How much does it cost to run a security camera system?
A security camera system drawing 60 watts, running around the clock, uses about 1.44 kWh per day and costs about $0.28 per day, $8.51 per month, and $102.02 per year at the US average residential rate of 19.4¢/kWh. Enter your own wattage, hours, and state below for an exact figure.
Estimates only — based on typical wattages and average state rates, not your actual bill.
What drives the cost
A home camera system draws power around the clock: the cameras themselves are modest, but the recorder (NVR or DVR) and its hard drives run continuously and account for most of the total. A four-camera wired system with a recorder typically averages around 60 watts. Wireless battery cameras shift most of that cost to occasional recharging instead.
Cost at different daily usage
Same security camera system at 60 watts, run for different amounts of time, at 19.4¢/kWh.
| Usage | kWh/day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h/day | 0.36 kWh | $0.07 | $2.13 | $25.50 |
| 12 h/day | 0.72 kWh | $0.14 | $4.25 | $51.01 |
| 18 h/day | 1.08 kWh | $0.21 | $6.38 | $76.51 |
| 24 h/day | 1.44 kWh | $0.28 | $8.51 | $102.02 |
Cost by model power draw
Not all models are equal. At 24 h/day, here is what the range costs.
| Model | Power | kWh/day | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-draw model | 20 W | 0.48 kWh | $0.09 | $2.84 |
| Typical | 60 W | 1.44 kWh | $0.28 | $8.51 |
| High-draw model | 150 W | 3.60 kWh | $0.70 | $21.27 |
Cost by state
A security camera system at 60 W for 24 h/day, priced at each state's average residential rate.
| State | Rate | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.8¢ | $0.24 | $7.35 | $88.14 |
| Alaska | 28.2¢ | $0.41 | $12.37 | $148.38 |
| Arizona | 15.2¢ | $0.22 | $6.68 | $80.05 |
| Arkansas | 14.4¢ | $0.21 | $6.29 | $75.48 |
| California | 33.2¢ | $0.48 | $14.57 | $174.76 |
| Colorado | 16.2¢ | $0.23 | $7.08 | $84.94 |
| Connecticut | 27.4¢ | $0.39 | $12.00 | $143.86 |
| Delaware | 19.4¢ | $0.28 | $8.49 | $101.86 |
| District of Columbia | 25.4¢ | $0.37 | $11.13 | $133.50 |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | $0.22 | $6.65 | $79.73 |
| Georgia | 15.8¢ | $0.23 | $6.94 | $83.26 |
| Hawaii | 52.0¢ | $0.75 | $22.79 | $273.31 |
| Idaho | 12.3¢ | $0.18 | $5.41 | $64.91 |
| Illinois | 23.9¢ | $0.34 | $10.45 | $125.36 |
| Indiana | 18.1¢ | $0.26 | $7.96 | $95.40 |
| Iowa | 14.1¢ | $0.20 | $6.20 | $74.32 |
| Kansas | 15.1¢ | $0.22 | $6.63 | $79.52 |
| Kentucky | 15.0¢ | $0.22 | $6.57 | $78.73 |
| Louisiana | 14.2¢ | $0.20 | $6.20 | $74.37 |
| Maine | 28.6¢ | $0.41 | $12.55 | $150.48 |
| Maryland | 21.8¢ | $0.31 | $9.54 | $114.42 |
| Massachusetts | 28.8¢ | $0.42 | $12.63 | $151.48 |
| Michigan | 22.0¢ | $0.32 | $9.65 | $115.68 |
| Minnesota | 16.9¢ | $0.24 | $7.43 | $89.09 |
| Mississippi | 16.2¢ | $0.23 | $7.08 | $84.94 |
| Missouri | 13.7¢ | $0.20 | $6.00 | $71.90 |
| Montana | 14.7¢ | $0.21 | $6.43 | $77.11 |
| Nebraska | 13.6¢ | $0.20 | $5.96 | $71.43 |
| Nevada | 13.6¢ | $0.20 | $5.96 | $71.48 |
| New Hampshire | 27.3¢ | $0.39 | $11.98 | $143.65 |
| New Jersey | 23.3¢ | $0.34 | $10.20 | $122.31 |
| New Mexico | 14.1¢ | $0.20 | $6.19 | $74.21 |
| New York | 29.9¢ | $0.43 | $13.12 | $157.31 |
| North Carolina | 15.1¢ | $0.22 | $6.61 | $79.31 |
| North Dakota | 13.6¢ | $0.20 | $5.97 | $71.53 |
| Ohio | 19.5¢ | $0.28 | $8.56 | $102.60 |
| Oklahoma | 13.4¢ | $0.19 | $5.86 | $70.33 |
| Oregon | 16.3¢ | $0.23 | $7.13 | $85.52 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.6¢ | $0.31 | $9.45 | $113.27 |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | $0.42 | $12.91 | $154.84 |
| South Carolina | 16.2¢ | $0.23 | $7.09 | $85.04 |
| South Dakota | 15.7¢ | $0.23 | $6.90 | $82.68 |
| Tennessee | 14.5¢ | $0.21 | $6.34 | $76.05 |
| Texas | 16.4¢ | $0.24 | $7.21 | $86.41 |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | $0.19 | $5.68 | $68.12 |
| Vermont | 24.9¢ | $0.36 | $10.91 | $130.82 |
| Virginia | 17.6¢ | $0.25 | $7.72 | $92.56 |
| Washington | 14.9¢ | $0.22 | $6.55 | $78.58 |
| West Virginia | 16.8¢ | $0.24 | $7.36 | $88.30 |
| Wisconsin | 19.7¢ | $0.28 | $8.65 | $103.75 |
| Wyoming | 14.8¢ | $0.21 | $6.49 | $77.79 |
How to cut the cost
- Consolidate onto one recorder rather than several always-on base stations.
- Use motion-triggered recording rather than continuous capture where your system allows it — less drive activity means less power.
- Retire old always-on equipment when you upgrade; forgotten legacy gear is a common invisible load.
- Skip constant cloud upload if local storage meets your needs; the network hardware runs harder for continuous streams.
Compare with related appliances
Monthly cost at typical usage and 19.4¢/kWh.
Questions
Do security cameras use much electricity?
Individually very little, but the recorder running 24 hours a day is the real load. Expect a wired multi-camera system with an NVR to cost noticeably more than the cameras alone would suggest.
How do you calculate what a security camera system costs to run?
Multiply its wattage by the hours it runs per day, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your electricity rate. For a security camera system: 60 W × 24 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.44 kWh per day, which at 19.4¢/kWh is $0.28 per day.
How many watts does a security camera system use?
Typically 60 watts, with most models falling between 20 and 150 watts. The label on the appliance or its power supply gives the figure for your specific unit.