If you’re wondering how much electricity your PS5 gobbles up while you’re gaming, you’re not alone. The PlayStation 5 uses about 200 watts per hour when you’re actively gaming, which equals 0.2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. That number drops way down to just 50 watts when you’re sitting on the home screen and about 70 watts if you’re streaming Netflix or other apps.
Now, 200 watts might not mean much to you yet, but here’s where it gets interesting. Your PS5 isn’t always pulling the same amount of power. The power consumption varies based on what you’re doing with your console, and understanding these differences can actually help you save money on your electric bill.
The good news? Running your PS5 won’t break the bank. But knowing exactly how much juice it uses in different situations can help you game smarter and keep your electricity costs low without giving up your gaming time.
Key Takeaways
- A PS5 draws approximately 200 watts while gaming but uses much less power in rest mode or when streaming
- Your actual electricity costs depend on local rates but typically run less than 3 cents per hour of gaming
- Simple habits like switching off your console when not in use can reduce your yearly energy costs by several dollars
PS5 Power Consumption Per Hour Explained
Your PS5 uses different amounts of electricity depending on what you’re doing with it. Gaming typically draws around 200 watts, while streaming shows uses about 70 watts, and just sitting on the home screen pulls roughly 50 watts.
What Power Consumption Per Hour Means
Power consumption per hour tells you how much electricity your PS5 uses during one hour of operation. It’s measured in watt-hours, which is just watts multiplied by time.
Think of it like gas mileage for your console. If your PS5 uses 200 watts while gaming, that’s 200 watt-hours per hour. The number stays the same because you’re measuring for exactly one hour.
Here’s why this matters: electricity companies charge you by the kilowatt-hour (kWh). To convert watt-hours to kilowatt-hours, you divide by 1,000. So 200 watt-hours equals 0.2 kWh.
Key Numbers for Typical Usage Scenarios
Your PS5 pulls different amounts of power depending on your activity. Here’s what you can expect:
| Activity | Power Draw |
|---|---|
| Gaming | 200 watts |
| Streaming apps | 70 watts |
| Home screen | 50 watts |
| Rest mode | 1.5 watts |
| Powered off (plugged in) | 1.3 watts |
When you’re actively gaming, your console works hardest and uses the most electricity. The graphics processor and CPU run at full speed to render your games.
Streaming Netflix or other apps takes way less power. Your PS5 isn’t rendering complex graphics, so it can relax a bit.
Even sitting idle on the home screen uses some juice. The system stays ready to launch games quickly.
How Power Consumption Is Measured
You can measure your PS5’s power consumption with a simple plug-in meter. These devices sit between your wall outlet and your console’s power cable.
The meter shows real-time wattage as your PS5 runs. You’ll see the numbers jump when you start a demanding game or drop when you switch to streaming.
Different PS5 models have slightly different ratings. The Disc Edition is rated for 350 watts maximum, while the Digital Edition tops out at 340 watts. That 10-watt difference comes from the disc drive.
Your actual usage will be lower than these maximum ratings most of the time. Sony lists these numbers as the absolute peak the console might hit with demanding games or features.
Power Usage in Different PS5 Modes
Your PS5 doesn’t use the same amount of electricity all the time. The power it draws changes based on what you’re doing with it, and understanding these differences can help you figure out what’s eating up your energy bill.
Gaming Mode vs. Streaming Mode
When you’re gaming, your PS5 works the hardest. Gaming mode typically uses between 160 and 220 watts, depending on what game you’re playing and how demanding it is.
Big open-world games with 4K graphics push your console harder than simpler indie titles. If you’re playing something like Spider-Man with all the visual bells and whistles turned on, you’re looking at the higher end of that range.
Streaming Netflix or YouTube is way less intense. Your PS5 only needs about 50 to 90 watts for video streaming, which is less than half of what gaming requires. That’s because streaming mostly relies on your internet connection rather than your console’s graphics processor.
The difference matters if you use your PS5 as an entertainment hub. You’ll save more electricity watching shows through a dedicated streaming stick, but your PS5 won’t break the bank either way.
Idle and Menu Power Draw
Even when you’re just sitting at the menu screen, your PS5 keeps drawing power. The idle state uses around 50 to 60 watts while you’re browsing settings or picking which game to play next.
This might not sound like much, but it adds up if you leave your console sitting at the home screen for hours. Think of it like leaving your car running in the driveway—it’s not going anywhere, but the engine’s still on.
The menu interface and background processes keep your system ready to jump into action. Your PS5 stays connected to the internet, checks for updates, and maintains your friends list during this time.
