How Many Amps Does a TV Use

A television draws between 0.25 and 2.33 amps on a standard 120V circuit. Screen size is the primary driver of where a specific set falls in that range. For instance, smaller TVs sit near the bottom, larger ones near the top, with panel technology and picture settings shifting the number further within that span.

Watching TV during a power outage is a small comfort that Jackery Solar Generators make genuinely easy, since even large modern televisions draw only a fraction of the power most household appliances need. A solar generator sitting quietly nearby, recharging from sunlight, means movie night doesn't have to end just because the grid does.

Two people can own the same 55-inch TV and still get different answers if they each go looking for the amp rating separately. One finds a chart organized by screen size, the other finds one organized by panel technology, and neither matches quite what they were expecting. Both numbers are correct, but they are just answering slightly different questions.

This guide covers both angles directly, plus a few factors that shift the number more than most people realize once the TV is actually playing something. 

Key Takeaways

• TV amp draw ranges from about 0.25 amps for a small 32-inch set to 2.33 amps for an 85-inch model, with screen size as the biggest single factor.
• Panel technology shifts the number within a given size. CRT and plasma TVs draw considerably more amps than modern LED, OLED, or QLED televisions.
• A TV displaying bright HDR content can draw 20-40% more than the same set showing standard content, and most modern TVs still pull a small amount of power in standby mode.
• Startup draw and running draw are essentially identical for televisions, unlike compressor-driven appliances that spike briefly when switched on.

How Many Amps Does a CRT, Plasma, LCD, LED, OLED, and QLED TV Use?

Panel technology changes the number meaningfully even among TVs of similar size, since each display type generates its picture in a fundamentally different way.

CRT and plasma sets draw more amps than every modern flat-panel option, which is part of why phasing out an older television is one of the more effective single upgrades for cutting an entertainment center's electricity use. Among current technologies, OLED shows the widest range, averaging low on typical content but increasing during very bright scenes.

How Many Amps Does a TV Draw by Size?

A TV's amp draw scales directly with screen size, ranging from about 0.25 amps for a 32-inch set up to 2.33 amps for an 85-inch model on a standard 120V circuit. A 32-inch TV draws roughly 0.25-0.46 amps, a 50-inch draws 0.5-0.83 amps, a 55-inch draws 0.54-0.96 amps, a 65-inch draws 0.67-1.25 amps, a 75-inch draws 0.92-1.67 amps, and an 85-inch draws 1.25-2.33 amps.

How Many Amps Does a 32-Inch TV Use?

A 32-inch TV, typically drawing 30 to 55 watts, uses roughly 0.25 to 0.46 amps at 120V. This size sits toward the bottom of the amp chart across nearly every panel technology, making it one of the lightest loads in a typical entertainment setup.

How Many Amps Does a 50-Inch TV Use?

A 50-inch TV draws roughly 0.5 to 0.83 amps, corresponding to 60 to 100 watts depending on panel type and brightness settings. This size represents a common mid-range living room upgrade point, where the increase in wattage from a 32 or 43-inch set becomes noticeable but still modest.

How Many Amps Does a 55-Inch TV Use?

A 55-inch TV, one of the most popular sizes sold today, draws roughly 0.54 to 0.96 amps, or 65 to 115 watts. QLED and Mini-LED models at this size tend to sit near the higher end of that range, since both rely on brighter backlighting than standard LED panels.

How Many Amps Does a 65-Inch TV Use?

A 65-inch TV draws roughly 0.67 to 1.25 amps, translating to 80 to 150 watts. This is typically where households start noticing panel technology matters as much as size. An OLED set at 65 inches can draw noticeably less than a QLED model of the same size during standard content, though the gap narrows considerably during bright, HDR-heavy scenes.

How Many Amps Does a 75-Inch TV Use?

