How Much Does It Cost to Run a Television (55" 4K LED/OLED)? (UK 2026)
Based on the active UK Ofgem price cap of 24.5p per kWh (1 January 2026 – 31 March 2026).
A typical 110W television (55" 4k led/oled) costs £0.03 per hour of continuous use at current UK electricity rates (24.5p/kWh). For typical daily usage (4 hours daily viewing time (~0.44 kWh/day)), it costs approximately £0.11 per day or £40.13 per year.
Manufacturer specs: LG OLED55 & Samsung QLED 55" EU energy consumption labels (80W–140W SDR/HDR rating)
* Includes 0.5W standby consumption outside active hours (£0.89/year).
How to Save Money Running a Television (55" 4K LED/OLED)
- Enable the ambient light sensor (Eco sensor); it automatically dims screen backlighting in dark rooms, cutting power consumption by up to 30%.
- Avoid running vivid/dynamic picture mode; switching to "Cinema", "Filmmaker", or "Standard" mode lowers peak backlighting wattage.
- Turn off the TV when listening to podcasts or background music, or activate the "Picture Off" feature.
- Disable "Quick Start" or instant standby mode if you do not mind waiting an extra 5 seconds for the TV to boot.
Alternative Appliances Compared
vs. Gaming PC
View running cost →A 55" television draws around 110W, whereas a high-end gaming PC draws 400W–500W—roughly four times as much electricity.
vs. Laptop Computer
View running cost →Streaming video on a laptop consumes around 25W–45W compared to 110W on a 55" large-screen television.
Television (55" 4K LED/OLED) Technical Power Profile
Source data: LG OLED55 & Samsung QLED 55" EU energy consumption labels (80W–140W SDR/HDR rating)
Frequently Asked Questions: Television (55" 4K LED/OLED) Electricity Costs
How much does it cost to watch TV for 4 hours a day in the UK?â–¾
A 110W 55" 4K TV consumes 0.44 kWh over 4 hours. At 24.5p/kWh, that costs approx. 10.8p per day, or £3.24 per month (£39.30 per year).
Does an OLED TV use more electricity than an LED TV?â–¾
OLED power consumption varies with picture content. Dark scenes draw as little as 50W because black pixels are turned off, whereas bright snow scenes can draw 160W. On average, OLED and modern QLED consumption is very similar.
How much does TV standby mode cost per year?â–¾
Modern EU/UK regulations cap TV standby power at 0.5W, costing around £1.07 per year. However, if networked standby or smart home wake-up is turned on, it can draw 3W to 8W (£6 to £17/year).
Does HDR (High Dynamic Range) use more electricity?â–¾
Yes. HDR content pushes backlights and OLED pixels to peak nit brightness, increasing electricity consumption by 25% to 50% compared to Standard Dynamic Range (SDR).
What size TV is most energy efficient?â–¾
A 43" 4K TV uses roughly 60W–75W, a 55" uses 95W–125W, and an 85" screen can exceed 250W. Screen area increases exponentially with diagonal size.