How Many Watts Does a 32 Inch TV Use?
A 32-inch LED TV uses between 30 and 60 watts during active viewing, with most modern LED models averaging 40-50 watts. Older LCD TVs from before 2015 may consume 60-80 watts, while newer energy-efficient models achieve 30-40 watts. Screen size dramatically affects power consumption—each jump in size roughly increases wattage by 30-50%: a 43-inch TV uses 50-80W, a 55-inch uses 80-120W, and a 75-inch uses 150-220W. OLED TVs consume 15-30% more power than LED models of the same size due to self-emissive pixel technology.
Understanding TV power consumption helps you calculate annual electricity costs ($5-70 depending on size and usage), compare energy efficiency when purchasing new TVs (Energy Star certified models save 25-40%), choose appropriate TV sizes for rooms without excessive energy waste, plan whole-home power requirements for off-grid or generator use, and optimize viewing habits through features like automatic brightness and sleep timers that reduce consumption by 20-40%.
This comprehensive guide breaks down TV wattage by screen size (24" through 85"), explains LED vs OLED vs QLED power differences, provides accurate cost calculations for various viewing patterns, covers standby power consumption (often overlooked but adds $3-8/year), compares 1080p vs 4K energy use, and offers strategies to reduce TV energy consumption by 40-60% through settings optimization and smart viewing habits without sacrificing picture quality.
Quick Answer: TV Power by Size
24-inch LED TV: 20-30 W | $3-5/year
32-inch LED TV: 30-60 W | $5-10/year
43-inch LED TV: 50-80 W | $8-14/year
50-inch LED TV: 70-100 W | $12-17/year
55-inch LED TV: 80-120 W | $14-21/year
65-inch LED TV: 110-150 W | $19-26/year
75-inch LED TV: 150-220 W | $26-38/year
85-inch LED TV: 200-300 W | $35-52/year
Standby Mode: 0.5-3 W (add $0.50-3/year)
📺 TV Energy Cost Calculator
Your TV Energy Costs:
Complete TV Power Consumption by Size
| TV Size | LED Watts | OLED Watts | 4K vs 1080p | Annual Cost (5hr/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-inch | 20-30 W | N/A | Minimal difference | $3-5 |
| 32-inch | 30-60 W | N/A | +5-10W for 4K | $5-10 |
| 40-43-inch | 50-80 W | 70-100 W | +10-15W for 4K | $8-14 |
| 48-50-inch | 70-100 W | 90-120 W | +15-20W for 4K | $12-17 |
| 55-inch | 80-120 W | 100-140 W | +20W for 4K | $14-21 |
| 60-65-inch | 110-150 W | 140-180 W | +25-30W for 4K | $19-26 |
| 70-75-inch | 150-220 W | 200-280 W | +30-40W for 4K | $26-38 |
| 77-85-inch | 200-300 W | 280-400 W | +40-50W for 4K | $35-70 |
LED vs OLED vs QLED: Power Consumption
LED/LCD TVs (Most Common):
- Technology: LED backlight behind LCD panel
- Power consumption: Baseline (most efficient)
- Brightness: Very bright (600-1,200 nits)
- 55-inch example: 80-120W
OLED TVs (Premium):
- Technology: Self-emissive pixels (no backlight)
- Power consumption: 15-30% MORE than LED
- Why higher? Pixels generate their own light; bright scenes use more power
- 55-inch example: 100-140W (varies dramatically with content brightness)
- Dark scenes: Can use LESS power than LED (pixels off = no power)
QLED TVs (Samsung):
- Technology: Quantum dot layer + LED backlight
- Power consumption: Similar to LED (5-10% higher)
- 55-inch example: 90-130W
4K vs 1080p: Does Resolution Affect Power?
Yes, but the impact is modest:
| TV Size | 1080p Power | 4K Power | Difference | Annual Cost Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32-inch | 35-45 W | 40-55 W | +5-10 W | +$0.90-1.80 |
| 43-inch | 55-70 W | 65-85 W | +10-15 W | +$1.80-2.70 |
| 55-inch | 80-100 W | 100-120 W | +20 W | +$3.50 |
| 65-inch | 110-130 W | 140-160 W | +25-30 W | +$4.40-5.25 |
| 75-inch | 150-180 W | 190-220 W | +30-40 W | +$5.25-7.00 |
Why 4K uses more power: 4× the pixels (3840×2160 vs 1920×1080) require more processing power and slightly brighter backlights to maintain perceived brightness across higher pixel density.