Rest Mode and Standby Consumption
Rest Mode is where your PS5 gets super efficient. In basic rest mode, your console uses just 3 to 5 watts per hour, which is barely anything.
That number goes up if you’re charging controllers or downloading games in the background. When actively charging devices or downloading, rest mode can use 10 to 15 watts.
Rest Mode lets your PS5 stay ready to wake up quickly while using minimal power. It’s like putting your laptop to sleep instead of shutting it down completely.
If you fully power off your console instead, you’ll use even less electricity. But you’ll lose the convenience of quick startup and automatic downloads.
Disc Edition vs. Digital Edition Differences
You might think the Digital Edition always uses less power since it has no disc drive, but that’s not quite how it works. The two models actually have pretty similar power consumption overall.
Looking at specific models, the CFI-1216A disc version uses about 209.8 watts during gaming, while the CFI-1216B Digital Edition uses around 200.8 watts. That’s only a 9-watt difference during gameplay.
The disc drive only draws extra power when it’s actually spinning a disc. If you’re playing a game installed on your hard drive, both versions use nearly identical amounts of electricity.
In standby mode, the differences are even smaller—usually just a watt or two between models. Your gaming habits and settings will affect your power bill way more than which PS5 model you bought.
Factors That Affect PS5 Power Consumption
Your PS5 doesn’t always pull the same amount of power. The wattage changes based on what you’re playing, how you’ve set things up, and even what’s plugged into your console.
Game Graphics and Intensity
Not all games demand the same energy from your PS5. A graphically intense game like Spider-Man 2 or Horizon Forbidden West will push your console harder than a simple indie platformer.
When you’re playing games with complex graphics, realistic lighting, and detailed textures, your PS5 draws around 200 watts. These games make the GPU and CPU work at higher capacity to render all those details in real-time.
Older PS4 games or less demanding titles might only use 150 watts or less. The difference comes down to how hard your console’s components need to work. Think of it like running versus walking—both get you there, but one requires way more effort.
If you’re playing a game with ray tracing enabled or running at higher frame rates, expect your power usage to climb toward that 200-watt mark.
Display Settings and Resolution
Your display settings make a real difference in how much electricity your PS5 uses. When you’re gaming in 4K with HDR enabled, your console works harder than it does at 1080p.
The PS5 automatically adjusts its performance based on your TV’s capabilities. If you have a 4K TV connected, the console will render games at that higher resolution, which requires more processing power.
You can lower your power consumption by adjusting your output resolution in the PS5 settings. Switching from 4K to 1080p won’t ruin your gaming experience on smaller screens, but it will reduce the strain on your console.
Frame rate settings also play a role. Games that offer performance modes (targeting 60fps or 120fps) will use more power than those running at 30fps. The console has to render twice as many frames per second, which means more work for the GPU.
Connected Accessories
Everything you plug into your PS5 adds to its power draw. Your controllers, external hard drives, charging stations, and VR headsets all need electricity.
When you charge a DualSense controller through the console’s USB port, you’re adding to the total wattage. If you have USB charging enabled during Rest Mode, your PS5 will draw more than the standard 1.5 watts it normally uses.
External storage drives are power-hungry accessories. If you’ve connected an external SSD or HDD to expand your storage, that device pulls power directly from your console. This can add anywhere from 2 to 10 watts depending on the drive type.
PlayStation VR and other peripherals increase consumption even more. The camera, motion controllers, and headset all need power to function.
Environmental Conditions
Your room’s temperature and your PS5’s ventilation affect how efficiently it runs. When your console gets too hot, its internal fans spin faster to cool things down, which uses extra electricity.
If your PS5 is crammed into a tight entertainment center with poor airflow, the cooling system works overtime. This doesn’t just increase power consumption—it can also shorten your console’s lifespan.
Dust buildup inside your PS5 makes the cooling system less efficient. When vents get clogged, the fans need to work harder to maintain safe operating temperatures. Cleaning your console every few months helps it run more efficiently.
Room temperature matters too. A PS5 in a hot room has to work harder to stay cool than one in a climate-controlled space. Keeping your gaming area at a comfortable temperature helps your console run at peak efficiency.
Comparing PS5 Electricity Use to Other Consoles
The PS5 uses between 50 and 200 watts depending on what you’re doing, but how does that stack up against its competition? The PS5 draws similar power to the Xbox Series X while gaming, but older PlayStations and smaller consoles use considerably less electricity.
PS5 vs. PS4 and PS4 Pro
Your PS5 definitely uses more power than your old PS4, but not by as much as you might think. When gaming, the PS5 uses around 200 watts compared to the PS4’s 90-150 watts.
The PS4 Pro sits in the middle at 75-160 watts. That’s roughly 32-60% more power for the PS5, which makes sense since it’s pushing way better graphics and faster load times.
