For a 24/7 YouTube stream, estimate router and modem electricity by converting each device’s wattage and operating hours into kWh, then multiplying by your own electricity rate. Keep that network-equipment subtotal separate from the computer, display and other loads used to run the full stream.
The calculation is reusable: kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours, and cost = kWh × price per kWh. Use the rating or a measurement for each device where possible, count an integrated router/modem gateway once, and state the time period behind every estimate.
List the devices that stay powered
Start by writing down what is actually powered during the broadcast. For a simple arrangement, that might be one router, one modem and a computer running the encoder. A different setup could use an all-in-one gateway, a small network switch, a separate streaming computer and a display. Only count equipment that is on for the hours you are estimating.
Make two groups in your notes. The first is network equipment: modem, router, gateway, switch or access point. The second is streaming and supporting equipment: computer, monitor, capture device, audio equipment or storage. This division prevents a common mistake: describing the router-and-modem subtotal as the cost of a complete 24/7 stream.
Also note each device’s operating hours. A router that stays on all month has a different usage period from a computer that you switch off for maintenance or use for other work. If your stream really is continuous, use 24 hours per day for the relevant devices. If there are planned breaks, use the actual hours instead of assuming uninterrupted operation.
For a quick inventory, make a small table before doing any arithmetic:
| Device or group | Count it when | Hours to enter |
|---|---|---|
| Separate router | It is powered during the stream period | Actual hours, often 24 per day |
| Separate modem | It is a distinct powered unit | Actual hours, often 24 per day |
| Integrated gateway | It combines modem and router functions | Count the unit once |
| Encoder computer | It is left running to send the broadcast | Hours the computer is on for streaming |
| Other equipment | It is powered as part of the setup | Its own operating hours |
Do not add a device merely because it is part of your home internet service. If the stream relies on a router already running for household use, its electricity is still consumed during the stream, but an estimate should be clear about whether it is reporting the equipment’s total running cost or only the additional cost attributable to streaming. The router does not necessarily use more power just because a YouTube stream is passing through it; do not invent an extra “streaming load” without a measurement or reliable specification.
This inventory is also useful when planning a small, low-power encoder. For example, if you are weighing a Raspberry Pi against a computer, the network subtotal does not change just because you change the encoder. The Raspberry Pi playlist-stream guide addresses the encoder side; keep its power use in the separate full-setup column.
Convert watts and operating hours to kWh
A watt is a measure of power at a point or under a specified operating state. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is energy used over time, which is the quantity normally used for an electricity bill. Convert watts to kilowatts by dividing by 1,000, then multiply by the hours the device is operating:
Energy in kWh = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours of operation
For an always-on device, a day is 24 operating hours. Greater Shepparton City Council’s Energy Efficient Toolkit Instruction Guide uses a 10 W router as an illustrative example: 10 ÷ 1,000 × 24 gives 0.24 kWh per day. That is the guide’s example, not a claim that all routers draw 10 W. You can read the council’s calculation and measurement guidance and substitute the wattage for your own equipment.
For a period longer than a day, multiply by the relevant hours. A year of continuous operation is 8,760 hours, using 365 × 24. A monthly estimate needs a day-count assumption: multiply daily kWh by the number of days in your billing period, or use the actual period shown on your bill. Avoid calling a result a “monthly” cost without saying how many days it represents.
You can calculate each device individually or add the energy for distinct devices before applying your rate. The individual method is easier to audit:
| Example load | Calculation | Energy for 24 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 10 W router, using the council’s illustrative figure | 10 ÷ 1,000 × 24 | 0.24 kWh |
| Your router | router watts ÷ 1,000 × actual hours | your result |
| Your separate modem | modem watts ÷ 1,000 × actual hours | your result |
The first row is only a worked arithmetic example. It should not be used as a substitute for your router’s published specification or measured draw. If a manufacturer gives input power in volts and amps rather than watts, do not casually assume that the maximum rating is what the unit consumes continuously. Look for a stated power-consumption figure, an energy label or measured use; when the available information is unclear, label the result as an estimate.