Standby Power: The Hidden Cost
TVs consume 0.5-3W in standby mode when "off" but still plugged in:
| TV Type | Standby Watts | Annual Cost (20hrs standby/day) | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Smart TV (2020+) | 0.5-1 W | $0.58-$1.17 | Quick-start, software updates |
| Older Smart TV (2015-2020) | 1-2 W | $1.17-$2.34 | Less efficient standby |
| Non-Smart LED TV | 0.3-0.5 W | $0.35-$0.58 | Minimal standby circuitry |
| Old Plasma TV (pre-2015) | 2-5 W | $2.34-$5.84 | Inefficient legacy tech |
Eliminating standby power: Use a power strip and turn it off when not watching, or unplug. Saves $0.50-5/year per TV. For households with 3-4 TVs, this adds up to $2-20/year savings.
Real-World TV Usage Costs
Scenario 1: Living Room (Heavy Use)
- TV: 55-inch LED, 100W
- Usage: 6 hours/day average
- Standby: 20 hours/day at 1W
- Active energy: 219 kWh/year ($35.04/year)
- Standby energy: 7.3 kWh/year ($1.17/year)
- Total cost: $36.21/year
Scenario 2: Bedroom (Light Use)
- TV: 32-inch LED, 45W
- Usage: 2 hours/day average
- Standby: 22 hours/day at 0.5W
- Active energy: 32.9 kWh/year ($5.26/year)
- Standby energy: 4.0 kWh/year ($0.64/year)
- Total cost: $5.90/year
Scenario 3: Home Theater (Premium Setup)
- TV: 75-inch OLED, 220W
- Usage: 4 hours/day (movies, gaming)
- Standby: 20 hours/day at 2W
- Active energy: 321 kWh/year ($51.36/year)
- Standby energy: 14.6 kWh/year ($2.34/year)
- Total cost: $53.70/year
Smart TV Features That Affect Power
Brightness Settings:
- 100% brightness: Baseline power consumption
- 75% brightness: 10-15% power reduction
- 50% brightness: 20-25% power reduction
- Auto-brightness: 15-30% savings by adjusting to room light
HDR Content:
- Standard content: Normal power draw
- HDR10/Dolby Vision: +10-20% power for peak brightness
- Note: Only during bright HDR scenes; dark scenes use less
Streaming vs Broadcast:
- Cable/Antenna: TV power only
- Streaming (built-in apps): +5-10W for Wi-Fi and processing
- External streaming device: Additional 3-15W (Roku, Apple TV, etc.)
TV Size Selection and Energy Impact
Every size jump increases power consumption significantly:
| Upgrade Path | Wattage Increase | Annual Cost Increase | 10-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32" → 43" | +20-25 W | +$3.50-4.40 | +$35-44 |
| 43" → 55" | +30-40 W | +$5.25-7.00 | +$52-70 |
| 55" → 65" | +30-40 W | +$5.25-7.00 | +$52-70 |
| 65" → 75" | +40-70 W | +$7.00-12.25 | +$70-122 |
Right-sizing your TV: A 75-inch TV costs $20-40/year more to operate than a 55-inch. Over 10 years, that's $200-400 in electricity alone. Choose based on viewing distance, not just "bigger is better."
Comparing TV to Other Entertainment Devices
| Device | Watts | Usage (hrs/day) | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55" TV | 100 W | 5 hrs | $29 |
| Gaming PC | 400 W | 3 hrs | $70 |
| PS5 | 100-200 W | 3 hrs | $18-35 |
| Laptop (streaming) | 30-50 W | 3 hrs | $5-9 |
| Apple TV 4K | 5-10 W | 3 hrs | $1-2 |
| Roku Ultra | 3-8 W | 3 hrs | $1-1.50 |
| Soundbar | 20-40 W | 5 hrs | $6-12 |
Complete home theater setup (55" TV + PS5 + soundbar): 220-340W combined = $60-90/year
8 Ways to Reduce TV Energy Consumption
- Enable Auto-Brightness: Adjusts screen brightness to room lighting, saving 15-30% without noticeable quality loss.
