Turning off your monitor does not turn off the computer or stop it using electricity while it keeps YouTube running. Your cost depends on the power drawn by the equipment that remains on, how long it runs and the electricity rate on your bill.
Measure average power in the setup you actually use, then calculate: cost = average watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. That gives you an estimate for a specific period and tariff, rather than a universal cost that cannot account for your equipment or location.
What turning off the monitor changes
A display and the computer driving it are separate electrical loads. If you switch off the monitor while the computer continues playing or sending a live stream, the computer remains powered. The display’s consumption may fall, but the other equipment does not become electricity-free just because you cannot see its screen.
The display’s state matters. A monitor may be actively showing an image, blanked by a setting, in standby, or physically switched off. Those states can have different power draws, and a monitor left in standby may still use a small amount of electricity. The exact result depends on the monitor and its settings; do not assume that a black screen means the monitor’s draw is zero.
The computer’s state matters too. Playing a YouTube stream in a browser is not necessarily the same workload as encoding and sending a live broadcast. An idle machine, active playback, and an encoder doing work can draw different amounts. YouTube itself does not set the power use of the local equipment: that is shaped by the device and what it is doing.
For an always-on channel, be clear about which question you are answering. If you mean the electricity used by the computer that operates an encoder, measure that workload. If you mean a television or computer left playing someone else’s live stream, measure playback instead. Do not use one person’s result as a general figure for another setup.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) advises that if a networked computer needs to stay on overnight for tasks such as file backup, you can turn off the monitor. That is useful guidance for reducing display use while keeping the computer running, not a claim that the whole setup stops drawing power. See DOE’s computer energy guidance for that distinction.
What equipment remains powered
Start by drawing a boundary around the equipment whose cost you want to know. A basic measurement might include only a desktop computer and its monitor. A fuller count might include a separate speaker, an external storage device, a powered network switch or a router. Include a device only if you want its electricity included and can measure it safely.
A plug-in electricity usage monitor is a practical way to measure equipment connected through one outlet, provided the monitor is rated and suitable for the load. Depending on the device, it may show watts at a moment in time or accumulate energy in kWh over a period. Check its instructions and do not connect equipment through a meter that is unsuitable for its electrical load.
If the computer and display use separate plugs, you can measure them separately and add the readings, or use a suitable measuring arrangement that captures both. If you measure only the computer, label the result as computer-only. If the router is on another circuit and outside the measurement, do not quietly include its draw in the calculation. Clear boundaries make the final number useful.
Network equipment is an easy omission when the question is “what does my stream cost?” The computer needs a network connection to receive or send data, but whether you count the router depends on what you are trying to compare. If the router would remain on even without the stream, you may want to report it separately rather than assign all of its electricity to streaming.
That distinction also helps when you compare a local computer setup with a different way of operating a channel. A guide to keeping a 24/7 bhajan stream online during stream-key changes addresses continuity rather than electricity, but the same discipline applies: define which parts of the operation and equipment are included before deciding what a change saves.
Measure average power in the actual setup
A quick watt reading is a snapshot. Power can fluctuate as the computer loads a page, plays video, encodes, writes to storage or performs background tasks. To estimate an always-on cost, measure over a representative stretch while the equipment is doing the work you want to count. The U.S. Department of Energy’s guidance on measuring standby power also notes that changing consumption should be measured over time and averaged over the measurement period.
Use the same monitor state you plan to use overnight. For example, if your plan is to switch the display off but leave an encoder running, take the reading after the monitor is off and the stream is in its normal operating state. If you take a reading with the screen bright and then switch it off for the rest of the night, your reading may overstate the period’s average for the whole setup.
An average power figure can be found by measuring energy over a known period and dividing by the length of that period. If your meter reports 0.6 kWh over 10 hours, the average is 0.06 kWh per hour, equivalent to 60 watts. The arithmetic is 0.6 ÷ 10 × 1,000. This is only an example of the method, not a claim about a particular computer.
A meter that reports average watts directly can save a conversion step. If it reports only accumulated kWh, note the beginning and ending readings and the number of hours between them. Divide the energy change by the hours, then multiply by 1,000 to express average power in watts. Keep the measurement period long enough to include normal variations, and avoid treating an unusual update or temporary task as representative of every night.
If you have more than one operating pattern, measure them separately. Your computer may use one level of power while encoding a static playlist and another while you are actively changing scenes or processing video. You do not need to guess which state dominates: measure the ordinary unattended operation, then make a separate estimate for any regular periods that differ.
Keep a short note of what was connected, what the stream was doing, whether the display was on or off and how long you measured. A figure with those details can be repeated later after a hardware or software change. A bare number without setup notes is difficult to interpret or compare.
Calculate energy from watts and hours
Once you have average power, the energy estimate is straightforward. Multiply average watts by the operating hours, then divide by 1,000 to convert watt-hours into kilowatt-hours:
Energy (kWh) = average power (W) × hours ÷ 1,000.
Then multiply the energy by the applicable price per kWh:
Cost = energy (kWh) × price per kWh.
Combining the steps gives the compact formula: cost = average watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. It works for any period as long as the power figure represents that period and the rate is the relevant one for the same electricity use.
For an arithmetic illustration, suppose a measured setup averages 60 W, runs 720 hours, and electricity costs $0.20 per kWh. The energy is 60 × 720 ÷ 1,000, or 43.2 kWh. The cost is 43.2 × $0.20, or $8.64. These are explicit assumptions for a worked example, not a typical computer figure, local tariff or prediction for your home.
You can also work backwards if you have a budget in mind. Divide the amount by your price per kWh to find the energy allowance, then compare that allowance with your measured kWh. If the result is more than you expected, check that your watt reading represents the monitor-off state, that you have not included unrelated equipment, and that you used the right billing rate.
