How Many Amps Does a TV Use?

Amps vs Watts: A Quick Refresher

To understand how many amps your TV uses, you only really need three ideas:

• Volts (V): the “pressure” of electricity. In most U.S. homes, a standard outlet is about 120 volts.
• Watts (W): how much power a device uses.
• Amps (A): how much electrical current is flowing.

The basic relationship is:

Amps (A) = Watts (W) ÷ Volts (V)

So if a TV uses 100 watts on a standard U.S. outlet:

• Amps = 100 W ÷ 120 V = 0.83 amps (approximately).

That’s why most modern TVs use well under the 15–20 amps available on a typical household circuit.

Related reading: How Many Watts Does a TV Use: 24, 32, 50, 55, 65 Inch TV and More [With a Data Table]

Quick Answer: How Many Amps Does a TV Use?

Energy-use studies and marketplace data show that most modern TVs fall in the range of about 50–200 watts, which on a 120-volt circuit works out to well under 2 amps of current for the majority of screens.

• Small LED TV (24–32"): about 0.25–0.5 amps.
• Mid-size LED TV (40–55"): about 0.5–1 amp.
• Large LED TV (65"+): about 1–1.5 amps in typical use.
• Older plasma / CRT: often 1.7–3+ amps, sometimes more at higher brightness.

On a standard 15-amp circuit, even a large TV leaves plenty of room for a soundbar, streaming box, lights, and other low–medium wattage devices. Where you need to be careful is when combining TVs with high-draw appliances on the same circuit (space heaters, hair dryers, window AC units, etc.).

Typical TV Amps by Screen Size

The exact amps depend on your specific model and settings, but this table gives realistic ranges for modern LED TVs on a 120V circuit.

What Affects How Many Amps Your TV Uses?

Two people with “55-inch TVs” can see very different power and amp draw. Here’s what changes the numbers.

1. Screen technology

• LED / LCD: Generally the most efficient mainstream option. Many modern LED TVs stay in the 50–150W range.
• OLED: Incredible picture quality; power draw depends heavily on picture content and brightness, but is often under 200W for typical sizes.
• Older LCD or plasma: These can be real power hogs — 200W to 500W isn’t unusual for large plasma sets.

2. Screen size

Bigger screens have more pixels to light up, so they simply use more power. A 24" TV might sip 30 watts, while a 65" TV can easily double or triple that, especially at high brightness.

3. Brightness and picture mode

The “Vivid” or “Dynamic” modes that look eye-catching on a showroom floor also pull more watts (and amps). Switching to “Movie,” “Cinema,” or “Eco” modes can noticeably cut current draw and still look great at home.

4. Resolution and features (4K, HDR, 120 Hz, smart features)

High refresh rates, HDR highlights, and advanced processing can nudge power consumption up, especially on larger 4K sets. That said, efficiency improvements often offset some of this, so a new 4K LED TV can still use less power than a 10-year-old 1080p LCD.

5. Standby power and “phantom” loads

Even when your TV looks “off,” smart features and always-on voice assistants may keep some electronics awake. Many modern sets only use 1–3 watts in standby, but some smart TVs and streaming setups can draw more if options like “instant on” or network wake-up are enabled.

Over a year, that standby power can add up, especially when you multiply it by multiple TVs, game consoles, and streaming boxes in the same home.

How to Find Your TV’s Exact Amp Draw

Instead of guessing from charts, you can get a precise answer in a few minutes:

1. Check the label on the TV
   Look on the back or side of the TV for a sticker that lists Watts (W), Volts (V), or Amps (A). If amps are listed directly, you’re done.
2. Use the formula
   If your label only shows watts and volts, calculate:
   Amps = Watts ÷ Volts
   Example: 120 W TV at 120 V = 120 ÷ 120 = 1 amp.
3. Use a plug-in power meter
   Devices like a Kill-A-Watt meter plug into the wall. You plug your TV into the meter and it tells you real-time watts, amps, and even kWh over time. This is the best way to measure actual usage with your normal picture settings.
4. Don’t confuse amps with amp-hours
   Amps (A) are an instantaneous flow. Amp-hours (Ah) and watt-hours (Wh) describe stored energy in a battery. For batteries and portable power stations, watts and watt-hours are usually the easiest numbers to work with.

