How many watts does a TV use?
By Tom Calder · Figures checked 4 November 2026 · Costs at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026)
An LED TV uses about 33W at 32 inches to about 100W at 65 inches in standard picture mode, on the EU energy label. HDR content pushes that up: some 55-inch sets reach 217W. An hour costs about 0.9p to 6p at 26.32p per kWh.
The numbers
- Running watts
- 33W to 217W
- Amps at 230V (most)
- 0.94A
- Energy an hour
- 0.033 to 0.22 kWh
- EU energy label “on mode” power: 33W for a 32-inch in standard picture (SDR) up to 217W for a 55-inch showing HDR.
- Cost an hour
- 0.9p to 6p
- On a 1kWh power station
- 3.5 to 18 hours
- On a 2kWh power station
- 6.5 to 36 hours
Costs use 26.32p per kWh, the Ofgem price cap's average Direct Debit electricity unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Your own rate is on your bill; on a fixed or time-of-use tariff it will differ.
TV wattage by screen size
| Screen (standard picture) | Watts | Cost an hour |
|---|---|---|
| 32-inchSamsung UE32T5302CK | 33W | 0.9p |
| 43-inchLG 43UR78006LK | 54W | 1.4p |
| 50-inchLG 50UR78006LK | 64.8W | 1.7p |
| 55-inchLG 55UR78006LK (121W in HDR) | 81W | 2.1p |
| 65-inchLG 65UR78006LK (152W in HDR) | 100W | 2.6p |
How it’s used, and what that costs
These are the “on mode” figures from the EU product database (EPREL), measured in standard dynamic range (SDR) with the set’s default settings. HDR films and games use a brighter picture and draw more: LG’s 55-inch UR78 is 81W in SDR and 121W in HDR, and Samsung’s 55-inch QN80F is 76W and 217W.
Screen size and brightness drive most of the difference, and an eco or energy-saving picture mode lowers it.
The picture setting matters more than most people expect: the gap between standard and HDR on the same 55-inch Samsung is 76W against 217W. An eco picture mode is the simple saving.
In a power cut: how long a power station would run it
A 1kWh power station: 3.5 to 18 hours. A 2kWh power station: 6.5 to 36 hours. These use the same planning method as our power station pages: capacity × 90% usable depth × 85% inverter efficiency, divided by the load plus about 10W the unit uses itself (BLUETTI’s UK formula).
Output matters as much as capacity. The 7 units around 1kWh we list supply 1,500W to 2,000W continuously, and the 6 around 2kWh supply 2,200W to 3,000W, so check a unit’s rated output covers 217W before you rely on it.
A TV runs happily on a power station, but in a cut most people want news: a battery radio gives that on almost no power.
To size one for everything you’d want to keep running, use the sizer on our power stations comparison.
Common questions
How many amps does a TV draw?
At the UK’s 230 volts, amps are watts divided by 230. At 33W to 217W, that is 0.14 to 0.94 amps while it runs at full power.
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Start free →Sources (11)
- EPREL: Samsung UE32T5302CK (32in), on mode SDR 33 W, HDR 55 W
- EPREL: LG 43UR78006LK (43in), on mode SDR 54 W
- EPREL: LG 50UR78006LK (50in), on mode SDR 64.8 W, HDR 99 W
- EPREL: LG 55UR78006LK (55in), on mode SDR 81 W, HDR 121 W
- EPREL: LG 65UR78006LK (65in), on mode SDR 100 W
- EPREL: Samsung QE55QN80FAU (55in), on mode SDR 76 W, HDR 217 W
- Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges, 1 October to 31 December 2026electricity 26.32p per kWh, Direct Debit; no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027
- BLUETTI UK — Elite 200 V2 (runtime formula: DoD 90%, η 85%, self-consumption about 10W)
- BLUETTI UK — Elite 100 V2 (self-consumption about 10W)
- Jackery UK — runtime formula (capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts)
- EcoFlow — test runtime before an emergency0.80–0.90 for AC; DC ports for routers and phones
PreparedBritain is independent and not affiliated with HM Government.