A common error is to multiply watts directly by the price per kWh. Watts measure instantaneous power; kWh measure energy accumulated over time. The division by 1,000 and multiplication by hours convert between those units. If your meter already gives kWh for the measured period, skip the watts conversion and multiply its energy reading by the rate.
Apply the rate on your bill
Use the rate that applies to your own electricity use, not a rate found in an unrelated example. Your bill may show a per-unit energy charge, a time-of-use tariff, or other components. For the calculation, identify the marginal rate for an additional kWh in the period you are estimating. If your bill makes that unclear, check the supplier’s tariff information rather than substituting a national average.
This is especially important if you are in India or another market where household tariffs vary by location, provider, slab, time period or other billing rules. A rate from another household may not apply to yours. Use the units and currency shown on your bill, and ensure the rate and the kWh measurement refer to compatible periods.
For a time-of-use plan, one blended rate may be misleading if the equipment runs across more than one price period. You can split the hours by period, calculate kWh for each, and multiply by each applicable rate before adding the costs. If the meter cannot separate consumption by time, a reasonable estimate requires either a suitable time-based reading or an explicit assumption about when the usage occurred.
The DOE has published examples using 11 cents per kWh as an average price at U.S. federal facilities in July 2024. That is a dated federal-facility assumption, not a household rate to use in place of your bill. Likewise, the DOE’s monitor energy comparisons are based on stated product and comparison assumptions; they cannot tell you the draw of your own monitor in standby or switched-off states.
Keep energy cost distinct from fixed charges or taxes that would apply regardless of whether you ran the stream. If you want to estimate the extra bill attributable to this setup, the per-kWh charge is usually the central input, while the full bill may contain other line items. Follow the way your supplier defines charges and avoid adding a fixed monthly amount to a device-level estimate unless you are deliberately calculating a share of the whole bill.
Use actual billing-period hours
Hours are the other input that turns a power reading into an energy estimate. For a continuous 30-day period, 720 hours is a convenient estimate. For an annual continuous period, 8,760 hours is the arithmetic equivalent of 365 days. Your actual billing period may be shorter or longer, so use its actual number of hours for a closer estimate.
If your stream runs only part of each day, multiply by the hours it actually operates, not all hours in the billing period. For example, a schedule with overnight breaks should use the sum of the active hours. If the computer stays on for other work during those breaks, decide whether you are estimating total device cost or only the additional cost associated with the stream; those are different questions.
A spreadsheet can make the estimate easy to update. Record average watts, operating hours, rate per kWh, measured or calculated kWh and estimated cost. Add a note for the measurement conditions and billing-period dates. When your tariff changes or you change the stream workload, update those inputs rather than relying on an old monthly total.
It can also be useful to show a range when power varies. Measure a representative lower-use state and a higher-use state, then calculate each with the same period and rate. Present the range as an estimate based on those measured states, not a guaranteed bill. This is more honest than choosing an arbitrary wattage and presenting a single figure as if it applied to every always-on stream.
The stream workflow itself can affect which hours and loads matter. If your channel runs a pre-recorded playlist, the guidance on looping videos for a 24/7 YouTube stream helps explain the local playback and encoding setup; it does not supply a universal electricity figure. Similarly, if you use OBS, the article on managing multiple OBS scenes can help you understand when your workload changes, which is useful context when you measure.
Reduce consumption without losing the distinction
Switching off the monitor is a sensible first step when you do not need to see the display, but it is not a substitute for measuring the computer. You can also review the computer’s power-management settings. The DOE says enabling power-management features can reduce computer energy use, but the benefit depends on how the machine is used and configured; a computer that must keep an encoder active may not be able to enter sleep while the stream is running.
Check whether the stream continues normally before relying on any power setting. Screen blanking and display sleep are different from computer sleep. If the computer sleeps or the network adapter powers down, playback or encoding may stop. Test changes while you can observe the channel, and confirm that the stream remains live and its audio and video behave as expected.
YouTube’s live streaming guidance covers operating a live stream, including monitoring its quality. It does not provide a device-side electricity estimate. Keep those questions separate: YouTube documentation can help with the broadcast, while a meter and your bill answer what your local setup costs to run.
If the electricity draw is a concern, compare options using the same boundaries and period. A lower measured wattage may come from a different workload, device or operating arrangement, but you should verify that the change still meets your channel’s needs. Do not compare a computer-only reading with a reading that includes the display and router and call the difference a saving.
For a channel based on a prepared video, you may also consider whether your local computer needs to remain on for the entire broadcast. StreamNeo can remove the need to keep your own computer running for a file-based YouTube stream, which addresses the local-device draw rather than changing your household tariff. Your actual cost comparison still depends on what equipment remains powered and the operating arrangement you choose.
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
Does turning my monitor off stop the computer using electricity?
No. The computer continues to draw power if it remains on and runs the stream, although the monitor’s own consumption may fall. Measure the equipment in the state you plan to use it.
How much does it cost to leave YouTube running all day?
There is no single cost that applies to every setup. Multiply measured average watts by the hours, divide by 1,000, then multiply by your price per kWh; use your bill’s rate and the actual hours you mean by “all day”.
Should I include my router in the calculation?
Include it if you want to count its electricity and can measure it as part of the setup. If it would stay on regardless of the stream, it can be clearer to report its use separately from the computer and display.
Can I use a published monitor or computer figure instead of measuring?
A published figure can provide context for a specific product and stated test conditions, but it may not represent your equipment or monitor-off state. For a useful cost estimate, measure the actual setup, then apply your own operating hours and tariff.