How much does a broadband router cost to run?
A typical broadband router costs about 6.3p per day to run. At 7 days a week that is 44.2p a week, or £22.99 a year, based on 10 W for 24 hours (0.24 kWh) at 26.32p per kWh.
Adjust for your broadband router
Worked example
10 W is 0.01 kW. Running for 24 hours uses 0.01 × 24 = 0.24 kWh. At 26.32p per kWh that costs 6.3p.
Left on around the clock the router costs £22.99 a year. A small always-on device is worth a look because it runs 8,760 hours a year, many more hours than anything you switch on and off.
How to cut the cost
A router is on all year, so a small wattage matters. Do not turn it off every night unless it is easy to do, since the saving is small, but if you use a mesh system with extra units, switch off any you do not need.
Questions
How much does it cost to leave a router on all the time?
At 26.32p per kWh a 10 W router costs 6.3p a day, which is £22.99 over a year.
Should I turn my router off at night?
It saves a little, roughly a third of the yearly cost if you switch it off for eight hours. Check that it does not need to stay on for phone or alarm services first.
Other appliances
Electricity rate: Ofgem energy price cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026, Great Britain average, Direct Debit, default tariff: 26.32p per kWh. Your own tariff and region may differ, so change the rate above to match your bill. Appliance figures are typical estimates; your appliance's energy label or manual is more accurate. Last checked 2026-11-03. Next review: January 2027, when Ofgem announces the next quarter's cap.