Apply your electricity price per kWh
Once you have kWh for the chosen period, multiply it by your applicable electricity price per kWh. Use the rate and currency relevant to your location and tariff, ideally from your current electricity bill. There is no universal price that makes sense for every reader: tariffs differ by country, region, provider and sometimes by time or billing arrangement.
Cost = energy in kWh × price per kWh
Using the council’s 10 W example, daily energy is 0.24 kWh. If your own rate is written as R currency units per kWh, the estimated daily cost is 0.24 × R currency units. Leaving the rate as a variable avoids implying that an illustrative cost applies to your household. To estimate a billing period, first calculate kWh over the same number of days, then multiply by the rate that applies to that period.
The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water describes annual running-cost estimation as annual kWh multiplied by the electricity rate, and notes that input power is generally available from manufacturer information or packaging. Its Energy Rating guidance is useful background on locating that information. If your bill presents several components or time-based rates, use the tariff detail that actually applies to your consumption rather than choosing a convenient headline figure.
Keep the arithmetic in the same units. If the bill rate is per kWh, your energy must be in kWh, not watt-hours. If the bill uses a different currency or a different unit, convert consistently and label the result. A calculation can be numerically tidy but still misleading if the rate came from another country, a different tariff or an outdated bill.
A practical worksheet might have columns for device, watts, daily hours, daily kWh, days in period, period kWh and rate. The entries for network equipment can then be totalled separately from the entries for the encoder and supporting kit. That gives you both a network subtotal and, if needed, a full-system estimate without hiding which loads drive the result.
Calculate router and modem separately
When the router and modem are separate boxes, calculate each on its own line. For example, if the router’s documented or measured draw is Wᵣ watts and it runs for Hᵣ hours, its energy is Wᵣ ÷ 1,000 × Hᵣ kWh. For a distinct modem, use its own wattage and hours: Wₘ ÷ 1,000 × Hₘ. Add those kWh figures for the network subtotal, then multiply by your rate.
Keeping the lines separate is worthwhile even when you plan to show one combined total. You can replace a modem or router later without redoing the rest of the estimate, and you can see whether one device’s assumed value is doing most of the work. It also discourages treating a figure for a particular router as if it describes a modem, which is a different device with its own operating characteristics.
Published figures are model- and condition-specific. TP-Link’s 2025 small network equipment information lists idle power for certain router models: Archer A54 at 2.86 W, Archer AX20 at 6.64 W and Archer AXE300 at 17.83 W. These are manufacturer-reported idle figures under the cited voluntary-agreement procedures, not measurements of every unit during an active stream. The TP-Link 2025 model information can help illustrate why looking up your exact model matters, but do not use those figures as a general router range or as modem values.
Comcast also publishes ready-state energy information for residential internet equipment and cautions that an individual device’s consumption can vary. Its internet equipment energy page describes measurements under voluntary-agreement procedures and says the table is updated quarterly. Ready-state and idle values are useful context, but their stated operating condition may not match your device’s behaviour in your home.
If neither the manual nor the manufacturer’s product information gives a usable figure, say so rather than choosing a convenient number. For a device with fairly consistent draw, a plug-in electricity usage monitor can help establish consumption over an observed period. It is optional, not a requirement. Record whether the reading represents idle, ready or typical use, and use a long enough observation to avoid over-interpreting a momentary reading.
Avoid counting an integrated gateway twice
Some homes have two boxes: a modem that connects to the provider and a router that provides the local network. Others have one integrated gateway that performs both functions. The arithmetic is the same, but the device count is not. A combined gateway belongs on one line, with one wattage and one set of operating hours.
Do not list an integrated gateway once as a modem and again as a router. That doubles its energy on paper even though there is only one powered unit. If you are unsure which arrangement you have, check the device label or provider documentation for its model and functions. Do not add a separate modem unless there is a physically distinct, powered device in the setup.
This is especially easy to miss when equipment labels use terms such as “Wi-Fi modem”, “wireless gateway” or “router modem”. The wording may describe a combined device, not two boxes. A quick photo or inventory of the actual equipment can settle the question before you enter numbers. Include a separate access point or switch only if it is another powered unit, not a feature built into the gateway.