A 75-inch TV draws roughly 0.92 to 1.67 amps, or 110 to 200 watts, making it one of the more noticeable single loads in a home entertainment setup even though it still falls well short of most kitchen appliances. At this size, the difference between panel technologies becomes more pronounced in absolute wattage, even though the percentage gap between them stays similar to smaller sizes.

How Many Amps Does an 85-Inch TV Use?

An 85-inch TV, among the largest sizes commonly sold for home use, draws roughly 1.25 to 2.33 amps, or 150 to 280 watts. At this scale, panel technology and brightness settings create the widest absolute wattage gap of any size, worth checking the specific model's rating rather than assuming a figure from the middle of that range.

How Many Amps Does a Smart TV Use?

A smart TV's amp draw is governed by the same screen size and panel technology as any other television. "Smart" itself adds only a small increment for the built-in WiFi chip and app processor, typically just a few extra watts while actively streaming. Where the smart features matter more is in standby mode: a smart TV with network standby or voice-assistant listening enabled continues drawing a small amount of power even with the screen off, something a non-connected television simply doesn't do.

How Many Amps Does a TV Draw on Startup?

A television's internal power supply has no motor or compressor to overcome, unlike a refrigerator or air conditioner, so it draws current smoothly from the instant it's switched on rather than spiking briefly beforehand. For any practical purpose, such as choosing a backup power source, a TV's startup amps and running amps can be treated as the same number.

What Are the Factors Affecting the Amps of a TV?

Screen size and panel technology are two main factors that affect the amp consumption of a TV, but several other factors shift a specific television's real-world draw once it is actually in use.

Does Brightness or Picture Mode Affect the Amps of a TV?

Yes, brightness or picture mode affects the amps of a TV directly. A TV set to a "vivid" or "dynamic" picture mode, calibrated for a brightly lit showroom floor, draws noticeably more than the same set on a "cinema" or "calibrated" mode designed for a dim living room. Dropping the backlight or OLED light setting from its factory default is one of the more effective ways to reduce a TV's draw without changing anything else about it.

Does HDR Content Increase the Amps of a TV?

Yes, HDR content can increase the amps of a TV, often substantially. HDR (High Dynamic Range) content pushes brightness levels well beyond standard dynamic range video, and producing that extra brightness takes real additional power, commonly 20 to 40% more than the same television showing standard content. This is why a single TV's "typical" wattage is really a range rather than one fixed figure. A dim dialogue scene and a bright HDR action sequence pull noticeably different current on the identical set.

Does Standby Mode Affect the Amps of a TV?

Yes, standby mode can affect the amps of most modern televisions. These TVs have quick-start or network standby enabled, which lets a TV turn on instantly via remote or voice command rather than fully rebooting. It typically draws 0.5 to 3 watts continuously or around 0.004 to 0.025 amps, even with the screen dark. Disabling quick-start in the settings menu, or unplugging the TV entirely, removes this draw completely.

Does the Age of a TV Affect the Amps?

Generally, yes, the age of the TV can affect its amps. Newer televisions, particularly those carrying an Energy Star certification, are built with more efficient backlighting and power supplies than models from even five or six years ago. An older TV of the same screen size and even the same general panel category can draw meaningfully more than a current equivalent.

Do Connected Devices Like a Soundbar or Game Console Add to the Amps of a TV?

Yes, if you connect multiple devices to the TV, it can affect the overall amps. For example, a soundbar typically adds 30 to 60 watts, and a game console anywhere from 15 watts idle to well over 100 watts under active load. None of these appear in the television's own rating, so a full entertainment center's total draw is meaningfully higher than the TV's number alone suggests.

Does Resolution or Refresh Rate Affect the Amps of a TV?

The resolution or refresh rate can modestly affect the amps of the TV. A 4K panel doesn't inherently draw much more than a 1080p panel of the same size and technology, since resolution mainly affects processing rather than backlight or pixel power. Refresh rate has a slightly larger effect. A TV running at 120Hz processes and refreshes the image twice as often as one at 60Hz, which adds a small but measurable amount to the processor's power draw, though nowhere near the impact of screen size or brightness settings.

