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How Much Does It Cost to Run a YouTube Stream 24/7?

A 100 W load running nonstop for 30 days uses 72 kWh. See what that costs at different rates and how to estimate your own streaming setup accurately.
Opened Runtime4 min Written byDocumentaryTube Team

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A 24/7 YouTube stream’s electricity cost depends on the equipment’s actual power draw and your electricity rate. For a steady 100-watt load running for a 30-day month, the equipment uses 72 kWh: at $0.10/kWh that costs $7.20, at $0.20/kWh it costs $14.40, and at $0.30/kWh it costs $21.60. These are calculated examples, not measurements of a particular streaming setup.

Calculate the electricity cost of a 24/7 stream

Convert the equipment’s power draw from watts to kilowatts, multiply by the hours it runs, then multiply the resulting energy use by your applicable price per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Energy used (kWh) = (watts Ă· 1,000) Ă— hours
Energy cost = kWh Ă— price per kWh

A 30-day month has 720 hours, so a constant load uses watts Ă— 0.72 kWh over that period. The U.S. Energy Information Administration explains the distinction between power and energy with an example: a 40 W load used for five hours consumes 0.2 kWh. EIA: Measuring electricity.

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Example: 100 W at $0.20/kWh

  1. Convert 100 W to 0.1 kW.
  2. Multiply 0.1 kW by 720 hours: 72 kWh.
  3. Multiply 72 kWh by $0.20/kWh: $14.40 for 30 days.

This is arithmetic using an assumed constant load and illustrative rate. It is not a measured streaming computer or a universal electricity price.

Compare monthly costs at different power draws and rates

The table uses a 30-day month of continuous operation (720 hours). Each result is calculated from the assumed constant load and rate.

Assumed continuous load Energy per month At $0.10/kWh At $0.20/kWh At $0.30/kWh
50 W 36 kWh $3.60 $7.20 $10.80
100 W 72 kWh $7.20 $14.40 $21.60
200 W 144 kWh $14.40 $28.80 $43.20
300 W 216 kWh $21.60 $43.20 $64.80

To estimate your own bill, replace the assumed wattage and rate with your measured load and the applicable energy rate on your tariff. These figures cover the variable energy charge only; fixed charges, taxes, delivery charges, and other bill items may also apply.

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What equipment should you include?

Choose a system boundary that matches the bill you want to estimate. A creator-side total might include the streaming computer, capture or encoding equipment, a monitor left on, and networking equipment. Include only devices whose electricity you intend to count.

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A computer’s power supply rating is its capacity, not a measurement of its continuous draw. Use observed consumption where possible; the EIA describes meters as instruments for measuring electricity use. A plug-in usage monitor is one way to investigate a device’s consumption, but no particular model has been verified here.

Measure a representative workload

Streaming load can vary, so a brief instantaneous reading may not represent an entire day. Measure energy over a representative interval that includes the actual streaming workload, or use a time-weighted average if you have readings for different operating periods. If the system’s load changes during the day, calculate each period separately and add the energy use.

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Use your local electricity rate

The rates in the comparison table are examples, not a global benchmark. Check the energy price that applies to your account. Where a tariff changes by time of day, calculate each period using its own rate and hours; the U.S. Department of Energy discusses time-of-use and dynamic rate structures in its utility rate options guidance.

Geography can make a substantial difference. The EIA reported 2025 annual average U.S. retail prices ranging from 8.20¢/kWh in North Dakota to 35.72¢/kWh in Hawaii. Those are state-level averages, not an individual customer’s rate or full bill. Your applicable price and bill can differ because of your tariff and additional charges. EIA: Electricity prices and factors affecting prices.

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Estimate a full year

For a constant load running all year, use 8,760 hours (365 days): annual kWh = (watts Ă· 1,000) Ă— 8,760. Multiply that energy by the applicable rate. If the equipment runs for fewer hours, or the load or rate changes, calculate those periods separately rather than treating the 30-day example as a precise annual total.

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Keep creator electricity separate from video-streaming estimates

Studies of streaming energy may count a different system from the creator’s computer. Some estimates include viewing devices, data centres, or networks; a viewer watching a video and a creator sending a live stream are not the same electricity use.

The International Energy Agency’s 2020 analysis estimated typical Netflix video streaming in 2019 at about 0.077 kWh per viewing hour and noted that the result depends on factors including device, connection, and resolution. That is context about video delivery and viewing, not a measurement of a YouTube creator’s streaming PC. IEA analysis of streaming video.

The German Environment Agency reports about 2.3 W per HD video stream in its data-centre case study, excluding data transmission and local IT. This is a data-centre component, not an all-in broadcast system or a household electricity estimate. German Environment Agency: Digital services and cloud computing.

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Do not multiply audience viewing hours by either figure and label the result the broadcaster’s electricity bill. Those estimates cover different components and do not measure the creator’s local equipment.

Or let it run in the cloud

If the goal is to keep a prerecorded YouTube stream running without leaving a computer on at home, StreamNeo is a cloud service that loops uploaded videos or playlists to YouTube. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay powered on at home; it streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot, and can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.

Start your free StreamNeo day.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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