Yes. The biggest standby users are set-top boxes, smart TVs with quick start, game consoles in rest mode, routers, and microwaves with clocks.
Standby power is the small trickle that keeps electronics waiting for a signal, a clock, or a network ping. One plug barely moves the needle, yet a home full of tiny draws hums along day and night. Field work from Berkeley Lab’s standby power hub, guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy, and consumer studies from NRDC all point to the same handful of culprits. The upside: most fixes are quick—flip a setting, swap a strip, or replace one box—and comfort stays the same.
Appliances That Use The Most Standby Power At Home
The table gives typical idle ranges seen in labs and homes. Models vary, so treat this as a map, then measure your own outlets with a simple plug-in meter.
| Device | Typical Standby (W) | kWh / Year @ 24/7 |
|---|---|---|
| Cable / Satellite Set-Top Box (DVR capable) | 10–20 | 87.6–175.2 |
| Smart TV (Quick Start / Instant On enabled) | 5–24 | 43.8–210.2 |
| Game Console In Rest / Standby | 0.5–10 | 4.4–87.6 |
| Wi-Fi Router + Modem | 5–20 | 43.8–175.2 |
| Smart Speaker (No Display) | 2–4 | 17.5–35.0 |
| Desktop PC + Monitor In Sleep | 1–6 | 8.8–52.6 |
| Printer / MFP In Ready | 1–5 | 8.8–43.8 |
| Microwave (Clock + Touch Panel) | 2–7 | 17.5–61.3 |
| Sound Bar / A/V Receiver (Network Standby) | 0.5–3 | 4.4–26.3 |
| Washer / Dryer / Split AC (Standby Display / Wi-Fi) | 1–4 | 8.8–35.0 |
How to read it: 10 W left on nonstop equals 87.6 kWh per year. If your tariff is known, multiply that by your rate to see the annual hit.
Why These Devices Rise To The Top
Set-Top Boxes And DVR Units
Guide data, instant tuning, and background tasks keep these boxes awake. Many never reach deep sleep unless you set a schedule. Providers now offer low-power models and thin-client setups; a quick call can swap an older unit for one that sips far less.
Smart TVs With Quick Start
Most modern panels idle near a watt when quick start is off. Flip that switch on, and draw can jump to double digits so the set wakes fast for voice, app launch, or CEC handshakes. Toggle it off and wake time may rise by a second or two, while idle draw drops sharply.
Game Consoles In Rest Mode
Rest keeps links ready for updates, controller charging, and fast resume. Energy-saving modes cut that back near zero. Leave charging to a wall brick and pause background downloads outside play hours to keep rest draw tiny.
Routers, Modems, And Mesh Nodes
Network gear runs around the clock. One combined gateway may use less than a separate modem and router. Extra radios, USB storage, and strong LED arrays nudge draw upward. Keep units cool and tidy; heat shortens life and wastes watts.
Microwaves, Clocks, And Panels
That bright clock and touch logic stay live all day. If you rarely nuke food, put the unit on a switchable strip and power it only when needed. The food still cooks the same; the clock just won’t glow all night.
Printers And Multi-Function Units
Inkjet units fall to low numbers quickly, while many lasers keep parts warm for a quick first page. Deep sleep and wake-on-print settings tame that idle trickle without hurting output when the job arrives.
PCs, Monitors, And Peripherals
Sleep modes vary by setup. Wake-on-LAN, RGB lights, and USB charging keep small rails alive. Trim wake sources to what you need and sleep lands near a watt or two. A switched strip can silence speakers and hubs in one tap.
Which Devices Use The Most Standby Power: Ranked
Here’s a simple rank that blends common idle draw, device counts in homes, and the time these products sit unused. Start at the top and you’ll see quick gains.
#1: Cable Or Satellite Box With DVR
Often idles in the teens for watts, day and night. Newer units and scheduled sleep can slash that. If you stream most shows, ask for a smaller thin-client box or go app-only on the TV.
#2: Smart TV With Quick Start Enabled
Turn off quick start and voice wake unless you use them daily. App launch stays snappy on most sets; you lose a small slice of instant-on speed and win a steady drop in idle draw.
#3: Game Console In Rest
Set energy-saving shutdown after active hours, stop controller charging from the console overnight, and keep background downloads to play windows. That keeps rest draw near the floor.
#4: Router + Modem Cluster
These stay on, yet you can still tidy them. One gateway instead of two boxes, no unused USB storage, and a clean, cool shelf make a difference across years.
#5: Smart Speakers
Small numbers per device add up across rooms. Displays draw more than puck-style units. If a room does not use voice control often, unplug it or move it to a spot that sees daily use.
#6: Printers
Pick deep sleep and wake-on-print. Cloud polling and instant-ready modes raise idle draw. Many small offices switch these off at the strip after closing; homes can copy that routine.
#7: Microwaves
If the clock matters, leave it. If not, park it on a strip and tap the switch when you want to reheat. The food result stays the same while the display stops sipping power overnight.
#8: Sound Bars And A/V Receivers
Look for network standby below one watt. Auto-standby on the HDMI input helps too. If a bar wakes your TV reliably without “always ready,” you’ve found the sweet spot.
#9: PCs, Monitors, And USB Hubs
Use true sleep, not a blank screen. Cut wake devices to keyboard and mouse only, and skip flashy lights when the system is idle.
