I can compare the electricity cost of a YouTube loop PC drawing 20, 40 or 80 watts continuously, but these are assumed power levels, not measurements of a particular computer. At the 2025 US average residential rate published by the EIA, the estimated energy-only cost is about $30, $61 or $121 per year, respectively.
The figures below assume the stated draw at the wall, uninterrupted operation, and a 365-day year. Your bill depends on your own electricity rate and charges, while your actual setup’s draw may differ; measuring it at the outlet is the way to refine the estimate.
Start with power, then calculate energy
Watts describe power at a moment; kilowatt-hours (kWh) describe energy accumulated over time. The US Energy Information Administration’s explanation of electricity measurement notes that one kWh is one kilowatt used for an hour. To estimate the energy use of a device running at a constant draw, convert watts to kilowatts and multiply by hours.
The calculation is:
Energy (kWh) = power (W) ÷ 1,000 × hours of use
For a 20 W assumption running for a full day, that is 20 ÷ 1,000 × 24, or 0.48 kWh. Over 365 days, the same assumption becomes 175.2 kWh. Double the assumed draw to 40 W and the energy doubles; at 80 W it is four times the 20 W case. That linear relationship is useful because it lets you replace either the wattage or rate without starting from scratch.
The formula concerns energy, not the total amount you will see on a bill. A bill can include charges that do not rise in direct proportion to this device’s energy use. It can also reflect a rate that varies by time or other billing rules.
Compare the three 24/7 assumptions
The table uses 24 hours every day and 365 days a year. Monthly energy is annual energy divided by 12, so it represents an average month rather than a calendar month of a particular length. Dollar estimates use $0.173 per kWh, the EIA’s 2025 US average residential price; the source notes that the underlying 2025 price data were preliminary when published.
| Assumed wall draw | Energy per day | Energy per average month | Energy per year | Cost per day | Cost per average month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 W | 0.48 kWh | 14.6 kWh | 175.2 kWh | about $0.08 | about $2.53 | about $30.31 |
| 40 W | 0.96 kWh | 29.2 kWh | 350.4 kWh | about $0.17 | about $5.05 | about $60.62 |
| 80 W | 1.92 kWh | 58.4 kWh | 700.8 kWh | about $0.33 | about $10.10 | about $121.24 |
These are energy-only estimates under the stated assumptions, not a prediction of a particular household’s bill. If a computer is switched off for part of each day, its use will be lower than the table; if the measured draw exceeds its assumed value, it will be higher. A setup that averages 40 W across the full period uses the same estimated energy whether that average comes from a steady 40 W reading or from draw that changes during operation.
The difference between 20 W and 80 W is 525.6 kWh over a year under continuous operation. At the reference rate, that corresponds to about $90.93 more in annual energy cost. This comparison isolates the electricity consumption of the assumed device; it does not include equipment purchase, internet, cooling or the value of time spent maintaining the stream.
Use the rate on your own bill
A national average helps make the scenarios comparable, but it is not necessarily your tariff. The EIA’s prices and factors affecting prices page reports a 2025 US average residential retail price of 17.30 cents per kWh. It also reports substantial variation among states. Those figures provide context, not a substitute for checking the rate that applies where you live.
For a quick personal estimate, find the per-kWh charge relevant to your household and multiply it by the annual energy figure: 175.2, 350.4 or 700.8 kWh. At a rate of 25 cents per kWh, for example, the energy-only annual estimates would be $43.80, $87.60 and $175.20. This is an illustration of the arithmetic, not a claim about a particular reader’s local price.
Your bill may show more than one rate or charge. Time-of-use plans can price consumption differently at different hours; taxes, fixed charges and billing rules can also affect the amount due. If you only want to estimate the additional energy cost of a loop PC, using the applicable variable per-kWh charge is a reasonable starting point. If you want to reconcile the whole bill, check the bill’s definitions or ask your electricity provider how its charges are calculated.
The EIA’s methodology for average electricity prices describes an average based on revenue and sales. An average measure of that kind need not match the rate charged to an individual household. Treat the table as a consistent reference comparison, then use your own bill for a decision about your own setup.
What the wattage does and does not tell you
The 20 W, 40 W and 80 W values are the three scenarios in this comparison. They are not tested readings for a named PC, and they should not be read as typical measurements for running YouTube. No computer model, display, browser configuration, playback quality or measurement was supplied for the comparison. A computer’s actual draw depends on the full setup and how it is being used.
For example, a desktop with a monitor and other connected equipment is not the same measurement as a small computer by itself. A display left on may contribute to the outlet reading; a screen switched off may change the total. Playback, other applications, power-management settings and attached devices can also affect the draw. Without a real measurement, it would be misleading to promise that a particular machine will fall into one of the three rows.
