How much does a PS5 cost to run?
The PlayStation 5 (original and Slim) uses about 210 W while gaming. At the UK price cap of 26.32p per kWh, that is about 5.5p an hour, or around £61 a year if you play 3 hours a day. These figures are for the console only; your TV adds to it.
- Per hour
- 5.5p
- 3 hours a day, per month
- £5.05
- 3 hours a day, per year
- £61
PS5 running costs by hours played
Console only, while gaming, at 26.32p per kWh.
| Playing | Per week | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour a day | £0.39 | £1.68 | £20 |
| 2 hours a day | £0.77 | £3.36 | £40 |
| 3 hours a day | £1.16 | £5.05 | £61 |
| 4 hours a day | £1.55 | £6.73 | £81 |
| 6 hours a day | £2.32 | £10.09 | £121 |
Where the figure comes from
Sony says PS5 gaming draws from under 100 W to around 200 W, with new games at the top of that range. Digital Foundry measured 200–218 W in demanding games, so we use 210 W. Real use changes with each game, and menus, streaming apps and downloads use less.
What about the TV?
A TV adds its own power use on top, which varies a lot with size and type. Check the energy label on your TV for its on-mode power in watts and add it to the console's figure.
Compared with a gaming PC
A mid-range gaming PC with an RTX 4070 and a 27-inch monitor uses about 330 W while gaming, about 8.7p an hour. See every console next to a gaming PC or work out your own PC's cost.