Yes. A Wi-Fi router, modem and any mesh nodes use electricity while powered, so they can add to your electric bill. The amount depends on each device’s average power draw, how many hours it runs and your electricity rate. Your internet-service charge is separate; it is not electricity use.
How much electricity does a Wi-Fi router use?
Router consumption varies by model. EnergySage gives a broad estimate of 5–20 watts and uses 10 watts as a representative modern-router assumption. These are estimates, not measurements of your equipment. A router drawing an average of 10 watts continuously would use 87.6 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in a 365-day year: 10 W × 8,760 hours ÷ 1,000. EnergySage’s router estimate and calculation were updated in 2023.
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A measured example
National Energy Action reported that a Zyxel VMG8825-B50 broadband router averaged 8.6 W during an 18-day test using a Shelly Plus smart plug. At the report’s assumed rate of 25 pence per kWh, that use was estimated to cost 5.2 pence per day. This is an example for one device and a stated rate, not a prediction for every router or tariff. Its 12 V, 3 A adapter rating is a nominal input specification; it does not mean the router continuously draws 36 W. National Energy Action’s appliance-monitoring report describes the measurement.
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Use the device’s average power draw and your own electricity price per kWh. For continuous operation:
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- Annual energy: average watts × 8,760 hours ÷ 1,000 = annual kWh.
- Annual cost: annual kWh × your electricity price per kWh.
- Monthly estimate: annual cost ÷ 12.
For a device that runs on a schedule, substitute its actual operating hours for 8,760. For a measured period, use the kWh recorded during that period and the matching tariff. EnergySage outlines the same general calculation method in its router cost explanation.
Illustrative 10-watt calculation
A continuously operating 10 W router uses 87.6 kWh per year. Multiply 87.6 by your rate per kWh to estimate its annual cost. For example, EnergySage’s article gave a historical U.S. illustration of $12.43 per year, or $1.04 per month, using 14.19 cents per kWh based on October 2021 EIA state-average rate data. That dated example is not a current U.S. average or a forecast for your bill; use your present tariff instead.
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- Covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. with four external antennas for stable wireless connections and optimal coverage.
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Measure the actual draw if you want a closer estimate
A plug-in energy monitor can show how much electricity a device uses over a chosen period. Check that the monitor is suitable for your outlet and the device, then use its recorded kWh with the corresponding electricity rate. National Energy Action’s 18-day router example used a Shelly Plus smart plug; that report demonstrates a measurement approach, not a guarantee of savings from buying a monitor.
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A calculation for one router does not automatically cover the rest of a home network. If your setup has a separate modem, additional access point or mesh nodes, each powered device can add electricity use. Estimate or measure each one, then add the costs for the same time period and tariff. The available sources do not establish a universal figure for how much more a mesh system costs than a single router.
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- READY FOR THE DEVICES YOU ALREADY OWN: Your phones, laptops, and TVs work right out of the box. WiFi 6 delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Backward compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier.
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When comparing equipment, keep the comparison consistent: use average power in the same operating mode, count the devices in each setup, apply the same operating hours and electricity rate, and account for the coverage and features you need. The available evidence does not provide a standardized head-to-head electricity ranking of current router or mesh models.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why standby rules do not cap normal router use
Standby power refers to electricity some devices use while they appear to be turned off. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program notes, “Some devices consume electricity when they appear to be turned off,” and summarizes the IEC 62301 method for measuring standby and other low-power modes. The Department of Energy’s standby-power guidance concerns those modes, not a universal limit on a working router’s active consumption.
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- 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Get up to 2,400 sq. ft. max coverage for up to 90 devices at a time. 6x high performance antennas and Beamforming technology, ensures reliable connections for remote workers, gamers, students, and more.
- 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN port and 3x 1 Gbps LAN ports offer high-speed data transmissions.³ Integrate with a multi-gig modem for gigplus internet.
- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
In the European Union, revised ecodesign rules applying from 9 May 2025 extend low-power-mode requirements to products with low-voltage external power supplies, including Wi-Fi routers and modems. These requirements concern defined off, standby or networked-standby modes; they do not set a cap on normal active draw. The European Commission’s announcement describes EU rules and should not be treated as applying in other jurisdictions. European Commission announcement on the revised rules.
Quick Recap
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