Running cost calculator

Calculate panel energy from the correct figure

Find the exact monitor’s annual energy or typical power data from the manufacturer or ENERGY STAR listing. Confirm whether the figure includes USB-C laptop charging, hub loads, or standby. If only watts are listed, estimate kilowatt-hours as watts multiplied by hours used divided by 1,000, then multiply by your electricity rate. State the hours and settings used; the result is an estimate, not a utility quote.

Compare the same size and intended brightness. A larger monitor or higher luminance can use more energy even when a product is efficient by area.

Adjust for work schedule and sleep behavior

A workstation used eight hours a day has a different annual estimate from a display left on all day. Use your actual schedule and include breaks or overnight periods only if the monitor remains active. Check whether the operating system and monitor enter sleep after inactivity and what indicator shows that state. Wake-on-USB or network features may change standby behavior.

If the monitor sleeps but a dock or laptop keeps the adapter active, count those devices separately. The monitor’s power data may not represent the whole desk.

Account for brightness, refresh, and HDR

Brightness and display mode influence use. Compare readings at the settings you normally use, not the default of one monitor and maximum on another. HDR and high refresh may raise consumption; check manufacturer documentation for the exact mode rather than estimating from the model label alone. A USB-C monitor powering a laptop adds the laptop’s charging demand to the input draw.

For a measured comparison, use a properly rated plug-in meter and keep the same image, refresh, brightness, peripherals, and host on both tests. Do not use an unapproved adapter just to connect a meter.

Present costs as scenarios

Multiply estimated annual kilowatt-hours by the current household electricity rate to compare scenarios. If rates vary by time of day, use the applicable tariff and schedule. Show both assumptions and model codes. Small differences can be overwhelmed by changes in brightness, hours, or laptop charging, so avoid promising a fixed saving from buying a new monitor.

For a multi-monitor workstation, add each display and powered accessory separately. Keep the result focused on the setup being compared rather than attributing the whole desk’s bill to one screen.

Separate monitor cost from workstation electricity

If the monitor powers a laptop, the adapter’s wall draw includes charging and laptop load. To estimate display-only cost, test with charging disabled if the manufacturer supports that setup, or use published monitor data. To estimate whole-workstation cost, include the dock, computer, external storage, speakers, and other powered devices. Label the figure clearly so readers do not compare a monitor-only number with a whole-desk measurement.

State the assumptions beside the number

A useful estimate should say how many days and hours the display is used, the brightness setting, whether the laptop is being charged, and the electricity rate used. If the schedule changes seasonally, calculate a workday and weekend scenario separately. Keep the annual result rounded; the variation in actual brightness and connected load makes false precision misleading.