Your network subtotal should therefore be the sum of physical powered devices, not the sum of job titles or functions. One gateway is one load. Two separate boxes are two loads. This simple distinction makes the estimate easier to explain to someone else and keeps later comparisons like-for-like.
Add the computer and other loads for the full setup
The router-and-modem calculation answers a narrow question: what does the network equipment cost to run for the selected period? It does not include the computer that encodes or plays the video, a monitor, a capture device, an audio interface or other equipment. If you want the full streaming setup cost, add each relevant load separately using the same watts-to-kWh method.
A desktop computer’s power can vary considerably with its components and work. A laptop, compact computer or single-board device may have a different draw, but avoid assuming a number based on the device category alone. Prefer a specified or measured value for the actual unit and operating condition. If you are comparing a local encoder with a cloud-based arrangement, be explicit about what your estimate includes: the home network may remain on either way, while the computer’s usage can change.
The same separation helps when considering whether your local computer needs to remain on overnight. Stream continuity is a separate operational question from router electricity. For a local OBS setup, the guide to encoder settings for a non-stop loop covers the broadcast configuration; the electricity estimate should still use the computer’s own power figure and hours. Likewise, if an outage recovery plan means equipment stays running, the guide to resuming after an internet outage addresses that behaviour rather than changing the kWh formula.
A full setup worksheet could use these rows:
| Category | Devices to consider | Keep separate because |
|---|---|---|
| Network subtotal | Router, modem, gateway, switch or access point | It shows the cost of connectivity equipment alone |
| Encoding and playback | Computer or dedicated player | Its draw and uptime may differ from network gear |
| Monitoring and audio | Display, audio equipment, capture hardware | These are additional loads, not part of the router subtotal |
| Total setup | All listed devices for the stated period | It is meaningful only when the scope is clear |
Add the kWh for the devices included in your chosen scope, then multiply by the same applicable rate if the rate is uniform. Where time-of-use pricing or separate rates apply, calculate each relevant period at its own rate and add the costs. Do not quietly mix a router-only figure with a full-system total when discussing whether a streaming arrangement is economical.
A cloud-based broadcast can remove the need to leave your own computer running to play and send the file, which matters if the pain point is a home machine that must stay on overnight. StreamNeo is relevant at that specific point: it runs the uploaded file as a YouTube live stream without requiring your computer to remain switched on. That does not make the router and modem disappear from your home’s power use, and the network subtotal remains distinct from any complete household or streaming-system estimate.
Make the estimate useful over time
Treat an estimate as a small model, not a permanent bill prediction. Save the device model, wattage source, operating state, hours, billing-period days and electricity rate alongside the result. When a router is replaced, a tariff changes or the stream schedule changes, update only the affected inputs. This is more useful than keeping a single cost figure with no explanation of how it was produced.
For comparisons between equipment or operating plans, hold the assumptions steady. Compare the same number of days, the same local rate and the same definition of uptime. Note whether a published value is idle, ready or measured in your own use. An idle figure for one router should not be presented as directly comparable to an active-use measurement of another without noting the different conditions.
The most transparent report can show three figures: network equipment energy and cost; other streaming equipment energy and cost; and the total for all included devices. State what is excluded, such as a household display or a computer used for other work. If the computer serves multiple purposes, a simple whole-device estimate is not necessarily the incremental cost caused by streaming, so describe it as the computer’s operating cost during the period rather than attributing all of it to YouTube.
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FAQ
How much electricity does a Wi-Fi router use?
There is no single draw that applies to every router. Use the specification for your exact model and note the condition it describes, or measure the device if its documentation is unclear. Multiply watts by operating hours and divide by 1,000 to get kWh.
How do I estimate the cost of running a modem all day?
Find the modem’s wattage or a measured draw, multiply it by 24 hours and divide by 1,000 for daily kWh. Then multiply by the electricity price per kWh that applies to you. For a billing-period estimate, use the actual number of days in that period.
Should I count a modem-router gateway as two devices?
No. If one physical gateway combines modem and router functions, enter its power once. Count two loads only when you have two separate powered units.
Does the router and modem subtotal equal the cost of a 24/7 stream?
No. It covers only the network equipment you included. To estimate the full setup, add the encoder computer and any other powered equipment as separate loads, using their own wattages and operating hours.