#10: Major Appliances With Displays
Washers, dryers, and split AC units carry tiny control draws. Sleep timers and eco standby settings keep those rails lean between cycles.
Smart Ways To Cut Standby Without Losing Convenience
Flip The Right Settings
- TV: Disable quick start, voice wake, and fast app launch if you do not use them daily.
- Console: Choose energy-saving shutdown after play hours; charge controllers from a wall brick.
- Set-Top Box: Add a nightly sleep schedule or ask the provider for a low-power model.
- Printer: Enable deep sleep and wake-on-print; turn off cloud polling you do not need.
- PC: Use S3 or Modern Standby with only the wake sources you truly need.
Use Smarter Strips
A smart power strip can sense when a TV turns off and then cut power to attached gear. Desk strips with master switches shut down monitors, speakers, and chargers with one tap. The DOE’s smart strip guide shows the common types and where they shine.
Replace A Single Energy Hog
Still running a decade-old DVR? A thin-client box or a streaming stick cuts idle draw to a fraction. An ancient router may lack low-power radio modes; a modern gateway can improve coverage and trim watts at the same time.
Set Simple Schedules
Game consoles, set-top boxes, and many TVs support active hours. Pick the hours you need quick start or rest. Outside that window, switch to full shutdown or deep sleep.
Measure, Don’t Guess
Plug a watt meter between the wall and the device. Wait a minute for readings to settle, then note both watts and watt-hours. If the value bounces, leave it for ten minutes and take an average. Test again after changing a setting so you see the gain in black and white.
Standby-Saving Actions And Payback
| Action | Typical Watts Saved | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turn Off TV Quick Start | 5–20 | Wake stays fine on most sets; voice wake may pause. |
| Set Console To Energy-Saving Shutdown | 1–8 | Disable overnight downloads; charge pads from wall bricks. |
| Add Smart Strip To TV Cluster | 3–15 | TV off → powers down bar, player, and lights. |
| Schedule Set-Top Box Sleep | 8–15 | Guide updates still run; wake takes a few seconds. |
| Unplug Microwave Overnight | 2–7 | Clock goes dark; cooking stays the same. |
| Enable Printer Deep Sleep | 1–4 | Wake on print job; no change to print quality. |
| Consolidate Modem + Router | 2–6 | One gateway instead of two boxes; keep it cool and dust-free. |
What Should Stay Plugged In
Some gear is non-negotiable. Fridges and freezers, smoke and CO alarms, medical devices, sump pumps, and any security system need steady power. If you place a device on a strip, confirm it boots cleanly and does not lose safety settings after a power cut.
Settings That Matter Most
TV Tips
Turn off quick start and voice wake if they are not daily must-haves. Keep HDMI-CEC on so the set and sound bar wake each other cleanly. Many brands offer a “network standby under 1 W” setting; pick it if your apps still launch as you like.
Console Tips
Pick energy-saving shutdown after play hours. Turn off “stay connected to the network” during long idle stretches. Use a wall charger for controllers and headsets so the console can sleep deeper.
Provider Gear Tips
Ask your provider for the newest low-power hardware, or switch to a thin-client setup. Many systems have a web page where you can set quiet hours; that single change cuts idle draw for a third of each day.
Router Tips
Stick to one gateway if speeds allow. Disable guest networks you do not use. Tidy cords and keep vents clear so the unit runs cool and stable.
Frequently Missed Offenders
- Garage door openers with Wi-Fi modules that stay awake nonstop.
- Cordless tool chargers left empty on a live outlet.
- Water dispensers that keep hot and cold tanks ready around the clock.
- Aquarium heaters and filters on cheap adapters that leak power.
- Electric toothbrush bases powered while the brush is in a drawer.
Myth Checks
“Phone Chargers Waste Loads Of Power While Idle”
Modern phone bricks sit near zero with nothing attached. The bigger draws are laptop bricks feeding docks, monitors, and hubs, since those often keep small rails awake downstream.
“Smart Bulbs Are The Worst Standby Hogs”
A single smart bulb sips a fraction of a watt. A house full of them can add up, yet the per-bulb number is tiny next to a DVR or router.
“Full TV Power-Off Breaks HDMI-CEC”
Most sets and bars wake together just fine without quick start. Try it for a week; if wake-up still feels smooth, keep the setting.
Make A Simple Plan For Your Home
Start in the living room. Measure the TV, the set-top box, the console, and the sound bar. Turn off TV quick start, set console shutdown, and add a smart strip so the bar and player follow the TV. Move to the office next: a switched strip kills the monitor, speakers, and printer with one tap, while the router and modem stay online. Walk the kitchen last: if you do not need the clock, unplug the microwave at night. These tweaks take minutes, lock in savings, and never hurt comfort.
When A Replacement Makes Sense
Some gear never sleeps well. If a DVR runs hot at idle, call the provider for newer hardware. If your router is a relic, a modern gateway often covers more rooms, handles more devices, and trims idle draw. A tiny streaming stick can replace a bulky box and sip close to a watt when the TV is off.
Safety Notes
- Do not daisy-chain strips. Use surge-protected models for AV and PC clusters.
- If a device hums or warms up while “off,” test it with a meter and replace or unplug.
- Label strip switches so family members know what each one controls.
The Payoff
Standby draw is a quiet part of your bill, yet it is easy to shrink. Flip the right settings, add a strip in two rooms, and swap a single hog. You cut waste once, comfort stays the same, and the savings keep rolling every month.