Which devices use the most standby power at home
Updated
Standby power is electricity a device uses while “off” or idle. Learn which categories of devices draw the most, how to measure yours, and which to switch off and which to leave plugged in.
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What standby power is, and how much it matters
Standby (or “phantom”) power is the electricity a device draws while it is switched off but still plugged in, or sitting idle but ready. It powers a clock, a remote-control receiver, a network connection or a quick-start mode. The Department of Energy notes that many appliances continue to draw a small amount of standby power when switched off, and that unplugging them or using power strips removes the draw.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have estimated that standby power was roughly 5% to as much as 10% of household electricity use in studies from 1998 to 2000, with the worst devices drawing more than 20 W, and have pointed to 1 W or less as an achievable target. Those estimates are old and devices have improved, so use them as a sense of scale, not a forecast for your home. What matters is your own gear, and it is easy to measure.
The usual suspects
Numbers below are not a ranking of brands: categories and settings drive the difference, and models vary widely. The only way to know is to measure.
| Device type | Why it draws power while “off” | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Game consoles | Instant-on or connected standby keeps the console ready, downloads updates and listens for voice or a controller | Switch to the energy-saving power mode in settings. NRDC measured a console at about 9 to 10 W in instant-on and under 1 W in energy-saving mode, with resume taking 10 to 15 seconds instead of under 5 |
| Cable and satellite boxes, DVRs | They rarely truly power down; they keep recording, receiving guide data and updating | Check the box’s eco or low-power setting; leave on if you record. Streaming sticks use little, but a streaming box on a dock can draw more |
| Sound bars and AV receivers | Network standby, HDMI wake-up, and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi radios | Turn off network standby if the menu has it; put the whole entertainment center on one switchable strip |
| Desktop PCs, monitors, printers, speakers | Sleep mode, USB chargers, wake-on-LAN and the printer’s ready state | Use a power strip with a master outlet so everything turns off when the PC does |
| TVs | Remote receiver, network, quick-start mode | Standby is often small, but quick-start or voice-wake settings can raise it. Check the menu |
| Chargers and power adapters | A transformer that stays energized with nothing attached | Unplug unused chargers, or group them on a strip you turn off |
| Kitchen appliances with clocks | Display and control board | Usually a watt or less: not worth effort |
If a smart TV’s tracking features are what worry you, that is a different topic from power: see smart TV tracking (ACR).
Measure it: a five-minute routine
- Plug a plug-in power meter (or an energy-monitoring smart plug) into the wall and the device or the power strip into the meter.
- Put the gear in the state you leave it overnight: “off” with the remote, game paused, computer asleep.
- Wait about a minute and read the watts. Note it. Repeat with the gear fully on for comparison.
- Measure a whole entertainment center by plugging the strip into the meter. Then unplug one device at a time and watch the number drop.
Meters can be inaccurate at very low readings, so a result of 0.0 to 1 W means “small”, not “zero”. For more on reading the numbers, see energy-monitoring smart plugs.
What is it worth? A quick table
A constant draw costs its watts × 8,760 hours in a year ÷ 1,000. At 18¢ per kWh (the EIA forecasts about 18.2¢ for 2026):
| Standby draw | kWh per year | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 W | 8.8 | $1.58 |
| 5 W | 43.8 | $7.88 |
| 10 W | 87.6 | $15.77 |
| 20 W | 175.2 | $31.54 |
These numbers show why the big wins are few: a handful of devices at 5 to 20 W matter, while a dozen at 1 W do not. Run your own devices through the standby savings calculator, which also subtracts the plug’s own draw.
What to cut and what to leave on
Good candidates: consoles (use the energy-saving mode first), home-theater gear, desktop PC peripherals, printers, chargers.
Leave on: the internet router and modem (cutting them takes the whole smart home offline), refrigerators and freezers, smoke and CO alarms, security cameras and sensors, hubs, medical equipment, a DVR that records, and anything that updates overnight on a schedule you want.
Ways to cut power: a master-controlled strip (one device turns the others off), a smart plug or smart strip on a schedule, or a motion-based rule so the entertainment center powers down when the room is empty. Start with the free settings, then spend money where the meter shows several watts.
Shop by need
Measuring before spending anything
What to look for: plug-in meter that reads watts, kWh and cost, 15 A rating, a display easy to read behind a TV stand
Typical price: $15–$30
See options on AmazonTV stand with several devices
What to look for: smart power strip with individually controlled outlets or a master-controlled strip, surge protection joule rating, enough spacing for large adapters
Typical price: $25–$60
See options on AmazonOne high-draw device
What to look for: smart plug with energy reporting, 15 A rating, schedule support, UL or ETL listing
Typical price: $12–$30
See options on AmazonFrequently asked questions
Which devices use the most standby power?
Usually entertainment gear: consoles in instant-on mode, cable or satellite boxes, sound bars and receivers, and desktop PCs with peripherals. Measure to confirm, because settings and models vary widely.
How much does standby power cost per year?
A constant 1 W costs about $1.58 a year at 18¢ per kWh, 10 W about $15.77, and 20 W about $31.54. Most homes have only a few devices in the 5–20 W range.
Is it safe to turn off a cable box every night?
It can be, but a DVR that records on a schedule needs power, and some boxes take several minutes to restart and download guide data. Check your provider’s instructions and eco settings before you cut power.
Does unplugging chargers save anything?
A little, usually under a watt each. It is worth doing when it is free, for example with a strip you already switch off, but it is not where the big savings are.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver — Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Pulling the plug on standby power
- Natural Resources Defense Council — Latest game consoles: environmental winners or losers?
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Short-Term Energy Outlook: electricity