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02 Sept 2024

How much does your TV really cost to run?

We look at the annual running costs for every TV we test, so we can reveal how much difference screen size, brand and screen type can make to your electricity bill

Martin PrattPrincipal researcher & writer

Electricity meter with the numbers rising exponent

In this article

TV manufacturers got a bit of a shock in 2021 when the energy ratings on their sets plummeted from As and Bs to Es and Fs. The rules were tightened and the ratings made stricter, and it made people more aware of how much their TVs cost to run.

Things were no different in 2022 or 2023 and it's the same in 2024. The majority of TVs still have poor energy ratings.

Part of our in-depth TVs lab test looks at how much energy a TV will use when turned on and when in standby. We give each model a star rating based on how much energy it uses.

You can use this star rating to easily compare different TVs of the same size to see which is the most energy efficient - our star rating factors in the size of the TV, because a 65-inch TV will always cost more to run than a smaller model. Our reviews also tell you how much a TV will cost you in energy per year.

But does the type of screen make a difference, and do TVs from a particular brand cost more to run than others?

We update our running costs in line with cost per kWh of electricity. The average price capped unit of electricity from July-September costs 22.36p per kWh; from October 2024 it will be 24.5p per kWh. The costs in this guide use the October energy cost.

We test hundreds of TVs each year, so we have reviewed almost every model available. Our reviews also include the results of our annual survey of TV owners, so we can reveal the most (and least) reliable brands and which brands owners recommend. Check our TV reviews to find your next set.

How much does a 40 to 43-inch 4K TV cost to run?

£20.77 average yearly running cost
£27.92 highest running cost
£14.16 lowest running cost

How much does a 48 to 50-inch 4K TV cost to run?

£24.07 average yearly running cost
£37.22 highest running cost
£18.87 lowest running cost

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How much does a 55 to 58-inch 4K TV cost to run?

£26.64 average yearly running cost
£40.28 highest running cost
£18.87 lowest running cost

How much does a 65-inch 4K TV cost to run?

£33.12 average yearly running cost
£58.09 highest running cost
£22.54 lowest running cost

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LCD, OLED and QLED, which are the most expensive to run?

You'd expect LCD and QLEDs to cost the most to run, since they have backlights. The extra layer of bulbs that shine on a colour-producing layer should mean they use more power than an OLED, which has no backlight.

	40 to 43-inch average running costs	48 to 50-inch average running costs	55-inch average running costs	65-inch average running costs
LCD	£22.05	£25.37	£27.79	£34.58
QLED	£20.30	£23.89	£25.37	£33.11
OLED	£19.01	£21.45	£25.52	£29.69

LCD models tend to be the most expensive, while OLEDs, aside from the 55-inch models, are the cheapest.

Which TV brands cost the most to run?

TV brand	40 to 43-inch TV average running costs	48 to 50-inch TV average running costs	55 to 58-inch TV average running costs*	65-inch TV average running costs
Hisense	£19.06	£24.56	£26.19	£35.04
LG	£21.49	£22.85	£24.92	£30.63
Panasonic	£18.02	£22.72	£27.73	£32.56
Philips	£21.16	£21.76	£26.85	£33.18
Samsung	£22.94	£26.14	£26.35	£32.22
Sony	£19.21	£24.86	£28.86	£32.68

*Panasonic and Philips make 55- and 58-inch TVs. All other brands just make 55-inch TVs.

As the table shows, prices are broadly similar regardless of the brand you choose. In most sizes, around £3 separates the cheapest from most expensive brand.

How we get our annual running costs?

Unless you're a real addict, you're probably not watching TV 24 hours a day, so when we get our annual running costs we base it on the TV being on for four hours a day and on standby for the other 20.