Measure the computer at the wall while it runs the streaming workload you actually plan to use. A plug-in electricity meter that reports true power and accumulated kilowatt-hours (kWh) can show the average draw; then multiply that average by the hours you expect to stream and apply your electricity rate. A power-supply rating or one momentary watt reading cannot tell you the PC’s representative consumption during a fluctuating stream.
What to measure before calculating cost
First decide what your estimate covers. A meter measures only the devices connected downstream of it, so a PC-only figure excludes any monitor, router, capture hardware, audio equipment or lighting that is not included in the measured setup. Either measure those devices too or list them separately. Record the boundary so you do not later compare a PC-only result with a whole-setup result.
The power-supply rating describes a rated capacity, not the computer’s measured AC draw during your stream. For a useful estimate, measure the actual computer and settings at the AC input.
How to measure the PC’s real draw
- Choose a suitable plug-in electricity meter. Look for true-power measurement in watts (W), accumulated energy in kWh, or an average-power function. Check that the meter suits your local outlet and voltage, has adequate resolution for the load, and is rated for the computer and any other connected equipment. Follow its instructions and maximum-load rating. No particular consumer meter model is established here as a tested recommendation.
- Connect it at the wall. Put the meter between the mains outlet and the measured device or setup. The EPA/ENERGY STAR Version 4.0 computer test procedure describes direct AC-input measurement without an intervening power strip or UPS. That is a legacy laboratory protocol, not a universal instruction for every home setup; for a real-world measurement, follow the meter’s directions and electrical ratings.
- Run the real streaming workload. Use the software, encoder, output settings, scene, game or media, and other normal conditions you intend to use. Let startup or one-off background activity settle if it is not part of ordinary operation. Record important settings and whether a display or peripherals were included. The sources do not establish a tested YouTube PC configuration or a typical streaming wattage.
- Measure for a representative interval. If the draw fluctuates, use the meter’s accumulated kWh over a timed interval and divide that energy by elapsed hours to find average power, or use its average-watts function. DOE’s summary of IEC 62301 says stable power varies by less than 5% from the mean over five minutes; otherwise, measure energy over time and divide by the measurement period. This is useful measurement guidance, not a guarantee that five minutes characterizes every stream.
- Record the result and conditions. Note average watts, accumulated kWh, the observation duration, which devices were measured, the workload and settings, and the date. If you stream different scenes, games or configurations, measure and label them separately.
DOE FEMP’s “Measuring Standby Power” gives examples of instrument resolution for low-power measurements: 0.01 W or better below 10 W, and 0.1 W or better from above 10 W through 100 W. Those are examples in its summary of IEC 62301 standby-power measurement requirements, not specifications for every PC meter or load. See DOE FEMP’s measurement guidance.
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Turn the measurement into an electricity estimate
Use the average draw, not a peak or isolated snapshot:
Energy (kWh) = (average power in W ÷ 1,000) × operating hours
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Then calculate:
Estimated energy cost = kWh × your applicable electricity price per kWh
For example, if your meter records an average of W watts for H hours, the estimate is (W ÷ 1,000) × H × your rate. Insert your own measured watts, planned hours and local tariff rather than assuming a generic PC draw or national electricity price. DOE-hosted educational material presents the energy relationship as “kWh = kW x hrs” and advises using the local electricity price. A tiered bill can make a single per-kWh rate less straightforward; time-of-use periods, fixed charges, taxes and other adjustments can also affect the final bill. See DOE’s cost-calculation material.
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Estimate a continuous year
A continuous schedule across an ordinary 365-day year is 8,760 hours (24 × 365). For that assumed schedule, annual energy is average watts × 8.76 kWh per watt-year; multiply the result by your applicable rate for a simple cost estimate. This is calendar arithmetic, not a claim about a PC’s measured draw. For downtime, a shorter schedule or a leap year, use the actual operating-hour total.
How to compare measurements or meters fairly
Compare PC setups only when their workload, settings, run duration and included devices are comparable. Use average draw or energy over the same duration, not one setup’s peak reading against another’s average. Apply the same local tariff when comparing estimated costs.
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When choosing between meters, compare true-power measurement, accumulated energy or averaging, useful resolution at the expected load, outlet and voltage compatibility, and rated load. Check the manufacturer’s limits before connecting a high-load setup. The official sources explain measurement principles; they do not endorse a consumer model or establish that a particular meter is safe for every configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What official efficiency information can—and cannot—tell you
The EPA/ENERGY STAR computer procedure cited here is Version 4.0, a legacy test procedure for specified standby, sleep and idle measurements. It illustrates AC-input measurement and averaging methods; it is not the current ENERGY STAR certification rule and does not predict a creator’s live-stream consumption. ENERGY STAR’s current Computers page covers desktops, integrated desktops, notebooks, tablets, thin clients and workstations, and identifies criteria effective October 2025. Certification criteria and controlled idle tests are not substitutes for measuring your own stream workload. The legacy procedure is available at EPA/ENERGY STAR’s Version 4.0 computer test procedure.
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