How much does a soundbar cost to run?
Updated August 2026 · average residential rates
Quick answer: a soundbar (20–50 W at normal volume) costs about 0.5¢ per hour to run at the US average rate. With 4 hours/day, that's 2.0¢/day, 61.7¢/month and $7.40/year — using ~0.1 kWh a day. Your state's rate can move this from 40.9¢ to $1.54 monthly.
Run your own numbers
20–50 W at normal volume · default assumes 4 hours/day
Uses about 0.1 kWh/day at 15.6¢/kWh (Texas). National average would be 61.7¢/month.
Soundbar cost by state
| State | Rate | Per hour | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 56.9¢ |
| Alaska | 24.9¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | 90.8¢ |
| Arizona | 15.2¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 55.4¢ |
| Arkansas | 12.7¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 46.3¢ |
| California | 31.8¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $1.16 |
| Colorado | 15.3¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 55.8¢ |
| Connecticut | 32.3¢/kWh | 1.0¢ | $1.18 |
| Delaware | 16.8¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 61.3¢ |
| District of Columbia | 17.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 64.2¢ |
| Florida | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 55.1¢ |
| Georgia | 14.2¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 51.8¢ |
| Hawaii | 42.1¢/kWh | 1.3¢ | $1.54 |
| Idaho | 11.6¢/kWh | 0.3¢ | 42.3¢ |
| Illinois | 16.4¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 59.8¢ |
| Indiana | 15.7¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 57.3¢ |
| Iowa | 13.7¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 50.0¢ |
| Kansas | 14.3¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 52.2¢ |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 47.8¢ |
| Louisiana | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 44.1¢ |
| Maine | 25.6¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | 93.4¢ |
| Maryland | 18.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 66.0¢ |
| Massachusetts | 31.2¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.14 |
| Michigan | 19.4¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | 70.8¢ |
| Minnesota | 15.1¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 55.1¢ |
| Mississippi | 13.6¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 49.6¢ |
| Missouri | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 46.0¢ |
| Montana | 12.8¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 46.7¢ |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 44.1¢ |
| Nevada | 15.4¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 56.2¢ |
| New Hampshire | 25.2¢/kWh | 0.8¢ | 91.9¢ |
| New Jersey | 19.6¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | 71.5¢ |
| New Mexico | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 53.3¢ |
| New York | 24.6¢/kWh | 0.7¢ | 89.7¢ |
| North Carolina | 14.1¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 51.4¢ |
| North Dakota | 11.2¢/kWh | 0.3¢ | 40.9¢ |
| Ohio | 16.3¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 59.5¢ |
| Oklahoma | 12.2¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 44.5¢ |
| Oregon | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 54.0¢ |
| Pennsylvania | 18.4¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | 67.1¢ |
| Rhode Island | 30.4¢/kWh | 0.9¢ | $1.11 |
| South Carolina | 14.7¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 53.6¢ |
| South Dakota | 12.6¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 46.0¢ |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 48.2¢ |
| Texas | 15.6¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 56.9¢ |
| Utah | 11.7¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 42.7¢ |
| Vermont | 21.6¢/kWh | 0.6¢ | 78.8¢ |
| Virginia | 14.6¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 53.3¢ |
| Washington | 12.3¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 44.9¢ |
| West Virginia | 14.8¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 54.0¢ |
| Wisconsin | 17.2¢/kWh | 0.5¢ | 62.7¢ |
| Wyoming | 11.8¢/kWh | 0.4¢ | 43.0¢ |
FAQ
How much electricity does a soundbar use?+
A typical soundbar draws 20–50 W at normal volume. At 4 hours/day, that's about 0.1 kWh per day.
How much does a soundbar cost to run per month?+
About 61.7¢ per month at the US average residential rate of 16.9¢/kWh — ranging from roughly 40.9¢ in North Dakota to $1.54 in Hawaii.
Is it expensive to leave a soundbar on?+
Running it costs about 0.5¢ per hour at average rates. Multiply by your actual hours — and check your state's rate above, since electricity prices vary almost 4× across the US.