Why standby adds up
A device drawing only 5 watts continuously consumes 5 ÷ 1,000 × 24 × 365 = 43.8 kWh in a year. At an illustrative 28p per kWh, that works out at about £12.26.
Measure rather than guess
Actual power use varies widely by product and setting. If you have a suitable plug-in power meter, use its measured standby wattage rather than the appliance's full rated watts.
Prioritise safety
Do not disconnect appliances that must stay powered, such as medical equipment, alarms, fridges or devices needed for safety and accessibility. Follow manufacturer instructions.
Check your own figures
Use the standby calculator to change the number of devices, their wattage and your actual tariff.
Open the matching calculator →
Illustrative examples only. Use your own tariffs, measurements and circumstances when making decisions.