A Raspberry Pi 4’s documented average draw is about 3.0 W at idle and 3.9 W during H.264 video playback—roughly 26–34 kWh over a full year if those averages continued around the clock. These are approximate older workload figures, not a direct measurement of YouTube playback; the actual total depends on the Pi model, playback setup, and what else is plugged in.
What the documented Raspberry Pi 4 figures mean
Raspberry Pi’s hardware documentation reports average current of 0.6 A at idle and 0.78 A during H.264 video playback for the Pi 4 Model B. Using the documented 5 V supply level, watts = volts × amps gives about 3.0 W idle and 3.9 W during that playback workload. These wattages are calculations from the published current readings, not separate YouTube measurements. Raspberry Pi’s hardware documentation describes the readings as approximate and notes that the test used a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and Ethernet, while excluding additional USB devices and HATs.
The readings use dated Raspberry Pi OS images, with the Pi 4 test image dated June 2019. The documentation also lists 0.85 A maximum during H.264 playback and 1.2 A average under stress; those are different measures and should not be substituted for the playback average. The source cautions: “All these power measurements are approximate and do not take into account power consumption from additional USB devices; power consumption can easily exceed these measurements if multiple additional USB devices or a HAT are connected.”
Estimated electricity for running it all year
A non-leap year has 8,760 hours. Multiply average watts by 8,760 and divide by 1,000 to estimate kilowatt-hours (kWh):
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| Workload estimate | Calculation | Annual energy |
|---|---|---|
| Pi 4 idle, approximately 3.0 W | 3.0 × 8,760 ÷ 1,000 | 26.28 kWh (about 26 kWh) |
| Pi 4 H.264 playback, approximately 3.9 W | 3.9 × 8,760 ÷ 1,000 | 34.164 kWh (about 34 kWh) |
These are annualized calculations that assume the cited averages persist continuously. They do not establish the draw of a current YouTube session, another Pi model, or an entire viewing station.
How to estimate the cost on your electricity plan
Multiply the relevant annual kWh by your own electricity price per kWh. For example, use 34.164 × your tariff for the playback-workload estimate. Because tariffs vary by location and plan, there is no universal bill amount to apply.
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Be clear about what the number covers. The documented current readings are not a wall-to-wall measurement of every possible setup. A display, router, powered USB devices, and other connected equipment can add consumption. A USB wall meter reading of the complete setup is more useful for estimating its electricity cost because it captures power-supply conversion losses and equipment connected downstream. A board-side reading does not include those losses.
Why YouTube playback may differ from the H.264 estimate
The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B specifications list H.264 decoding up to 1080p60. That capability does not establish which codec YouTube will deliver, whether a particular browser session will use accelerated decoding, or the Pi’s resulting power draw.
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Actual playback load depends on the Pi model, browser and software version, video resolution, delivered codec, and whether decoding is accelerated. Raspberry Pi OS documentation says Chromium is the default browser in a new installation unless another browser is selected (Raspberry Pi configuration documentation). YouTube’s system requirements and supported devices page recommends an up-to-date supported browser and gives general network guidance, but does not certify the Raspberry Pi as a supported device or specify the codec delivered to a particular Pi and browser.
YouTube lists sustained connection recommendations of 5 Mbps for 1080p HD and 20 Mbps for 4K UHD. These are network-speed recommendations, not power figures or a guarantee that a Raspberry Pi will play a particular stream successfully.
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Power supply capacity is not the same as power use
Raspberry Pi recommends a 15 W USB-C supply for the Pi 4 and Pi 400 in its getting-started documentation. That rating is the supply’s available output capacity, not the Pi’s continuous consumption during playback. The official Raspberry Pi 15W USB-C Power Supply is rated at 5.1 V/3.0 A and lists 0.05 W no-load consumption; neither figure means the Pi continuously draws 15 W.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Measure your own 24/7 setup
- Define the boundary. Decide whether you want the Pi alone or the Pi, power supply, display, and peripherals included.
- Measure under the workload you actually use. Run the intended YouTube resolution and browser on the same setup for a representative period, using a wall meter if you want the full setup’s consumption.
- Convert the meter reading to energy. If it reports average watts, use watts × hours ÷ 1,000 for kWh. If it reports kWh directly over a measured interval, scale that interval to your expected operating hours.
- Estimate the bill impact. Multiply the projected kWh by your local tariff per kWh.
The Pi 4’s official 15 W supply recommendation is useful when selecting a compatible supply, not as a proxy for a meter reading. For historical context only, Raspberry Pi’s 2019 thermal-testing article reported 2.89 W idle at launch and 2.47 W idle after firmware updates under its desktop setup; these are historical idle results, not YouTube playback measurements (Raspberry Pi thermal testing).
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