Here’s the kicker though: the PS5 is actually more efficient when you’re streaming Netflix or other apps. It only uses about 70 watts for streaming, while the PS4 used around 90 watts for the same thing.
If you’re just hanging out on the home screen, your PS5 draws only 50 watts. That’s pretty reasonable for a modern console with all that horsepower sitting idle.
PS5 vs. Xbox Series X and S
The PS5 and Xbox Series X are nearly identical in power consumption, both using 45-200 watts during gaming sessions. They’re basically tied when you’re playing games, which isn’t surprising since they have similar specs.
The real difference comes with the Xbox Series S. Microsoft’s smaller console only uses 25-100 watts, which is half what the PS5 draws. That’s because it plays the same games but without all the fancy 4K graphics features.
The Nintendo Switch blows both away at just 10-18 watts, but that’s comparing apples to oranges since it’s way less powerful. If you’re worried about electricity costs, the annual difference between PS5 and Xbox Series X is only about 50 cents anyway.
Portable Power Solutions for PS5
You can’t exactly run your PS5 off a battery pack like a phone, but there are options if you need backup power during outages. The PS5’s 200-watt gaming draw means you’d need a pretty beefy portable power station.
Most consumer-grade portable batteries won’t cut it. You’d need something rated for at least 350 watts to handle the console’s maximum draw, plus your TV’s power consumption on top of that.
If you’re really concerned about power outages interrupting your gaming sessions, look for power stations with 500+ watt capacity. Just remember that even a 1000Wh battery would only give you about 3-4 hours of gameplay before running dry.
Calculating the Cost of Running a PS5
Your PS5’s electricity cost depends on how much power it uses and what you pay per kilowatt-hour. Most gamers spend between 2 to 5 cents per hour of gameplay, but your exact cost varies based on your local electricity rates and how long you play.
Estimating Your Hourly and Monthly Costs
The PS5 uses around 200 watts during active gaming, which equals 0.2 kilowatt-hours per hour. To find your hourly cost, multiply 0.2 by your electricity rate. If you pay the U.S. average of about 13 cents per kWh, you’ll spend roughly 2.6 cents per hour.
Here’s what that looks like over time:
| Usage Pattern | Hours per Week | Weekly Cost | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light gamer | 5 hours | $0.13 | $0.56 | $6.76 |
| Regular gamer | 15 hours | $0.39 | $1.69 | $20.28 |
| Heavy gamer | 30 hours | $0.78 | $3.38 | $40.56 |
Your costs might be higher or lower depending on where you live. Some states charge 8 cents per kWh while others charge 20 cents or more. The yearly electricity cost typically ranges from $15 to $20 for average users.
How to Calculate Electricity Usage for Your Needs
You need three numbers to calculate your PS5’s cost: power consumption in watts, hours of use, and your electricity rate. First, divide your PS5’s wattage by 1,000 to convert it to kilowatts. The standard PS5 uses 200 watts, so that’s 0.2 kW.
Next, multiply the kilowatts by how many hours you play per day. If you game for 3 hours daily, that’s 0.2 kW × 3 hours = 0.6 kWh per day.
Finally, multiply your daily kWh by your electricity rate. Check your power bill for the exact rate in your area. Using the formula looks like this: 0.6 kWh × $0.13 = $0.078 per day. Multiply by 30 for your monthly cost ($2.34) or by 365 for yearly ($28.47).
Your electricity bill shows your rate per kilowatt-hour, usually listed as “$/kWh” or “cents per kWh.” You can also use online calculators that do the math for you, but knowing how to calculate it yourself gives you more control over tracking your gaming expenses.
Tips to Lower Your PS5 Energy Consumption
You can cut your PS5’s power bill by tweaking a few settings and being smart about when your console stays on. Simple changes like enabling power-saving features and managing rest mode properly can save you 20 to 50 watts per hour.
Setting Up Power-Saving Features
Your PS5 has built-in settings that automatically reduce energy use without hurting your gaming experience. Head to Settings > System > Power Saving to find these options.
Turn on Power Saver for Games if your console supports it. This feature lets supported PS5 games scale back performance when the action isn’t intense, which reduces power consumption during less demanding moments.
Adjust your display settings too. Lower your resolution from 4K to 1080p when you don’t need ultra-sharp graphics, and turn off HDR for games that don’t benefit from it much. These tweaks can shave off a decent chunk of power usage.
Set your Turn Off Media/Disc Playback timer to the shortest option. This stops your console from wasting energy when you’re just watching something and walk away.
