Arizona | 15.32 | $2.04 | $1.41 | $2.85 | $0.17 | 4 |
| 28 | Virginia | 15.28 | $2.03 | $1.41 | $2.84 | $0.17 | 3 |
| 29 | Florida | 15.24 | $2.03 | $1.40 | $2.83 | $0.17 | 5 |
| 30 | New Mexico | 15.08 | $2.01 | $1.39 | $2.80 | $0.17 | 5 |
| 31 | South Carolina | 14.96 | $1.99 | $1.38 | $2.78 | $0.17 | 3 |
| 32 | Georgia | 14.73 | $1.96 | $1.36 | $2.74 | $0.16 | 4 |
| 33 | Kansas | 14.56 | $1.94 | $1.34 | $2.71 | $0.16 | 4 |
| 34 | Mississippi | 14.03 | $1.87 | $1.29 | $2.61 | $0.16 | 5 |
| 35 | North Carolina | 14.02 | $1.86 | $1.29 | $2.61 | $0.16 | 4 |
| 36 | Iowa | 13.72 | $1.82 | $1.26 | $2.55 | $0.15 | 4 |
| 37 | Missouri | 13.49 | $1.79 | $1.24 | $2.51 | $0.15 | 9 |
| 38 | South Dakota | 13.38 | $1.78 | $1.23 | $2.49 | $0.15 | 2 |
| 39 | Wyoming | 13.38 | $1.78 | $1.23 | $2.49 | $0.15 | 11 |
| 40 | Kentucky | 13.24 | $1.76 | $1.22 | $2.46 | $0.15 | 10 |
| 41 | Tennessee | 13.18 | $1.75 | $1.21 | $2.45 | $0.15 | 4 |
| 42 | Nevada | 13.15 | $1.75 | $1.21 | $2.45 | $0.15 | 4 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | 13.12 | $1.74 | $1.21 | $2.44 | $0.15 | 4 |
| 44 | Washington | 13.11 | $1.74 | $1.21 | $2.44 | $0.15 | 2 |
| 45 | Utah | 13.07 | $1.74 | $1.20 | $2.43 | $0.14 | 9 |
| 46 | Montana | 12.98 | $1.73 | $1.19 | $2.41 | $0.14 | 6 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 12.84 | $1.71 | $1.18 | $2.39 | $0.14 | 6 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 12.57 | $1.67 | $1.16 | $2.34 | $0.14 | 5 |
| 49 | Nebraska | 12.34 | $1.64 | $1.14 | $2.30 | $0.14 | 6 |
| 50 | Idaho | 11.82 | $1.57 | $1.09 | $2.20 | $0.13 | 2 |
| 51 | North Dakota | 11.81 | $1.57 | $1.09 | $2.20 | $0.13 | 8 |
13 kWh a year times each state's 2025 home price (1197 notebook models, ENERGY STAR data as of 2 Oct 2026).
CSVPay less
- Model spread: 10th percentile 9 kWh, 90th 19; the 9 kWh gap is $1.63 a year at 17.30 ¢ and $3.82 at 40.59 ¢ (Hawaii).
- Location: 3.4 times between Hawaii ($5.40) and North Dakota ($1.57); 100% of utilities in Hawaii list a time-of-use rate (EIA-861).
Where the kWh comes from
Typical energy consumption (TEC) per year of notebook models. Median 13 kWh, 10th to 90th percentile 9 to 19, range 2 to 34, 1,197 notebook 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 ceiling fan, a computer monitor, a desktop computer, all appliances, EV charging, calculators.
Questions
Cost to run a laptop for a year?
$2.30 at 17.30 ¢ and 13 kWh; $1.57 in North Dakota to $5.40 in Hawaii.
Most expensive state for a laptop?
Hawaii: $5.40 at 40.59 ¢.
Cheapest state for a laptop?
North Dakota: $1.57 at 11.81 ¢.
kWh used by a laptop?
Median 13; 10th to 90th percentile 9 to 19; 1,197 notebook models.
Does the model matter for a laptop?
Yes: 90th against 10th percentile is $1.63 a year at the U.S. price.
CO2 from a laptop?
5 kg a year at 0.348 kg per kWh (U.S.).
Why would my laptop computer bill differ?
Median 13 kWh is for new certified models; 17.30 ¢ is an average.
Fixed charges in the laptop computer cost?
Not included.