How to Calculate Your Television Amps

Many television power labels or Energy Star tags list the exact amperage (A) directly next to the voltage and wattage, which is the fastest way to check the amp consumption of TVs without any math.

If the direct amps are not available and you know how many watts does a TV use, you can divide its power consumption in watts by the voltage of your electrical outlet (Amps = Watts / Volts) to find the amps.

The standard formula is straightforward:

Amps = Watts ÷ Volts

For a 90-watt TV on a 120V circuit, that is:

90W ÷ 120V = 0.75 amps

Calculate from daily watt-hours if you want a usage-based figure rather than a single moment's draw. Multiply the TV's wattage by hours of daily use to get watt-hours, then divide by voltage:

Amps = Daily Watt-Hours ÷ Volts

A 90-watt TV running 5 hours a day uses 450 watt-hours, which works out to 3.75 amps of daily cumulative draw at 120V.

Use a plug-in power meter for the most accurate real-world reading. This captures the actual shift between dim scenes, bright HDR content, and idle menu screens, rather than relying on a single average figure from the label.

For Jerrett Shephard, a general contractor in rural New York, unreliable power was a daily hazard, both on old farmhouse job sites and at home. After a storm knocked out electricity for over a day and put months of stored breast milk for his infant son at risk, he installed a Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus wired into his home's transfer switch. Now it handles lights, refrigeration, TV, and WiFi through every outage, while also traveling with him to job sites to power saws without the noise or fumes of a gas generator. Take a look at more Jackery Stories to see how other families are rethinking backup power.

Recommended Jackery Solar Generators to Run Your TV

Jackery Solar Generator keeps your TV running through storm-related power outages, camping trips with a portable setup, RV road trips, or backyard movie nights far from any wall outlet. If you have ever wondered how much does it cost to run a TV, the answer is reassuring: even a large screen typically draws less per hour than a hair dryer or coffee maker, which means a Jackery Solar Generator can keep it running for hours, if not days, on a single charge. 

That efficiency stretches even further once you know how to reduce a TV's power consumption naturally. Lowering brightness, switching off unnecessary smart features, and disabling always-on standby modes can shave meaningful wattage off your draw without sacrificing picture quality. Combine a power-conscious setup with the right Jackery Solar Generator, and you get an entertainment source that survives blackouts, keeps kids occupied during long camping evenings, and doesn't put a dent in your battery capacity. 

Here are some of the ideal home battery backup options that are the best fit for keeping your solar-powered TV on, whether you are running it for a quick outage or an entire weekend off-grid.

Jackery Solar Generator 600 v2

A single 32 to 55-inch television, typically found in a bedroom, RV, or smaller living space, can run for a full evening and well beyond on the Jackery Solar Generator 600 v2. It is compact enough to sit near an entertainment center without becoming part of the furniture, and light enough to relocate if plans change. For a storm that knocks out power right as a movie starts, this is the size that means nobody has to explain why the show is cutting off partway through.

Appliances Running Time

• CRT TV (120W) = 4.0H
• Plasma TV (150W) = 3.3H
• LCD TV (60W) = 7.5H
• LED TV (50W) = 8.7H
• OLED TV (50W) = 8.7H
• QLED TV (70W) = 6.6H

Who Should Buy This

The Jackery Solar Generator 600 v2 is ideal for RV owners, apartment dwellers, or anyone running a single small-to-mid-size TV who wants dependable, unobtrusive backup power.

Customer Review

The Jackery 600 v2 was tested on something small such as a 34 in TV, a router and a PS4 from a surge protector plugin with minimal game play mostly YouTube just to see power consumption. At just a little bit over 100 volts the Jackery 600 v2 lasted 6 hours, and charged in 2 1/2 hours.