This matters because a wattage estimate that is too low creates an electricity estimate that is too low by the same proportion, assuming the usage duration and rate stay the same. If you are comparing two PCs, measure the complete arrangement that you intend to leave running rather than relying only on a component’s rated power or a figure from a different configuration.
Measure the complete setup at the outlet
If the cost difference matters to your decision, use a plug-in electricity usage monitor to measure the equipment connected to the outlet. The EIA explains that meters measure electricity consumption, while some advanced smart meters can provide information about individual-device use. A plug-in monitor is a practical way to observe a device’s energy use directly, but choose a suitable product and follow its instructions; no particular model is tested or endorsed here.
Measure the arrangement you actually plan to run: the computer, display if it will remain on, and any other devices whose consumption you want included. Let the setup play the sort of loop you expect to use, with the intended resolution and other applications, and record the reading over a representative period. A single momentary watt reading may not capture changes over time. If the monitor reports kWh for the measurement period, use that energy figure directly and scale it to your planned schedule.
To annualise a measured daily energy figure, multiply it by the number of days you expect to operate in a year. To estimate a cost, multiply the resulting kWh by your applicable energy rate. If the stream will run only part of the day, measure or scale for that schedule rather than assuming 24/7 operation. Keep fixed charges separate: a device-specific energy estimate does not usually tell you how a household’s entire bill will change.
Include the operating trade-off in your decision
Electricity is one part of the cost of keeping a local computer available for a continuous broadcast. A PC-based setup gives you control over the software and can be useful when you need to manage a live programme rather than repeat a prepared file. In return, you need to keep the equipment, connection and stream configuration working, and deal with interruptions when something stops. Electricity cost alone does not account for the time and attention involved.
A recorded loop is a different operating pattern from a live programme that changes in response to events. If your channel simply needs a prepared video to repeat, consider whether the computer must remain on continuously or whether a different operating approach fits the job. For an OBS setup, the 24/7 YouTube livestream setup guide is relevant to the local-computer route. If your broadcast depends on a playlist, the guide to playlist transitions that take a 24/7 stream offline covers a separate failure mode to consider.
If you are running a playlist, reliability is not just a matter of power draw. A computer that stays on does not by itself ensure that YouTube advances the content or that a stream stays online. The troubleshooting guide for a YouTube live playlist that does not advance addresses playlist behaviour. For a channel built around a folder of recorded material, the guide to building a 24/7 coding study stream from videos offers a related planning reference.
When the burden you want to remove is leaving your own computer running for a prepared video loop, StreamNeo takes an uploaded video and runs it as a 24/7 YouTube live stream, so your computer can be off. That addresses the always-on PC requirement for that kind of broadcast; it does not change the fact that the channel and content still need to be prepared and managed.
Turn the estimate into a practical choice
Start by deciding what you need to broadcast: a fixed video loop or a programme that you actively control. Then identify the complete equipment that would stay powered, measure its draw if possible, and apply the rate on your bill. The three scenario values are useful for seeing how continuous energy use scales, but your measurement is more useful for budgeting than an assumed wattage.
If the measured setup is near 20 W, the reference estimate is a few dollars a month in energy at the EIA rate; at 80 W, it is about four times the 20 W scenario’s energy use. Whether the difference justifies changing the arrangement depends on your local rate, the stream’s purpose and the effort involved in operating alternatives. Do not compare an electricity-only figure with an alternative that has other costs without putting both on the same basis.
Also decide what level of intervention you can accept. A local PC can suit a channel where you need direct control and are prepared to monitor it. If a prepared video needs to remain on air while your computer is shut down, compare approaches by the task they perform and the ongoing work they leave you with. For either choice, keep the actual content, YouTube settings and account responsibilities in view; an operating arrangement cannot guarantee platform approval or uninterrupted availability.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
How much electricity does a 40 W PC use if it runs all year?
At a constant 40 W for 24 hours a day and 365 days, it uses 350.4 kWh. That is the energy estimate for the assumed draw; measure your full setup if you need a figure for your own PC and connected equipment.
How much does a 24/7 loop cost at the 2025 US average rate?
Using the EIA’s 2025 US average residential reference price of 17.30 cents per kWh, the energy-only annual estimates are about $30 at 20 W, $61 at 40 W and $121 at 80 W. Your rate and bill charges may differ, so use the relevant price on your own bill for a personal estimate.
Are 20 W, 40 W and 80 W measured YouTube PC figures?
No. They are scenario assumptions, not test results for a particular computer or a claim about typical YouTube playback. Actual consumption varies with the computer and the rest of the setup, so measure at the outlet for a more grounded estimate.
Does the estimate include my whole electricity bill?
No. It estimates energy cost by multiplying kWh by a per-kWh reference rate. Fixed charges, taxes, time-of-use pricing and other billing rules can affect the amount on your bill.