How Much Does It Cost to Leave a Phone Charger Plugged in Without Charging?
Do you often leave your phone charger plugged into the outlet even when it's not in use? Here's how much this habit can add to your electricity bill.
Like most people these days, you probably have several chargers at home for recharging phones, tablets, headphones, wireless speakers, or smartwatches. To avoid constant plugging and unplugging, you might leave them permanently plugged into outlets, so the USB cable is always ready when you need to charge your devices. It's so convenient!
However, even when they are not actively charging anything, chargers consume electricity just by being plugged in. Over days, weeks, and months, this "phantom" consumption can add up and increase your electricity bill.
The question is, how much does this consumption actually cost? Or in simple terms, how much does it cost per year to leave a charger plugged in when no phone is being charged?
In reality, not much. But it depends on the charger's manufacturing year and the standards it meets. For a charger made after 2022, which remains plugged in 24/7 without being used, the annual consumption is 0.1 x 24 x 365, which equals 876 Wh (or 0.876 kWh). Based on the average U.S. electricity rate of about 15 cents per kWh, this amounts to 0.876 x 15 cents, or about 13 cents per year. A negligible cost!
For a charger produced between 2011 and 2022, the annual consumption rises to 2.6 kWh, or about 39 cents. With a 2010 model, the consumption reaches 4.3 kWh, or about 65 cents per year. Still not a bank breaker! But if electricity rates rise, these costs will increase accordingly. For example, if the kWh price doubles to 30 cents, multiply all these amounts by 2.
If you have a very old charger from before stricter regulations, the standby consumption can be significantly higher. Some older chargers consume 0.75 W or even 1 W or more, leading to an annual cost of over $1.60. While this is still not much, if you have multiple chargers plugged in all the time, it adds up to unnecessary spending. But mostly, it's a waste of energy.
One final tip, avoid unbranded, colorful chargers sold on platforms like Amazon and eBay. Most of these devices are of very poor quality and do not meet safety standards, despite having a CE mark. They often lack proper electronic protection, and there's a real risk of fire in case of overheating.