Standby Power Vampires: How Much They Cost UK Homes in 2026

TVs, consoles and chargers left on standby cost the average UK home £55–£90 a year. Here's the worst offenders and how to fix it.

Standby Power Vampires: How Much They Cost UK Homes in 2026

Updated: May 2026 — Power Guardian UK Editorial Team

UK households waste an estimated £55–£90 a year on devices left on standby. Most people don't realise how much "off but not really off" actually costs at 27p/kWh.

Worst standby offenders in 2026

| Device | Standby draw | Annual cost (24/7) | |---|---|---| | Sky / Virgin set-top box (older) | 15W | £35 | | Games console (PS5/Xbox in rest mode) | 10–15W | £24–£35 | | Smart TV (large OLED) | 1.5W | £3.50 | | Soundbar | 3W | £7 | | Desktop PC (sleep) | 5W | £12 | | Microwave clock | 2W | £4.70 | | Phone charger (plugged in, no phone) | 0.3W | £0.70 | | Wi-Fi router | 8W | £19 (but you probably need it on) | | Printer (idle) | 4W | £9.40 | | Typical UK home total | — | £55–£90/year |

The actual fix (without becoming obsessive)

You don't need to unplug your fridge. Focus on the big offenders:

1. Set-top boxes — turn off at the wall when going to bed. Modern Sky/Virgin boxes restart in 30 seconds; older boxes need a minute or two 2. Games consoles — switch off "Rest Mode" / "Quick Resume". Saves £25–£35/year per console 3. Soundbar + AV stack — put on a single switched extension lead so one click kills them all 4. Microwaves with clocks — pull the plug if you don't use the timer 5. Chargers — unplug when nothing's charging (the 0.3W per charger adds up across 6+ devices)

Don't bother with

- Phone chargers when actively charging — they use what the phone needs - Wi-Fi routers — turning off saves £19/year but breaks smart heating, alarms and overnight backups - Fridges, freezers, alarms, smoke detectors — keep on

Smart plug ROI

A pack of 4 smart plugs costs £25 and lets you schedule the entertainment stack and printer to cut completely overnight. Saves typically £35–£60/year. Payback under 6 months.