There is no defensible single monthly electricity price for an Intel NUC 11 running OBS around the clock. The answer depends on your exact NUC model, its average wall draw while streaming your actual playlist, and the electricity tariff that applies where you live.
For an uninterrupted 30-day month, each average watt of draw uses 0.72 kWh. Multiply your measured average watts by 0.72, then multiply the result by your local price per kWh to estimate the energy charge; the worked examples below use assumed wattages, not measurements of an OBS setup.
Why the monthly cost varies
“Intel NUC 11” describes a family rather than one fixed configuration. Processor, memory, storage, cooling behaviour, attached devices and BIOS settings can differ. The electricity draw of a specific NUC during a particular streaming workload cannot be inferred from the family name alone. Intel advises locating the product code on the device and checking the technical specifications for that exact model in its NUC specification guidance.
The workload matters as much as the model. OBS may decode a video, scale it, encode it, draw graphics over it and send the result to YouTube. Output resolution, frame rate, encoder choice and whether the source file needs substantial processing can change the work the computer performs. A static playlist that repeats a prepared file may behave differently from a scene with frequent transitions or live overlays.
Power states are not interchangeable. ENERGY STAR’s record for the NUC11ATK configuration with a Celeron N4505 lists short idle at 5.2 W, long idle at 4.4 W, sleep at 0.6 W and off mode at 0.2 W. These are certified state values for that specified configuration, not OBS streaming figures and not a substitute for measuring your machine. The ENERGY STAR product record is useful context for that particular model, but it does not answer what a different NUC draws while broadcasting.
Your tariff changes the bill even when energy use stays the same. A household may face a per-unit rate that varies by consumption band, time, or other billing conditions. If your bill includes fixed charges, taxes or adjustments, the energy calculation here estimates only the consumption component unless you add those items separately.
Measure the average wall draw while OBS streams
Use a plug-in electricity meter between the NUC’s power supply and the wall socket, provided the meter is suitable for your supply and setup. Check that it reports energy or average power in a way you can read. A momentary watt reading can fluctuate as OBS works; the goal is a representative average over the real stream, not the lowest number you happen to see after startup.
Run the same playlist and OBS scene you intend to leave on overnight. Include normal output settings, encoder, overlays and any scheduled scene changes. Let the system settle after startup, then observe it long enough to include ordinary variation in the content and workload. If the playlist has a demanding section every hour, a short sample that misses it may understate the average. There is no universal sampling duration that makes every workload representative, so note how long you measured and what the playlist was doing.
Measure at the wall rather than relying on a processor specification or an idle figure. A wall reading includes the power supply’s conversion losses and the NUC’s actual operating state. Be consistent about what is plugged into the meter: if you include a monitor, router or speakers, the measured value is for that broader setup, not just the NUC. If those devices would remain on regardless of the stream, you may want to measure them separately for a clearer comparison.
Record the average watts, the measurement period, and the equipment included. For example, write “average wall draw, NUC only, OBS streaming the intended loop, measured over a representative session” rather than simply “NUC uses X watts”. That label prevents an assumed value, idle result or whole-room measurement from being mistaken for the specific streaming draw.
Intel notes that available NUC power-management options vary by model and describes profiles such as Balanced, Low-Power and Max-Performance in its power management information. Changing a profile after measuring can change the workload behaviour or power use, so measure again if you make a lasting settings change. Do not select a lower-power profile solely to reduce the bill without checking that OBS still produces the output you need.
Calculate kWh for a 30-day month
Electricity use is measured in kilowatt-hours. Multiply average watts by the number of operating hours, then divide by 1,000 to convert watt-hours into kilowatt-hours:
Monthly kWh = average watts × hours per day × days in period ÷ 1,000
For continuous operation over 30 days, that becomes:
Monthly kWh = average watts × 24 × 30 ÷ 1,000 = average watts × 0.72
The 0.72 factor is a unit conversion for this stated period, not a claim about NUC consumption. If your measured average is W watts, your estimated use is W × 0.72 kWh for a 30-day month. A billing period of 31 days uses W × 24 × 31 ÷ 1,000 instead. If you plan to shut the stream down for part of each day, use the actual daily operating hours rather than 24.
