Computers & Laptops

PC Cost Per Hour Calculator

What an hour of running a computer costs, in electricity and anything else you count.

3 inputs Free, no sign-up

Your figures

Measured with a plug-in energy meter if you can. A power supply's rating is a ceiling, not a reading - most machines draw well under it.

Rupees per unit, from your own bill. Tariffs differ by state, by connection and by how much you use, so this is the figure the result is most sensitive to.

Anything else you want counted per hour - a share of the machine's cost, software, a seat licence. Leave blank for electricity alone.

Try an example

Result

Your result

Enter your figures and the result appears here.

Estimates only. Rates, fees and specifications change. Confirm against the official source before you rely on a figure — see our disclaimer.

About this calculator

Cost per hour is the figure that answers "is it worth leaving it running". It is also the one to quote against when someone offers to pay for machine time, or when comparing against a cloud instance.

Electricity is two numbers — the draw and your tariff. Everything else is optional.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the machine's draw in watts, measured if you can.
  2. Enter your electricity rate.
  3. Add an hourly figure for anything else you want counted.

The formula

Energy an hour = Power / 1000
Cost an hour   = Energy an hour x Rate per unit + other hourly costs
SymbolMeaningUnit
Power What the machine draws W
Rate Your tariff per unit ₹/kWh

Worked example

A 150 W machine at ₹8 a unit, with ₹2 an hour of other costs:

Energy an hour = 150 / 1000     = 0.15 kWh
Electricity    = 0.15 x 8        = 1.20
Total          = 1.20 + 2.00     = 3.20

₹25.60 for an eight-hour day, ₹76.80 for a day left running.

Notes and limits

  • The overnight figure is the useful one when deciding whether to leave a long job running or start it in the morning.
  • A machine's draw is not constant. Idle and under load are several times apart, so the honest version of this is a range rather than a number.
  • To turn the machine's purchase price into an hourly figure, divide it by the years you will keep it and then by the hours you use it in a year.
  • For the full annual picture, the computer running cost calculator takes the whole list.

What this calculation assumes

  • The power figure is one you entered and is treated as constant.
  • Only what you entered is counted. Electricity alone if the other field is blank.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to run a PC per hour?

Divide the wattage by 1,000 and multiply by your tariff. A 150 W machine at ₹8 a unit is ₹1.20 an hour in electricity - add anything else you want counted on top.

Is it worth turning the machine off between jobs?

That depends on the gap and the draw. This page gives the hourly figure; multiply it by the idle hours and compare that against the inconvenience.

What should I put in "other costs an hour"?

Whatever you are pricing. A share of the purchase price, a software licence, or a maintenance budget divided by the hours you expect to use the machine.

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