📡 Networking
How Many kWh Does a Wi-Fi Router Use?
Wi-Fi Router energy cost calculator — see your exact daily, monthly, and yearly electricity cost.
Rate — APRIL 2026
⚡ 10W typical
$
US national average. Edit for your local rate.
Daily Energy Use
0.24
kWh / day
Monthly Cost
$1.36
Yearly Cost
$16.50
Wi-Fi Router — Cost Breakdown
| Period | kWh Used | Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Per Hour | 0.0100 | $0.0019 |
| Per Day | 0.24 | $0.05 |
| Per Month (30 days) | 7.20 | $1.36 |
| Per Year (365 days) | 87.60 | $16.50 |
⚡ Real-World Comparison
Running a Wi-Fi router all day uses about the same energy as leaving a single LED bulb on for 24 hours.
3 Ways to Cut Your Wi-Fi Router Energy Bill
- 🌱
Disable unused frequency bands — if all your devices use 5 GHz, turning off the 2.4 GHz radio saves 1–2W.
- 💡
Turn off the router's built-in LED lights if it has that option — they're unnecessary and draw a small constant current.
- ⚡
Schedule the guest Wi-Fi network to turn off during hours you don't need it, reducing processor load.
Startup Surge Information
Routers are solid-state devices with no motors, drawing very consistent, low wattage with no startup surge.