Here is an illustration of the arithmetic. The wattages in the table are deliberately labelled as assumed scenarios; none is a measured OBS draw for an Intel NUC 11. Replace the assumed value with your own wall-meter average before treating the result as your estimate.
| Assumed average draw | 30-day energy use | What the figure means |
|---|---|---|
| 10 W | 7.2 kWh | Illustration only, not a NUC streaming measurement |
| 20 W | 14.4 kWh | Illustration only, not a NUC streaming measurement |
| 30 W | 21.6 kWh | Illustration only, not a NUC streaming measurement |
This table shows how energy scales with a stated average draw. It does not establish which row resembles your configuration. For instance, if your meter reports an average of W watts, use the formula, not whichever illustrative row looks closest. Avoid rounding your measured wattage too early: calculate from the meter’s displayed average, then round the final kWh to a sensible precision for your bill comparison.
The loop itself needs attention too. A playlist that pauses between files, stops after an error, or leaves an OBS scene doing additional work may not represent the intended continuous workload. If the stream is interrupted for a meaningful portion of the billing period, actual energy use will be lower than the uninterrupted estimate, but that is not a useful saving if you needed the channel to stay live. The estimate is for planned continuous operation, not an uptime prediction.
Multiply by your local tariff
Once you have kWh, multiply it by the applicable price per kWh. Keep the units visible in your notes:
Monthly energy charge = monthly kWh × local price per kWh
If the meter-based average is W watts and your local tariff is T currency units per kWh, the 30-day energy charge is W × 0.72 × T. This formula works whether the currency is rupees, pounds or another unit, but only if T is the rate actually applicable to this additional consumption. Do not substitute a tariff from another city, a generic national figure or a rate printed for a different billing category.
For an illustration only, an assumed 20 W average gives 14.4 kWh over 30 days. At a tariff you supply, the estimated charge is 14.4 × T. No price is supplied here because the reader’s rate is missing, and the 20 W input is an assumption rather than a measured NUC-plus-OBS result. Put the rate from your current bill or electricity provider in place of T.
If your provider uses different rates across consumption slabs or time periods, a single tariff may only give a rough estimate. Work out which marginal rate applies to the extra units, or calculate the relevant bill portions separately using the provider’s method. For a full bill total, add fixed charges, taxes and other applicable line items after estimating the consumption charge; avoid counting a fixed charge as though it were caused by the stream if it would be payable anyway.
If you are in India, check the current tariff schedule for your state, supplier and connection type, and compare the rate with the one shown on your bill. A household tariff may differ from a commercial connection or from another local area. Record the date or billing period associated with the rate, since rates and billing structures can change.
Separate electricity from other costs
This calculation covers electricity consumption, not the full cost of operating a channel. The NUC’s purchase cost, replacement parts, internet service, any external display or router, and time spent checking the stream are separate. If your aim is to compare operating approaches, include only costs that change between them and state what is included.
Internet service is often a fixed household cost, but continuous video upload may affect a capped or metered plan. Check the terms and actual data allowance with your provider rather than assuming that electricity is the largest variable. Likewise, an additional monitor left on all day can add consumption; measure it independently if you want to decide whether it should remain on after OBS is configured.
Local OBS operation also means keeping the computer and its surrounding setup available. You may value the ability to edit a scene locally, access files immediately or troubleshoot directly. In exchange, you need to account for power use and for what happens if the computer, power supply, network or OBS process stops. The calculation tells you the energy charge, not whether the workflow is worth its other costs.
A cloud-hosted playlist can remove the need to leave your own computer running for the broadcast, but it is a different operating choice, not a free electricity saving. Compare what is included, the current terms and any charges directly before deciding. StreamNeo can remove the specific burden of keeping this NUC switched on for the continuous broadcast by running an uploaded video as a YouTube live stream after you provide the stream key; check its current terms and fit for your channel rather than treating the electricity formula as a recommendation.