- Lower Brightness Manually: Most TVs ship at 100% brightness for showroom appeal. 75% is plenty for home viewing and saves 10-15%.
- Use Sleep Timer: Prevents TV from running all night if you fall asleep. Can save $10-20/year for heavy users.
- Enable Energy Saving Mode: Most modern TVs have this setting. Reduces peak brightness and optimizes processing for 20-40% savings.
- Turn Off When Not Watching: Obvious but effective. "Background TV" wastes $15-30/year.
- Use Power Strip for Standby: Eliminate 0.5-3W standby power by turning off power strip. Saves $0.50-5/year per TV.
- Choose Appropriate Size: A 65" TV costs $10-15/year more than 55". Buy the size you need for viewing distance, not excess.
- Consider LED Over OLED: If energy cost matters more than perfect blacks, LED saves 15-30% versus OLED.
Energy Star and TV Efficiency
Energy Star 8.0 Requirements (current standard):
- Must be 25% more efficient than federal minimum
- Standby power limited to 1W maximum
- Power management features required
- On-mode power limits based on screen size and resolution
Energy Star savings:
- 55-inch LED: Energy Star saves ~$7/year vs non-certified (30% reduction)
- 65-inch LED: Energy Star saves ~$9/year vs non-certified
- Over 10 years: $70-90 savings for typical 55-65" TV
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a bigger TV use significantly more electricity?
Yes—TV power consumption scales roughly with screen area. A 55-inch TV (2,073 sq. in.) uses about 100W, while a 75-inch TV (3,417 sq. in.) uses 150-220W—65% more screen area means 50-120% more power. For typical 5-hour daily use, upgrading from 55" to 75" adds $10-20/year in electricity costs.
Should I unplug my TV when not in use?
For modern TVs (2020+), standby power is minimal (0.5-1W = $0.50-1/year), so unplugging saves little. However, older TVs or households with 3-4 TVs can save $2-20/year total by using power strips. The bigger benefit is surge protection and eliminating the small fire risk of always-powered devices.
Do OLED TVs really use more power than LED TVs?
Yes, typically 15-30% more for typical content. A 55-inch OLED uses 100-140W versus 80-120W for LED. However, OLED power varies dramatically with content brightness—dark scenes use LESS power than LED (pixels are off), while bright scenes use MORE. For watching dark movies, OLED can actually be more efficient. For bright sports/news, LED wins.
Conclusion
A 32-inch LED TV uses 30-60 watts during active viewing, with most modern models averaging 40-50 watts. Power consumption scales with screen size—each size jump increases wattage by roughly 30-50%, so a 55-inch TV uses 80-120W, a 65-inch uses 110-150W, and a 75-inch uses 150-220W. OLED TVs consume 15-30% more power than LED equivalents due to self-emissive pixel technology, though actual consumption varies dramatically with content brightness.
Annual electricity costs range from $5-10 for a 32-inch TV with moderate use (5 hours daily) to $35-70 for large 75-85-inch models with heavy use. Standby power adds $0.50-5/year per TV depending on age and efficiency. While these costs are modest compared to major appliances like refrigerators ($146-420/year) or dryers, they accumulate across multiple TVs and entertainment devices in a typical household.
The most effective strategies to reduce TV energy costs are enabling auto-brightness (15-30% savings), using energy-saving modes (20-40% savings), choosing appropriately-sized TVs for viewing distance rather than buying unnecessarily large models, and eliminating standby power through power strips for older or multiple TVs. Energy Star certified models save approximately 25-40% versus non-certified equivalents, paying back their slightly higher purchase price within 3-5 years through energy savings.
Data sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Energy Star, manufacturer specifications from Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL. Electricity rates based on January 2026 national average of $0.16/kWh. See our calculation methodology for complete details.