You should also disable Supply Power to USB Ports in rest mode unless you’re actively charging controllers. This prevents your PS5 from constantly powering devices that don’t need it.
Managing Playtime and Rest Mode
Rest mode uses way less power than leaving your console fully on, but it still consumes energy. Your PS5 pulls around 0.5 to 1.5 watts in rest mode when it’s not doing anything active.
Only use rest mode when you’re actually downloading updates or charging controllers. If you’re done for the day and nothing needs to download overnight, just turn your console off completely.
Set up Set Time Until PS5 Enters Rest Mode to automatically put your console to sleep after a short period of inactivity. Choose 1 hour or less for media playback and 3 hours max for gaming if you step away frequently.
Disable Stay Connected to the Internet in rest mode settings unless you need remote downloads. This stops your console from maintaining network connections that drain power while you’re not gaming.
Turning Off When Not in Use
The simplest way to save on electricity costs is turning your PS5 completely off when you’re not using it. A full shutdown drops power consumption to nearly zero.
Press the PS button, go to Power, and select Turn Off PS5 instead of entering rest mode. It takes an extra 30 seconds to boot up next time, but you’ll avoid the constant 0.5 to 1.5 watts rest mode uses.
If you’re leaving for work or going to bed, always power down completely. Those 8 to 12 hours add up fast on your electric bill, even at low wattage.
Consider plugging your PS5 into a power strip with an on/off switch. This lets you cut all phantom power draw with one flip, which is especially useful if you have multiple gaming accessories plugged in nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The PS5 uses different amounts of power depending on what you’re doing with it. Gaming typically pulls between 180-220 watts per hour, while rest mode can use as little as 0.3 watts or up to 15 watts with network features enabled.
How does the PS5’s power usage stack up for an hour of gaming compared to just chilling on the dashboard?
When you’re actively gaming, your PS5 pulls between 180 to 220 watts per hour on the original model. That’s because the console is working hard to render those gorgeous graphics and keep everything running smoothly.
But when you’re just hanging out on the dashboard? The power drops significantly.
Your console isn’t doing much heavy lifting, so it uses way less electricity. Think of it like the difference between sprinting and standing still.
Can you give me the lowdown on the daily electricity appetite of my PS5 when I marathon my favorite games?
Let’s say you game for about three hours a day at an average of 200 watts. That means you’re using 0.6 kilowatt-hours (kWh) daily.
If your electricity rate is around 15 cents per kWh, that’s roughly 9 cents per day. Over a month, that adds up to about $2.70 just for gaming sessions.
Keep in mind this doesn’t include rest mode time. If you leave your PS5 in rest mode with network features on, add another dollar or two to your monthly bill.
What’s the difference in power consumption between my trusty PS4 and the shiny new PS5 when I’m lost in play for an hour?
Your PS4 typically uses between 100 to 150 watts during gameplay. The PS5 bumps that up to 200 to 220 watts per hour during gaming.
That’s about 50 to 100 watts more per hour. The PS5 is a much more powerful machine, so it needs extra juice to run those next-gen games.
The trade-off is better graphics, faster load times, and smoother performance. You’re paying a bit more for electricity but getting way more gaming power.
If I’ve got a PS5 Slim, will I be saving bucks on my energy bill compared to the original PS5 every time I hit power on?
Yes, you will! The PS5 Slim maxes out at around 260 watts, while the original PS5 can hit 350 watts at peak performance.
During typical gaming, the Slim uses between 140 to 180 watts, compared to the original’s 180 to 220 watts. That’s a solid 40 watts less on average.
Over time, those savings add up. If you game a few hours daily, you could save several dollars per year on your electricity bill with the Slim model.
How much energy am I zapping monthly with my PS5 if I’m a regular weekend warrior on the console?
Let’s break this down for a weekend gamer. Say you play for 8 hours each weekend, so about 32 hours monthly.
At 200 watts per hour, that’s 6.4 kWh per month just from gaming. With electricity at 15 cents per kWh, you’re looking at roughly $0.96 per month.
Add rest mode consumption for the rest of the month at about 0.3 watts when network is off, and your total monthly cost stays under $2. Not bad for your gaming habit.
Could you break down for me whether upgrading from a PS4 to a PS5 will have my wallet crying when the electricity bill drops?
Your electricity bill will go up a bit, but it’s not a wallet-killer. The PS5 uses about 50 to 100 watts more per hour than your PS4.
If you game 20 hours per month, that extra power costs you about $1.50 to $3.00 monthly at average electricity rates. That’s less than a fancy coffee.
Over a year, you’re looking at an extra $18 to $36 on your electricity bill. Sure, it’s more than your PS4, but the performance boost makes it worth the small increase for most gamers.
