What your result means
The result estimates variable electricity cost for the computer and monitor at the entered combined draw. It does not use the power supply’s maximum rating unless that is the wattage you enter.
Home technology
How much does a gaming PC cost to run in NZ?
Gaming PC electricity use changes dramatically between idle, ordinary gaming and heavy load. Add your monitor and typical daily gaming hours for a realistic estimate.
Last reviewed 19 August 2026 · Change every default to reflect your appliance.
Estimated running cost
$147.06
per yearEnergy / year
432.53 kWh
Per hour
$0.02
0.05 kWh
Per day
$0.40
1.19 kWh
Per week
$2.82
8.3 kWh
Per month
$12.26
36.07 kWh
Per year
$147.06
432.53 kWh
Monitor included
This estimate adds 45 W for the monitor. Sleep settings and game frame-rate limits can reduce the total.
Estimate only: Electricity results estimate variable energy cost from the wattage, use and per-kWh rate entered. They exclude fixed daily charges and can differ from a measured bill because appliance demand and tariffs vary.
How the calculation works
Computer and monitor watts are added, converted to kilowatts and multiplied by daily gaming hours and your electricity rate. The annual figure assumes the same pattern across 365 days.
Example calculation
A PC drawing 350 W with a 45 W monitor uses 1.185 kWh during three hours of gaming. At 34 cents per kWh, that is about 40 cents for the session.
What affects the result?
- The estimate adds computer and monitor wattage.
- Sleep, idle and gaming modes can have very different power draws.
- A wall meter is more reliable than the power supply’s maximum rating.
- Graphics settings, frame rates and peripherals can change real-world use.
Ways to use less energy
- Use sleep settings for idle periods.
- Cap frame rates when high refresh rates are not needed.
- Turn off displays and peripherals when you finish.
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Common questions
Should I enter the power-supply wattage?
Usually not. A power supply's maximum rating is not the PC's normal draw. Use a measured wall reading or realistic gaming-load estimate.
Is the monitor included?
Yes. The calculator adds the monitor wattage entered to the computer estimate.
Does idle time use the same power as gaming?
Usually not. Idle and sleep draw are commonly lower. Calculate separate scenarios if the computer spends substantial time in different modes.
Do frame-rate limits affect electricity use?
They can. Workload, components and settings affect actual draw, so a wall meter provides the most useful figure for your setup.