For a local OBS setup that sends through another service, distinguish the local computer’s electricity from any relay or hosted service charges. The cost of using a cloud relay for a local OBS loop is relevant if your comparison includes that arrangement: it does not make the NUC’s measured consumption disappear, and it introduces a separate cost to assess.
Check that the measured workload matches your playlist
A useful estimate is only as good as the workload behind it. Before trusting the meter average, confirm that OBS is sending the intended output to YouTube, that the file repeats as expected, and that the scene contains the graphics and transitions you will actually use. A single video playing in a simple scene is not a proxy for a channel with animated backgrounds, multiple sources or frequent changes.
Encoder settings are part of the workload, not merely a quality choice. If you change resolution, frame rate, encoder or bitrate after measuring, repeat the measurement under the new setup. The YouTube Live encoder settings for pre-recorded video can help frame the output configuration to check, while the power number itself still has to come from your own wall measurement.
Include the complete repeating cycle where practical. If your playlist alternates a long calm segment with a short section containing motion and title cards, observe both. If you update the content periodically, measure the newer version when it changes in a way that could alter decoding, rendering or encoding work. A stable electricity average does not establish that the broadcast is reaching YouTube correctly, so check stream health independently.
You can also use a sample that includes ordinary recovery or restart behaviour if that is part of how you operate. But do not fold a rare troubleshooting session into a normal daily average unless it regularly occurs. Keep exceptional tests separate, then decide whether you need an average-day estimate or a conservative planning estimate. State which one you are using so another person can reproduce the calculation.
The playlist’s purpose may affect the design choices you make. For a nature loop, the guide to building a 24/7 rain and ambience channel is a useful content-side reference; for a shop, looping store promotion videos on YouTube Live covers a different kind of repeating programme. Neither article provides a power benchmark for your NUC. Use them to refine what the stream should do, then measure that actual version.
Make the estimate useful for a decision
Keep a short record with the NUC product code, OBS output settings, playlist or scene description, equipment included at the wall, measured average watts, measurement period, tariff and billing-period length. This makes the estimate easy to update if you change hardware or rates. It also makes clear whether you are comparing the NUC alone or the whole setup.
You can calculate a low and high scenario using measured values from different representative conditions, such as a quiet section and a more active section, if your meter provides useful readings. Do not label guessed wattages as a range of measurements. If you need a planning range but have not measured, explicitly call the values assumptions and use them only to understand sensitivity: every additional average watt adds 0.72 kWh in a 30-day continuous month.
A practical comparison is to estimate the energy cost of the local setup, then list the other requirements that matter to you: control of OBS, maintenance effort, resilience to a local interruption, and any alternative service charges. A hosted approach may suit someone who does not want a computer left on; local OBS may suit someone who wants direct control and already has equipment running. Neither choice can be selected from an idle power label or an assumed tariff.
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
What is the monthly electricity cost of an Intel NUC 11 running OBS 24/7?
You need the average wall draw of your exact NUC while it runs your actual OBS playlist, plus your local tariff. For 30 continuous days, calculate watts × 0.72 for kWh, then multiply by the tariff; without those inputs, a definitive monthly price would be a guess.
Can I use the NUC11ATK idle wattage as my OBS streaming draw?
No. The ENERGY STAR figures for the specified NUC11ATK are idle, sleep and off-state values, not a measurement of OBS streaming. Use a wall meter while the intended stream is running, and identify whether the reading includes only the NUC or additional devices.
Does the 0.72 multiplier apply to every month?
It applies to 24 hours per day over 30 days, after converting watts to kilowatts. Use the actual number of days in the billing period and actual operating hours if either differs.
Should I include the router or display in my estimate?
Include them if you want the electricity cost of the whole setup, but note that clearly and avoid double-counting equipment that would be on anyway. Measuring the NUC separately and then measuring extra devices separately can show which costs are attributable to keeping the stream running.