A Raspberry Pi 4 Model B’s documented average draw is about 3.9 watts during H.264 video playback, or roughly 34 kWh over a year running nonstop. Its documented idle average is about 3.0 watts, equivalent to roughly 26 kWh per year. These are approximate, older H.264 workload figures—not a direct measurement of YouTube playback in a browser—and the full setup may use more.
What the Raspberry Pi 4 figures mean
Raspberry Pi’s hardware documentation lists average current of 0.6A at idle and 0.78A during H.264 video playback for the Pi 4 Model B. Using the documented 5V supply level, watts = volts × amps gives approximately 3.0W at idle and 3.9W during playback. The table also lists 0.85A maximum during H.264 playback and 1.2A average under stress; those are different conditions, not the expected constant draw for YouTube.
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The measurements are approximate. Raspberry Pi says they used dated Raspberry Pi OS images; the Pi 4 test setup included HDMI, keyboard, mouse and Ethernet, and the readings exclude additional USB devices and HATs. The official documentation cautions that power can exceed its figures when extra USB devices or a HAT are connected. Raspberry Pi hardware documentation
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Estimated electricity for running it all year
A non-leap year has 8,760 hours. Multiplying average watts by hours and dividing by 1,000 gives kilowatt-hours (kWh):
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| Pi 4 workload | Approximate average draw | Energy over 8,760 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Idle | 3.0W | 26.28 kWh (about 26 kWh) |
| H.264 video playback | 3.9W | 34.164 kWh (about 34 kWh) |
These annual figures are calculations from the documented readings, assuming the stated average draw continues for every hour of the year. They are not measured annual YouTube consumption, and they apply to the Pi board workload represented by those readings—not automatically to every model or a complete home setup.
How to estimate your electricity cost
Multiply annual kWh by your electricity tariff per kWh. For example, if your local tariff is T per kWh, the playback estimate is about 34 × T per year. Use your own bill’s unit rate; electricity prices vary by location and plan, so a generic cost would be misleading.
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Be clear about what is being counted. The cited readings describe the Pi test setup and do not include extra USB devices or HATs; they do not establish the consumption of a separate display or the wall draw of an entire installation. A wall-plug meter reading of the complete setup is the most useful figure for estimating its effect on your bill because it includes the power supply’s conversion losses and connected equipment. A board-side reading does not include those losses.
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The Pi 4 specifications list H.264 decoding up to 1080p60, but that capability does not establish which codec YouTube will deliver to a particular browser or guarantee that playback will be hardware-decoded. Actual load depends on the Pi model, browser and software versions, selected resolution, delivered codec, and whether video decoding is accelerated. The documented power table measures H.264 playback, not end-to-end YouTube playback.
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Raspberry Pi OS documentation says Chromium is the default browser in a new installation unless another browser is selected. YouTube advises using an up-to-date supported browser, but its general requirements page does not identify the Pi as a certified device or specify the codec delivered to a particular Pi/browser combination. For 1080p HD, YouTube’s page recommends a sustained 5 Mbps connection; for 4K UHD, it recommends 20 Mbps. Those are network-speed recommendations, not power figures or guarantees of Pi compatibility. Pi 4 specifications · Raspberry Pi configuration documentation · YouTube system requirements
Power supply rating is not the Pi’s usual draw
Raspberry Pi recommends a 15W USB-C supply for the Pi 4 and Pi 400. That rating describes available output capacity, not continuous electricity use: it should not be treated as though the Pi draws 15W throughout playback. The official Pi 4 supply is rated at 5.1V/3.0A and has stated no-load consumption of 0.05W. Recommended power supplies · Raspberry Pi 15W USB-C power supply
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How to measure your own setup
- Connect a suitable wall-plug energy meter between the outlet and the Pi’s power supply, then run the same setup you plan to leave on—including the browser, video resolution, network connection and any peripherals.
- Let playback settle, then observe the meter’s watts over a representative period. Short peaks or a single instantaneous reading may not reflect the average.
- For an annual estimate from average watts, calculate watts × 8,760 ÷ 1,000. If the meter accumulates kWh directly, record the change over a representative period and scale it to your expected operating hours.
- Estimate cost by multiplying the resulting kWh by your local tariff. Include the display and other equipment only if they were connected through the meter and should count toward your estimate.
A meter is optional: the documented Pi 4 figures and formula provide a useful estimate. Measuring is more relevant when your model, peripherals, browser workload or complete setup differs from Raspberry Pi’s test arrangement.
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Historical Pi 4 measurements are not playback benchmarks
Raspberry Pi’s 2019-era thermal-testing article reported idle power of 2.89W at launch and 2.47W after firmware updates in its desktop setup. Those are historical idle figures, not YouTube playback readings, and should not be substituted for the H.264 playback estimate above. Raspberry Pi 4 thermal testing
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Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is an always-on YouTube channel playing uploaded videos, StreamNeo is an alternative to leaving a Pi and its connected equipment running at home. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing at home has to stay on. It accepts uploads as made up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream, and offers a first day free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube and uploaded videos, not camera streaming. See StreamNeo or start the free first day.
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