How many watts does a TV use?
A typical TV uses 23–155 watts when running and draws 0.19–1.3 amps at 120 volts.
TV watts, amps and circuit
| Running watts | 23–155 W |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 120 V |
| Running amps | 0.19–1.3 A |
| Circuit | standard 120 V outlet |
Also called: television, smart tv, flat screen tv.
TV watts by size and type
| Size or type | Running watts, W | Volts, V | Amps, A | Starting watts, W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TV | 23–155 | 120 | 0.19–1.3 | — |
| 24-inch | 23–25 | 120 | 0.19–0.21 | — |
| 32-inch | 27–36 | 120 | 0.23–0.3 | — |
| 40-inch | 46–55 | 120 | 0.38–0.46 | — |
| 50-inch | 61–90 | 120 | 0.51–0.75 | — |
| 55-inch | 64–124 | 120 | 0.53–1 | — |
| 65-inch | 84–149 | 120 | 0.7–1.2 | — |
| 75-inch | 95–155 | 120 | 0.79–1.3 | — |
What size generator runs a TV?
A TV needs a generator that supplies at least 155 running watts. A 2,000 W generator covers it with its running rating alone; add the watts of anything else you run at the same time.
How long a portable power station runs a TV
| Battery capacity, Wh | At 155 W, h | At 23 W, h |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 2.7 | 18.5 |
| 1,000 | 5.5 | 37 |
| 2,000 | 11 | 73.9 |
| 3,600 | 19.7 | 133 |
A 500 Wh portable power station runs a TV drawing 155 W for about 2.7 hours at 85% inverter efficiency. Runtime = capacity × 85% ÷ watts; the 85% efficiency is an assumption. The power station's AC output must be at least 155 W.
What it costs to run a TV
Running a TV at 89 W, the middle of its 23–155 W range, for one hour a day uses 32.5 kWh a year. That costs about $5.85 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026.
Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.
- Per day
- $0.02
- Per year
- $5.85
- Energy per day
- 0.09 kWh
- Energy per month
- 2.7 kWh
How it is calculated
- kWh per day = 89 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 0.089
- Per month = 0.089 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $0.49
What affects TV power use
Screen size and brightness drive the number: a larger panel and HDR or vivid picture modes draw more. The figures are the on-mode power of ENERGY STAR certified TVs, the efficient end of the market. In standby a certified TV draws under a watt.
How the amps are calculated
Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 155 W at 120 V that is 1.3 A. The 23–155 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on a TV gives the exact figure.