There is no single reliable wattage for a Windows PC playing YouTube around the clock. The amount depends on the PC, playback workload, and whether its display stays on. Measure the whole setup at the wall for a useful estimate, then use the tariff that applies to your household.
How to calculate electricity use for 24/7 playback
Use the PC’s average measured power draw in watts—not the maximum rating printed on its power supply. For a 30-day month, convert average watts to energy with:
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Monthly energy (kWh) = average watts × 24 × 30 ÷ 1,000
For continuous use over 30 days, that simplifies to average watts × 0.72. As an arithmetic example, a setup averaging 100 W would use 72 kWh in 30 days. That is an example, not a claim that 100 W is typical for a Windows PC playing YouTube. The calculation follows the energy formula described by iTechGuides.
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Measure the setup you actually use
- Decide what the estimate includes: the PC, monitor, and any network equipment you want counted. Set the browser or app, video resolution, and display state as they will be during normal playback.
- Connect the included equipment through a plug-in electricity usage monitor and record its wall draw over a representative period. Include the monitor if it will remain on; a PC-only reading will not account for it.
- Use the average watts from the measurement, multiply by the hours the setup runs, and divide by 1,000 to get kWh. For 24 hours a day over 30 days, multiply average watts by 0.72.
- For a period other than 30 days, use the actual number of days: average watts × hours per day × days ÷ 1,000.
The result describes only the hardware and settings measured, over that measurement window. It will not include equipment outside the meter.
Why one PC can use more or less than another
The display is part of the load
If the monitor stays illuminated during playback, include it in the measurement. An OECD/International Energy Agency desktop table from 2009 estimated 65 W for a desktop PC plus 32 W for a monitor in “Idle” mode, and 85 W for the PC plus 35 W for the monitor in “Active” mode. These are historical estimates—not current measurements, YouTube-specific figures, or a prediction for a particular modern setup. The figures are published in Gadgets and Gigawatts: Policies for Energy Efficient Electronics.
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Playback and live-streaming workloads are different
This estimate is for watching or playing YouTube video locally on a Windows PC. Operating a live-stream encoder or server is a different workload, so a playback measurement should not be treated as its electricity use.
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Estimate the bill using your own Indian tariff
Convert measured use to kWh first, then apply the energy rate relevant to your household. India’s retail electricity tariffs are determined by the appropriate Electricity Regulatory Commissions under the Electricity Act, 2003, according to a Press Information Bureau, Government of India release. The applicable amount depends on the state, distribution utility, consumer category, slab, and current tariff; there is no supported single all-India monthly rupee estimate for this setup.
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Check your electricity bill or the current tariff schedule for your utility and residential category. Utility calculators apply to their own service area and tariff basis. For example, WBSEDCL’s Energy Cost Estimator calculates costs using watts and refers to the latest tariff order passed by WBERC; it is not a nationwide tariff calculator.
Multiplying kWh by one energy rate estimates the energy charge, not necessarily the bill change. Fixed charges, duties, subsidies, and slab effects can affect the final household bill.
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Windows settings: what can and cannot save energy
Windows 11 provides power mode, Energy saver, and screen and sleep timeouts. Microsoft explains these options in its Windows 11 power settings guidance.
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- If you only need audio, a screen timeout may turn off the display while the PC remains awake. Measure the setup to find the actual difference; no fixed savings amount is established.
- Microsoft says some supported apps can use lower video resolution to save network bandwidth. That does not establish a particular electricity saving for YouTube playback on a Windows PC. See Microsoft’s video playback settings guidance.
Which estimate should you trust?
| Method | Useful when | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Plug-in wall measurement | You want a setup-specific estimate based on your actual PC, display, and settings. | It applies only to the equipment and measurement period included; devices outside the meter are omitted. |
| Published IEA reference | You want a historical point of comparison for desktop and monitor power. | The figures are 2009 estimates and are neither YouTube-specific nor representative of every current PC. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep a YouTube channel live with uploaded video, that is different from playing YouTube locally on your PC. StreamNeo keeps an uploaded video or playlist running to YouTube from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on.
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- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
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