Short answer: probably only a few dollars a year in electricity in a low-cost tariff area, but the exact amount depends on the MacBook Air’s actual power draw and your electricity rate. Using Apple’s 3.1 W display-on idle measurement as a proxy—not a YouTube playback test—works out to about 27.2 kWh a year, or about $4.07 at $0.15/kWh and $8.15 at $0.30/kWh.
Estimate the electricity cost
Use this formula:
Cost = power in watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × electricity price per kWh.
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Apple’s March 2024 environmental report measured a 13-inch M3 MacBook Air at 3.09 W at 100 V, 3.12 W at 115 V, and 3.13 W at 230 V in its defined “Idle—Display On” test. Rounding that to 3.1 W gives the following illustrative energy use for a laptop left on continuously:
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| Period | Energy at the 3.1 W proxy | Cost at $0.15/kWh | Cost at $0.30/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | 0.0744 kWh | About $0.01 | About $0.02 |
| 30 days | 2.232 kWh | About $0.33 | About $0.67 |
| 365 days | 27.159 kWh | About $4.07 | About $8.15 |
These dollar amounts are examples, not a forecast for every household: substitute your own marginal electricity rate per kWh. The 3.1 W figure is an idle-test proxy, not a measured 24/7 YouTube-streaming draw; playback and the details of your setup can change consumption. The available published figures do not establish the exact power use or electricity cost of continuous YouTube playback on a MacBook Air.
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How to get a more accurate number for your setup
- Measure at the wall. Connect the MacBook Air and any accessories you plan to use through a plug-in electricity usage monitor. Measure the complete setup rather than relying on the charger’s rating.
- Run your intended stream. Use the video, resolution, screen brightness, sound level, and connected devices you expect to keep in use. A representative measurement is more useful than an idle reading if the laptop will be playing video.
- Record energy over a useful interval. If the monitor reports kWh, note the energy consumed over a representative period. For an average power estimate, divide kWh by the number of hours, then multiply by 1,000 to get watts.
- Apply your electricity rate. Multiply the measured kWh by your marginal price per kWh. For example, if the complete setup uses 0.10 kWh in a day and your rate is $0.20/kWh, that day’s electricity cost is $0.02.
For a bill estimate, use the rate that applies to the additional electricity you consume; tariffs can differ by location and plan. If your price varies by time of day, a single flat-rate calculation may not match the actual bill.
Why the MacBook Air’s published numbers are not a streaming measurement
Apple’s idle test
Apple’s environmental report describes “Idle—Display On” as a test with display brightness set according to ENERGY STAR computer requirements, Auto-Brightness off, Wi-Fi connected, and other settings left at their defaults. It is a useful reference point, but the report does not measure YouTube playback running continuously.
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ENERGY STAR idle, sleep, and off figures
For the US-listed 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (A3240), ENERGY STAR lists 3.6 W short idle, 0.7 W long idle, 0.3 W sleep, and 0.1 W off. These are different operating states, not video playback figures; they should not be used as a substitute for measuring an active stream.
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Battery life and adapter ratings
Apple’s specifications for the cited 13-inch configuration list up to 18 hours of video streaming, a 53.8 Wh battery, and a 40 W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60 W maximum output. Neither the battery-runtime claim nor the adapter’s rated output establishes the laptop’s continuous wall draw while plugged in and streaming. Adapter wattage is a capacity rating, not a statement that the computer constantly uses that much power.
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What can change the result
- MacBook Air model: published figures differ by model and test; the cited M3 idle result is not a measured M4 streaming result.
- Display and playback: brightness, video resolution, and the work required to decode playback can affect consumption. The cited sources do not quantify those effects for a 24/7 YouTube stream.
- Accessories: external displays, storage, audio devices, and other connected equipment add to the total if they draw power through the same setup.
- Power settings: Apple recommends reducing display brightness and provides Low Power Mode and battery-use information. These can affect use, but the available evidence does not quantify a particular saving for continuous YouTube playback.
- Electricity tariff: the same kWh use costs different amounts under different rates and billing plans.
Does leaving it plugged in damage the battery?
Apple says the battery charges whenever the MacBook Air is connected to power. Its Optimize Battery Charging feature can delay charging past 80% when it predicts the Mac will remain plugged in for an extended period, with the aim of charging before you unplug it. This charging behavior is separate from the electricity-cost estimate: it does not establish the Mac’s continuous wall draw.
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Sources
- Apple, MacBook Air technical specifications, accessed October 3, 2026.
- Apple, MacBook Air with M3 chip Product Environmental Report, published March 4, 2024.
- ENERGY STAR, Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4): A3240, US certification record captured September 9, 2026.
- Apple Support, Charge the MacBook Air battery, accessed October 3, 2026.
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