How Many Watts Does A Laptop Use: MacBook, Dell, Asus and More [With Data Table]

An average laptop uses 30 and 200 watts per hour on average. However, the answer is not as straightforward as it might seem. Many factors influence the overall power consumption of a laptop. It varies depending on the manufacturer, size, usage time, and type of use. Calculating your numbers can give you a more accurate estimate of how many watts does a laptop uses. We will show the details in this article to enable you to make your calculations.

If you are short on time and want a cost-effective charging solution for your laptop, Jackery Solar Generators has your back. Some of the best options include Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus, Jackery Solar Generator 500, Jackery Solar Generator 1000, and Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus. They are built with NMC or LiFePO4 batteries and can be recharged off-grid via Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels.

Products	Image	Capacity	Rated / Peak Power	Battery	Size
Solar Generator 1000 Plus		1.25-5 kWh	2000W (4000W Peak)	LiFePO4	Length: 14 in (35.6 cm) Width: 10.24 in (26 cm) Height: 11.14 in (28.3 cm)
Solar Generator 1000		1002Wh	1000W (2000W Peak)	NMC	Length: 13.1 in (33.3 cm) Width: 9.2 in (23.3 cm) Height: 11.1 in (28.3 cm)
Solar Generator 500		518Wh	500W (1000W Peak)	NMC	Length: 11.8 in (30 cm) Width: 7.6 in (19.2 cm) Height: 9.5 in (24.2 cm)
Solar Generator 300 Plus		288Wh	300W (600W Peak)	LiFePO4	Length: 9.1 in (23 cm) Width: 6.1 in (15.5 cm)   Height: 6.6 in (16.7 cm)

Key Takeaways About Laptop Wattage

• A laptop consumes 30 to 70 watts of electricity every hour.
• Most gaming laptops consume around 300 wattsof power, on average.
• Using the laptop for 8 hours will consume2 kWh of power per month and 146 kWh per year.
• Generally, it consumes an average of $1.73 per monthand $20.72 per year — though the exact expenses will depend on the electricity you use and its rate in your area.
• Investing in a solar generator is the best way to save money on high electricity bills.

How Many Watts Does A Laptop Use?

We have discussed the average laptop wattage and the factors contributing to how many watts does a laptop uses. Now, it is time to dive deep into the details and see the wattage of particular manufacturers and models.

Laptop Watts Consumption of Apple, Samsung, and More

Laptop Watts Consumption Based on Stage

Another factor that affects how many watts a laptop use is the use stage. Your laptop's power consumption varies depending on whether it is in sleep mode, working mode, or standby mode.

The most common laptop wattage across various brands is 65W, the maximum in high-performance mode. However, the stage of laptops varies over different periods. Usually, it remains in the Off stage for around 14 hours, 0.3 hours in sleep mode, and around 9 to 10 hours in idle or high-performance mode.

So, let us summarize the figures in a table for better readability.

How Many Watts Does A Gaming Laptop Use

An average gaming laptop's wattage depends on Graphics Card TGP, screen brightness, CPU wattage, and various hardware settings. It usually falls in the range of 30W and 350W. The wattage may increase on high-performance settings as these laptops use multiple fans, have a high display refresh rate, and have higher hardware configurations. Again, the wattage changes with running mode, screen brightness, etc.

How Many Watts Does A Laptop Use Per Month/Per Year?

Generally, a laptop uses 30-70 watts of electricity and can consume more than 100 watts. If it is a gaming laptop, it might consume anywhere between 300W and 500W. How much electricity your laptop consumes daily will impact its consumption in one month and year. If we assume you are using the computer for 8 hours a day (average), here is the monthly electricity consumption per year for different laptop wattage.

What Factors Affect The Laptop Wattage?

Several factors influence the laptop's wattage, performance, and battery efficiency. Understanding these key factors can help you reduce the overall battery performance and lifespan.

Screen Size: The larger the laptop screen size, the more power or wattage it consumes. If you wish to lower the wattage or conserve some power, you can turn on the power-saving screen modes.

Brightness: The screen's brightness can also affect the total power consumption. If you are using a large laptop with a high brightness level, it will consume more power.

Graphics Card: Your laptop's visual processing influence and performance capabilities can influence the wattage consumption. While performing resource-intensive tasks that demand more energy, it is best to turn on the power-saving mode or put the laptop to sleep to minimize power drain.

Battery Condition & Charging Practices: The laptop's battery condition and your charging habits can impact the wattage usage. For example, older laptops require frequent charging and more power than the latest ones.

How Much Does It Cost to Power A Laptop?

You might have noticed that the electricity bill only includes the total energy consumption, not how much any appliance contributes to the final bill. Here is the table where we reveal the monthly and yearly costs for charging 50W of laptops in different states.

 Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

The power consumption and cost will depend on the usage scenarios. For example, if you use a laptop for only web browsing and emails, the power usage will be 30W. Alternatively, if you use a laptop for gaming or editing, it will consume nearly 200W. The following table reveals the power consumption (in W and kWh) and cost of using the laptop per hour, per day, and per month.

The cost and power consumption of running different types of laptops will differ according to the following table.

If you want to choose the cost-effective way to power your laptop and even other appliances, a solar generator might be your ideal bet. It's an eco-friendly solution that utilizes the free sun's energy to generate electricity and keep gear powered up. Here are a few benefits of choosing solar generators for powering appliances.

