The cost of running a TV is set to rise for UK households from July 2026.13:45, 29 Jun 2026It's one of the most commonly used electrical appliances in British homes, yet the cost of running a TV every day can add up quickly. Bills can climb even higher in households with multiple devices in use — powering game consoles, streaming Netflix, and connecting to soundbars or home audio systems.‌According to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, the average person in the UK spends four hours and 31 minutes watching television each day, though this varies significantly by age: those aged over 65 tune in for six hours, while younger adults manage just 53 minutes. From July, energy regulator Ofgem is hiking gas and electricity prices, making your TV a little more costly to run, with bills set to jump by 13% from July 1.‌According to USwitch, televisions typically consume between 40W and 200W while switched on, though this can vary considerably depending on the model and screen size.‌A budget 32-inch bedroom LCD set running a Freeview signal, for example, will use far less power than a 77-inch OLED at full brightness streaming 4K content.Based on an average power consumption of 100W and a typical daily viewing time of four hours 30 minutes, households would spend around 12 p per day watching TV. Over the course of a year, that works out at £42.89.‌This figure excludes any additional kit plugged in alongside it, such as a set-top box, Sky box, surround sound system, soundbar, DVD/Blu-ray player or games console — and if your TV is larger than average, expect costs to be higher still.That figure also excludes the cost of a TV Licence, which rose to £15 a month from April — a requirement for watching any live television or accessing BBC content, whether live or via iPlayer. According to USwitch, several factors determine how much your television usage costs you.‌USwitch said: "Compared with other household appliances, such as tumble dryers and fridges, televisions don't use that much electricity. But they can be the biggest energy guzzlers of your entertainment equipment, particularly if they're large."Most TVs consume between 40 and 200 watts (W) when switched on, but the exact figure will depend on the:Type - LED, OLED and QLED TVs all have different power consumption levels. QLED TVs tend to use more power than OLED TVs.Age - newer TVs tend to be more efficient than older onesSize - the bigger the screen, the more electricity it’s likely to consumeSettings - brightness and other settings can affect electricity useUsage - of course, the more you watch TV, the more energy it uses.Article continues below"TVs are rated for energy efficiency on a scale of A-G. Many will have an E-G rating, which is considered poor for household appliances."They added: "If you're buying a new TV, think about the size and type of screen you choose. An energy-efficient 32-inch LCD will typically use half the power of a model with a 42-inch plasma screen. In general, the smaller your TV, the less it will cost you to run, but the type of television is also crucial, as is its age."