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To include network equipment in a 24/7 YouTube stream cost estimate, calculate the router’s and modem’s electricity use separately, then add their costs. For each device, convert watts to kilowatts, multiply by hours powered, and multiply the resulting kilowatt-hours (kWh) by your electricity rate. Count an all-in-one router/modem gateway once.
Calculate the router and modem electricity cost
Use these formulas for each device:
- Energy (kWh) = power (watts) ÷ 1,000 × operating hours
- Cost = energy (kWh) × your electricity price per kWh
For equipment that stays on continuously, use 24 hours for a day and 8,760 hours for a 365-day year. For a monthly estimate, use the actual number of days in the billing period, or state the day-count assumption you choose. Calculate the router and modem separately if they are distinct devices, then add their costs for the network-equipment subtotal.
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Worked example: a 10 W router
Greater Shepparton City Council’s energy guide uses a 10 W router as an example: 10 ÷ 1,000 × 24 = 0.24 kWh per day. If your electricity rate is R currency units per kWh, that example costs 0.24 × R per day. The 10 W figure is illustrative, not a claim about every router. Greater Shepparton City Council’s Energy Efficient Toolkit Instruction Guide
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For each device, multiply its watts by total hours in the period and divide by 1,000 to get kWh. Multiply by your rate per kWh to get its cost for that period. The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water likewise describes estimating annual running cost by multiplying annual kWh by the electricity rate; it notes that input power is usually listed in manufacturer information or packaging. Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Energy Ratings
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Find a realistic wattage for your equipment
There is no single wattage that applies to all routers or modems. Power use varies by model and operating state, so use a specification or measurement for your own equipment where possible. Label an estimate as approximate if you do not know the actual draw.
Use published figures with their conditions
TP-Link’s 2025 small network equipment page reports idle power figures of 2.86 W for the Archer A54, 6.64 W for the Archer AX20, and 17.83 W for the Archer AXE300. These are manufacturer-reported idle figures under the cited voluntary-agreement procedures, not measurements of those devices while actively handling a stream or a universal range for routers. TP-Link’s 2025 Small Network Equipment Voluntary Agreement Idle Power Consumption Information
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Comcast’s residential internet equipment page publishes ready-state power data and cautions that an individual device’s energy use may vary. Its figures are based on voluntary-agreement procedures, and the page says the table is updated quarterly. Use a figure only with its stated device and condition. Comcast: Energy usage of your internet equipment
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Measure when documentation is unclear
For simple devices with fairly consistent energy use, a plug-in electricity usage monitor can help establish watt draw. Treat the result as a measurement of the device under the conditions you observed; it may differ if the device’s activity or configuration changes. The council guide discusses measuring simple, consistent loads in watts. Greater Shepparton City Council’s measurement guidance
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Keep the network subtotal separate from the full stream setup
If you want the cost of network equipment alone, add only the separate modem and router—or count an integrated gateway once. If you want the cost of the entire streaming setup, add the computer and any other equipment that remains powered as separate loads. This keeps the router/modem subtotal visible and avoids attributing the computer’s electricity use to the network devices.
- Separate modem and router: calculate each device, then add their kWh or costs.
- Integrated gateway: calculate it once; do not also count separate modem and router loads for the same unit.
- Whole setup: include additional devices only when they are part of the estimate, and identify them separately.
Use your own electricity rate and currency
Electricity prices vary by location and tariff. Use the applicable price per kWh on your bill or tariff rather than assuming a universal rate. If a bill has different rates by time or usage band, apply the rate that fits the hours and consumption being estimated. The energy calculation gives kWh; the rate converts those units into money.
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