• Solar generators are very easy to use and do not emit noise while operating.
• Since they use electricity to work, they are very economical in the long run.
• They do not have any moving parts and do not need high maintenance.
• You don't need any fossil fuels to use the solar generator.

Jackery Solar Generator For Laptop

Jackery Solar Generators combine Jackery Explorer Portable Power Station and Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels to collect, convert, and supply electricity to appliances. First, the Jackery SolerSaga Solar Panels are placed under direct sunlight to absorb and convert the solar power into DC current. This is then transferred to the Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations, where direct current is converted to usable AC electricity.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus combines the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station and Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels. The solar generator has a LiFePO4 capacity of 1264Wh and charges 99% of your electrical appliances. With the help of Jackery Battery Pack 1000 Plus, you can increase the battery capacity from 12.5kWh to 5kWh. It can power 100W of laptop for 10.7 hours with only one charge.

Jackery Solar Generator 1000

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 has an NMC battery of 1002Wh capacity and can charge most electrical appliances, including laptops. It is a portable, durable, and highly efficient charging solution to power all kinds of laptops. For example, a 100W-consuming laptop can be recharged for 8.5 hours with the Jackery Solar Generator 1000.

Jackery Solar Generator 500

The Jackery Solar Generator 500 has a battery capacity of 518Wh with a 500W inverter. It features many output ports like three USB ports, a 12V car output, and AC outlets to charge 7 devices simultaneously. It weighs only 13.3 lbs, making the solar generator an excellent choice for outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, and other off-road travels. With a fully recharged Jackery Solar Generator 500, you can charge a 100-watt laptop for 4.4 hours.

Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus

The Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus has a LiFePO4 battery with a 288Wh capacity. The solar generator kit weighs merely 11 lbs, making it convenient to carry and set up with book-sized Jackery SolarSaga 40W Solar Panels. It supports up to 100W output that simultaneously supplies fast charging for many devices. With the Jackery Solar Generator 300 Plus, you can power a 30W-consuming laptop for 8.1 hours.

How to Reduce The Laptop Power Usages

In order to reduce the power consumption of the laptop, the first step is to understand the current usage. A portable energy monitor is one of the ways to measure how much power is being used by the laptop.

Alternatively, you can even use online calculators or tools that estimate power consumption based on usage patterns and laptop specifications. Once you know how many watts does a laptop uses, the next step is to follow some tips to reduce the laptop's power usage.

• Use Power Saving Mode: Many of the latest laptops have a power-saving mode that draws less power. You can turn the mode on when you don't want maximum performance.
• Reduce Screen Brightness:A laptop's screen is one of the heaviest components in terms of power consumption. You can converse wattage by dimming the screen brightness.
• Activate Sleep Mode Faster: According to the default settings, a laptop needs to be inactive for 30 minutes before it enters sleep mode. You can reduce the power consumption by setting the device to sleep mode faster.
• Run Few Background Apps:The applications running in the background can impact how much power the laptop is consuming. You must close anything you are not using to cut the overall consumption.
• Invest in a Solar Generator: Even if you are using a new laptop for hours, it'll consume a lot of electricity. Jackery Solar Generators are portable and durable charging solutions that can keep your computer charged for extended periods. It's a great battery backup solution that can keep gear powered during home outages, brownouts, blackouts, and even outdoor adventures.

Laptop Wattage FAQs

How much electricity does a laptop use? How much electricity does a laptop use per hour?

If you use your laptop for 8 hours, you will use around 500 to 1000 watt-hours a day. The electricity consumption of a laptop is 65 Watts per hour in high-performance mode, while it can go down to 25 watts per hour in sleep mode or standby mode.

How many watts does a laptop use in 8 hours?

If the laptop uses between 50 and 100 watts of power per hour, it will consume almost 150 to 300 kWh in eight hours.

Does leaving a laptop plugged in use a lot of electricity?

Modern laptops or computers are designed to stop charging when they reach full capacity, so keeping them plugged in won't result in overcharging. However, keeping the computer plugged in all day will lead to electricity usage. The laptop charger will continue to convert AC electricity from the AC outlet into DC (direct current) to charge the device but does not power anything.

How to increase the laptop battery life?

The battery life of any ultraportable computer is 14 hours or more. However, paying close attention to factors like power setting modes, ambient room temperature, and how many apps are running at a time can help increase the battery life. Here are some more ways to extend the battery life of a laptop.

• Turn Off Keyboard Backlighting:If you often work in dark spaces, you might use the keyboard backlighting. While it is pretty helpful, it can drain the battery. Turning off the backlighting to improve the battery life.
• Unplug External Devices When Not in Use:Keeping an external hard drive, a phone, or an external display plugged into a USB port can drain the battery's power and reduce its life.
• Keep the Laptop Cool:If you store and use the laptop at an average operating temperature or even slightly lower, it will extend the battery's lifespan and make it more efficient. You must avoid using laptops in hot rooms or under direct sunlight.

Final Thoughts

How many watts does a laptop use is a very subjective question because many factors influence the power requirements. However, the average laptop wattage spans a wide range, i.e., 30 to 2000 watts, with 65 watts as the most popular requirement. Since the power cost of using a laptop can add up quickly, investing in a solar generator helps you cut your power bill cost and have a green energy source. The Jackery solar generators are available in various configurations so that you can easily choose the best for you.