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How Much Does It Cost to Run a Wi-Fi Router? $1.84/Month

Running a Wi-Fi router at 15 watts for 24 hours a day costs about $0.06 a day and $1.84 a month at 17¢/kWh, the EIA 2025 annual US average (July 2026 monthly: 18.31¢) — roughly $22 a year.

15 W (8–30 W)Typical power draw
24 h/day, 30 days/monthAssumed use
0.36 kWhEnergy per day

· Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (July 2026 data) · next EIA update ~Oct 23

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a Wi-Fi router: energy cost only (15 W ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate); fixed fees and taxes extra.
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## How much does it cost to run a Wi-Fi router?

The same a Wi-Fi router at 24 hours a day costs $1.30 a month at 12¢ and $4.86 at 45¢ — usage held constant, only the rate moving:

Table 1: How Much Does It Cost to Run a Wi-Fi Router? $1.84/Month
Electricity rate Per hour Per day Per month Per year
12¢/kWh $0.002 $0.04 $1.30 $16
15¢/kWh $0.002 $0.05 $1.62 $20
17¢/kWh (US avg) $0.003 $0.06 $1.84 $22
20¢/kWh $0.003 $0.07 $2.16 $26
25¢/kWh $0.004 $0.09 $2.70 $33
30¢/kWh $0.004 $0.11 $3.24 $39
35¢/kWh $0.005 $0.13 $3.78 $46
45¢/kWh $0.007 $0.16 $4.86 $59
Typical power draw
15 W (8–30 W)
Assumed use
24 h/day, 30 days/month
Energy per day
0.36 kWh
Cost per day
$0.06
Cost per month
$1.84
Cost per year
$22

Why this number

Running a Wi-Fi router at 15 watts for 24 hours a day costs about $0.06 a day and $1.84 a month at 17¢/kWh, the EIA 2025 annual US average (July 2026 monthly: 18.31¢) — roughly $22 a year. The formula for a Wi-Fi router: 15 W ÷ 1,000 × hours × your rate per kWh. For a Wi-Fi router your own rate changes the answer: at 12¢/kWh that month costs $1.30, at 45¢/kWh it costs $4.86.

A Wi-Fi router rated at 15 watts, run 24 hours a day, costs about $0.06 a day — about $1.84 a month, or $22 a year — at the US average electricity rate of 17¢/kWh. That places it 34th of the 40 appliances tracked here, near the bottom. It is not where a high bill comes from, and switching it off will not rescue one.

What actually drives this number

Genuinely always on, but far lower draw than commonly assumed — a router and modem together typically sit in the 10–20 W range, not 60. Low wattage, permanent duty: the clearest example of why hours matter more than watts when hunting for savings.

For a Wi-Fi router the unit that matters is the kilowatt-hour, not the kilowatt : 15 W is only the rate of use, and 24 hours a day is what turns it into the 131 kWh a year you are actually billed for. On that yearly measure its nearest always-on neighbor is the LED grow light at about 158 kWh.

Where this number comes from

Putting Wi-Fi router and modem in proportion

At 17¢/kWh, a Wi-Fi router next to the rest of the bill:

For a Wi-Fi router: this is an always-on load, and that is the whole story. Wi-Fi router and modem’s wattage is unremarkable; the 24-hour duty cycle is what puts a Wi-Fi router where it is. Reducing run-hours is usually impossible for a Wi-Fi router, which makes efficiency at purchase time the only real decision. On this site’s own numbers, a Wi-Fi router lands at #34 of 40 on the monthly-cost ranking, at about $1.84 for a typical month.

The formula, in full

The 15 W arithmetic for a Wi-Fi router, step by step:

  1. Watts to kilowatts. 15 W ÷ 1,000 = 0.01 kW.
  2. Energy per day. 0.01 kW × 24 hours = 0.36 kWh.
  3. Cost per day. 0.36 kWh × $0.17 = $0.06.
  4. Cost per month. $0.06 × 30 days = $1.84.

For a Wi-Fi router the two levers are run-hours (24 h/day here) and your rate; at 24 hours a day, 15 W adds up — which is why always-on loads dominate the rankings.

Other always-on loads: LED grow light ($27/yr), Washing machine ($11/yr), Water softener ($4/yr). Closest on annual cost: Coffee maker ($22/yr), Hair dryer ($23/yr). Across all other always-on loads here, the priciest is Pool pump at $40.80/mo.

The a Wi-Fi router table above runs a fixed rate ladder (12–45¢); the state quick-fill uses July 2026 averages from EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A .

Put a Wi-Fi router ($1.84 a month) against everything else in the electricity cost calculator , check your state’s rate , or browse all 40 appliances ; year-round high bills: solar savings calculator .

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a Wi-Fi router per hour?

About $0.003 an hour for a Wi-Fi router at 17¢/kWh, the EIA 2025 annual US average (July 2026 monthly: 18.31¢), for a 15 W unit. The calculation is 15 ÷ 1,000 × 1 hour × $0.17 per kWh. At 30¢/kWh the same hour costs $0.004.

How much does a Wi-Fi router add to my monthly bill?

Roughly $1.84 a month for a Wi-Fi router at 24 hours a day, 30 days a month, 17¢/kWh. That is about $22 a year if you use it that much year-round. For a Wi-Fi router, change the 24-hour default to your own use — run-time moves the total as much as the 15 W does.

How many watts does a Wi-Fi router use?

Typically around 15 W, with real units ranging from about 8 to 30 W depending on size, model and setting. The nameplate on your own unit is the figure to trust — these are typical values for planning, not a measurement of your appliance.

Why is my actual bill higher than the a Wi-Fi router figure?

$1.84 a month is the energy cost of a Wi-Fi router alone; your bill adds fixed connection charges, delivery fees, taxes and every other load. Add the other appliances in the index to a Wi-Fi router for the controllable part of the bill.

How we calculated this

Worked for a Wi-Fi router: 15 W ÷ 1,000 × 24 h × $0.17 = $0.06 a day; × 30 days = $1.84 a month; × 12 months in use = $22 a year. 15 W and 24 h are the typical figures cited for a Wi-Fi router; 17¢ is EIA’s 2025 annual US average.

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) electricity rates · DSIRE incentive records · public IRS/OBBBA guidance. Figures are modeled estimates, not quotes or tax advice. See our methodology.

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