— Forever G.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2

A living room TV paired with a streaming stick or a game console can fit comfortably within the capacity of the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 for a full evening of viewing, without needing to plan around a mid-show recharge. It is the world’s lightest and smallest 1kWh LFP power station that has an ergonomic folding handle that folds flat when not in use. It can switch power from grid to backup in under 20 milliseconds for continuous operation of your devices during power outages or voltage fluctuations.

Appliances Running Time

• CRT TV (120W) = 6.5H
• Plasma TV (150W) = 5.3H
• LCD TV (60W) = 11.7H
• LED TV (50W) = 13.5H
• OLED TV (50W) = 13.5H
• QLED TV (70W) = 10.3H

Who Should Buy This

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is ideal for households running a mid-size TV alongside a streaming device or console who want a full evening covered from a single charge.

Customer Review

Works great. I needed a battery pack to power a 12V fridge and the Starlink Mini and the Jackery works great powering both

— Timothy C.

Jackery Solar Generator 1500 v2

A larger TV running alongside a soundbar and a game console is the kind of setup covered in the connected-devices factor above that fits well within the Jackery Solar Generator 1500 v2's headroom, even accounting for the higher draw of extended HDR content or active gaming. For anyone who is invested in a genuine home theater setup rather than a TV on its own, this is the home battery backup that treats the whole system as one load instead of picking which piece gets power.

Appliances Running Time

• CRT TV (120W) = 9.1H
• Plasma TV (150W) = 7.5H
• LCD TV (60W) = 16.1H
• LED TV (50W) = 18.5H
• OLED TV (50W) = 18.5H
• QLED TV (70W) = 14.3H

Who Should Buy This

The Jackery Solar Generator 1500 v2 is ideal for anyone running a larger television alongside additional entertainment devices, or regularly watching HDR content where peak draw runs above average.

Customer Review

The power went out for 4800 customers in our area. I had to remind my husband that we had a Jackery Explorer 1500 v2. It even has a light on the front. He hooked it up to the fridge, toaster, his phone, and I’m not sure what else. He said he was impressed by everything that the Jackery would run.

— Jennifer W.

FAQs About TV Amps

Can I run a TV alongside a few other electronics on a single 15-amp circuit? 

Yes, you can run a TV alongside a few other electronics on a single 15-amp circuit comfortably in most cases. A TV's draw is small enough, that even when paired with a router, a lamp, and a phone charger, the combined total typically stays well under the 15-amp circuit's limit.

Is it better to unplug a TV or leave it in standby between uses? 

For a TV that goes unused for days at a time, unplugging (or disabling quick-start mode) eliminates even the small standby draw. For daily use, the convenience of instant-on generally outweighs the modest energy difference.

Do curved or ultra-wide TVs draw more power than standard flat screens? 

No, curved or ultra-wide TVs do not significantly draw more power than standard flat screens, once screen size and panel technology are accounted for. The curved or ultra-wide form factor itself doesn't meaningfully change the amp draw compared to a flat panel of similar dimensions and display type.

How many watts does a projector use compared to a TV? 

Projectors generally draw more than a comparably sized TV image would suggest, often 150 to 300 watts or more, since generating a large image via projected light is less efficient than a direct-view panel. For more information, you can check out our guide: How Many Watts Does a Projector Use. 

Does a TV's amp draw change between summer and winter? 

No, a TV's amp draw does not meaningfully change between summer and winter. Unlike appliances with a heating or cooling function, a television's draw is governed by its display and internal electronics rather than the ambient temperature.

Does mounting a TV on the wall versus a stand affect its power draw? 

No. The mounting method has no effect on amp draw. The number is determined entirely by the internal display and electronics instead of how the television is physically positioned.

Conclusion

A TV's amp draw comes down primarily to screen size, adjusted by panel technology, picture settings, and whatever is actually on screen at a given moment, with startup adding nothing extra to account for. Once you know where your specific set falls across those factors, matching it to a solar backup power source takes only a moment. Jackery Solar Generators cover a different scale of entertainment setup, so movie night does not have to pause just because the power does.