How Much Electricity Does a TV Use — and What Does It Cost?

Once you know your TV’s watts, you can estimate how much energy it uses and what that means for your electric bill.

Step 1: Convert watts to kilowatt-hours (kWh)

Electric utilities bill you in kilowatt-hours (kWh), where:

1 kWh = 1,000 watts used for 1 hour

Example: A 100W TV watched for 5 hours per day uses:

• 0.1 kW × 5 hours = 0.5 kWh per day.
• Over 30 days: 0.5 kWh × 30 = 15 kWh per month.
• Over a year: 0.5 kWh × 365 = 182.5 kWh per year.

Step 2: Multiply by your electricity rate

U.S. residential electricity averages around $0.18 per kWh in late 2025 (your local rate may be higher or lower).

• Daily cost: 0.5 kWh × $0.18 ≈ $0.09 per day.
• Monthly cost: about $2.70 per month.
• Yearly cost: about $33 per year.

Independent analyses of TV energy use find similar ballpark numbers: many modern TVs cost around $15–$30 per year to run at typical viewing habits, with big, bright screens ending up toward the higher end.

Running a TV on a Portable Power Station (UDPOWER Examples)

If you’re camping, traveling in an RV, or preparing for grid outages, the real question isn’t just “how many amps does my TV use,” but how long a battery or portable power station can keep it running.

Portable power stations store energy in watt-hours (Wh). To estimate runtime:

Runtime (hours) ≈ (Battery Wh × Efficiency) ÷ TV Watts

For AC output, it’s realistic to assume around 85% efficiency to account for inverter losses.

FAQs About TV Amps and Power Use

Is it safe to run a TV on the same circuit as other devices?

In most homes, yes. A typical modern TV uses under 2 amps, while a 15-amp or 20-amp circuit can safely handle much more. The main risk comes from combining the TV with one or more high-wattage appliances like space heaters, hair dryers, window AC units, or microwaves on the same circuit. Those can each draw 10–15 amps by themselves.

How many amps does a smart TV use in standby?

Many smart TVs use only 1–3 watts in standby (around 0.01–0.03 amps at 120V), but some can use more, especially if “quick start,” voice assistants, or network wake-up features are turned on. If you’re trying to minimize phantom loads, consider disabling these options or using a smart plug to cut power completely when you’re not watching.

Do 4K and HDR TVs use more amps than older 1080p sets?

Sometimes, but not always. 4K and HDR processing can increase power draw, especially at high brightness, but modern LED backlights are also much more efficient than older designs. It’s common for a new 4K LED TV to use less power than a 10-year-old 1080p LCD of the same size. The best way to know is still to check your specific model’s power rating or measure it.

Can I run a TV on a 12V battery or portable power station?

Yes. Many people run TVs off-grid in RVs, vans, and cabins using inverters or portable power stations. For a 12V battery plus inverter, you can expect higher current on the 12V side (for an 80W TV, around 6–7 amps at 12V), so use appropriately sized wiring and fuses. Portable power stations (like UDPOWER C-series and S-series units) handle those details internally and give you a standard 120V AC outlet.

What’s the easiest way to reduce how many amps my TV uses?

• Turn down the brightness and avoid “Vivid” modes.
• Use Eco, “Movie,” or “Cinema” picture presets when possible.
• Enable auto-off timers so the TV doesn’t stay on when no one is watching.
• Disable “quick start” or “instant on” features if you want to reduce standby consumption.

Even though a single TV doesn’t rival a central AC unit or electric dryer in power draw, smart settings and good habits can shave a bit off your electric bill and stretch your portable power station capacity further during outages or trips.