If you’re finding that money is becoming a little tight or you’re just looking for ways to cut down on your energy bill, you may be interested to see how much your games console costs to run. Let’s take a look at how much using that Xbox will set you back.
How much does an Xbox cost to run?
An Xbox One will cost you between 3 and 4 pence per hour. If you play for 3 hours every day, you’ll spend between 54 to 86 pence per week.
If you have an Xbox Series console, they will cost between 2 and 6 pence an hour or 50 pence to £1.29 per week.
Take a look at the table below to find the exact cost of your model.
How much electricity does an Xbox use?
Before we can work out the cost, we need to find out much electricity your games console uses.
Now, this is easier said than done. Partly because Xbox has different versions of the same console and partly because the console will use different amounts of power depending on what you’re using it for. If your Xbox has extra peripherals plugged in, uses a VR headset or you’re playing a power-hungry game, will use quite a bit of electricity. But if you’re just using it just to watch YouTube, it will use far less.
An Xbox Series X (the latest Xbox console) uses around 180 watts when used for gaming. The Series S uses quite a bit less at 75 watts.
An Xbox One S uses around 70 watts, the Xbox One roughly 100 watts, whilst the Xbox One X will use about 120 watts.
If you place your console into standby mode, so it’s ready to jump straight back into a game, it will use between 10 and 15 watts.
The Energy Saver mode uses just 0.5 watts, although it will require a full boot up when you want to start playing.
How does that relate to cost?
The figures below are worked out on the current price cap of 34 pence. The amount you pay for 1 week, 1 month and 1 year are based on gaming for 3 hours per day.
| 1 hour | 3 hours per day | 1 week | 1 month | 1 year | |
| Xbox Series S | 2 pence | 7 pence | 50 pence | £2.17 | £26.08 |
| Xbox Series X | 6 pence | 18 pence | £1.29 | £5.59 | £67.06 |
| Xbox One | 3 pence | 10 pence | 71 pence | £3.10 | £37.26 |
| Xbox One S | 3 pence | 8 pence | 54 pence | £2.33 | £27.94 |
| Xbox One X | 4 pence | 12 pence | 86 pence | £3.73 | £44.71 |
Tips for reducing your Xbox energy usage
When you’re not using your Xbox, select the Energy Saver mode, rather than the sleep option. This can reduce your energy consumption by as much as 90%. To do this:
- Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
- Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Power options.
- Select the Shut-down (energy saving) option.
If you have a smart TV, then use that for streaming instead of your Xbox. Your TV will be on anyway, so there’s no need to use your console.
So, is an Xbox expensive to run?
With all things considered, running an Xbox is fairly cheap compared to a lot of electrical items around your home.
Of course, many would consider a games console a luxury that we could live without, but is it worth giving something up that costs a maximum of 6 pence per hour?
If you really want to save money, why not take a look at these energy saving devices? Or take a look at how much it costs to use a PlayStation?
FAQs
Should you turn your Xbox off at the mains at night?
Although there won’t be any harm in turning your Xbox off at the mains, it won’t save you much money. In Energy Saver mode, your Xbox will cost just £1.49 for the whole year.