The Vampire Power Calculator
Even when turned off, many appliances continue to draw power just by being plugged in. This is called "vampire power" or "phantom load," and it can account for 5% to 10% of your residential electricity bill. Find out how much it's costing you.
A typical living room with a TV, gaming console, and cable box left plugged in 24/7 wastes about $40 a year in phantom energy.
Calculate Your Phantom Load
Select how many of each device are always plugged in (even when turned off).
Living Room
Kitchen
Office / Bedroom
Annual Wasted Cost$0.00
This is how much you pay per year just to keep these devices plugged in.
Monthly Wasted Cost$0.00
Total Continuous Draw0 W
How to stop the drain
You don't have to unplug everything. Focus on the big offenders to see real savings on your electric bill.
- Use smart power strips: These automatically cut off power to peripheral devices (like a soundbar or DVD player) when the main device (TV) is turned off.
- Unplug fully charged devices: Phone and laptop chargers still consume a tiny amount of power even when not connected to a device.
- Watch out for clocks: Any appliance with a digital clock (microwaves, coffee makers, ovens) is constantly drawing a small amount of power.
- Identify standby modes: Modern TVs and gaming consoles often go into "sleep" mode rather than turning off completely so they can wake up quickly or download updates.