Cost to Run a 30-watt NAS server for 10 hours in California
Running a 30-watt NAS server for 10 hours uses 0.3 kWh and costs $0.096 at $0.32/kWh in California. Do that every day and it adds up to $2.88 a month.
Calculate your own cost
- Per hour
- $0.010.03 kWh
- Per day
- $0.0960.3 kWh
- Per week
- $0.6722.1 kWh
- Per month (30 days)
- $2.889 kWh
- Per year
- $35.04110 kWh
Formula: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × rate. Edit any box and every number updates instantly.
People also ask
How much does a 30-watt NAS server cost per hour?
At $0.32/kWh, it costs $0.01 per hour. The maths: 30 W ÷ 1,000 = 0.03 kWh per hour, × $0.32 = $0.01.
How much does it cost per month?
Used 10 hours a day for 30 days, it costs about $2.88 per month and uses 9 kWh. Change the hours in the calculator above to match how you use it.
How many kWh does it use?
0.3 kWh per day, 9 kWh per month and 110 kWh per year at 10 hours a day. A kWh is one kilowatt (1,000 W) used for one hour. It is the unit on your electricity bill.
How can I lower the cost?
Enable drive sleep where suitable and use efficient drives for always-on storage. Check your bill for the exact rate and enter it above.
Does my electricity rate change the answer?
Yes, a lot. At 10¢ per kWh the monthly cost is $0.90 and at 30¢ it is $2.70. Find your rate on your bill (total cost ÷ kWh used) and type it into the calculator.
Cost by hours of use in California
| Used per day | Energy per day | Cost per day | Cost per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 0.03 kWh | $0.01 | $0.288 | $3.50 |
| 2 hours | 0.06 kWh | $0.019 | $0.576 | $7.01 |
| 3 hours | 0.09 kWh | $0.029 | $0.864 | $10.51 |
| 4 hours | 0.12 kWh | $0.038 | $1.15 | $14.02 |
| 5 hours | 0.15 kWh | $0.048 | $1.44 | $17.52 |
| 6 hours | 0.18 kWh | $0.058 | $1.73 | $21.02 |
| 7 hours | 0.21 kWh | $0.067 | $2.02 | $24.53 |
| 8 hours | 0.24 kWh | $0.077 | $2.30 | $28.03 |
| 9 hours | 0.27 kWh | $0.086 | $2.59 | $31.54 |
| 10 hours | 0.3 kWh | $0.096 | $2.88 | $35.04 |
| 11 hours | 0.33 kWh | $0.106 | $3.17 | $38.54 |
| 12 hours | 0.36 kWh | $0.115 | $3.46 | $42.05 |
| 13 hours | 0.39 kWh | $0.125 | $3.74 | $45.55 |
| 14 hours | 0.42 kWh | $0.134 | $4.03 | $49.06 |
| 15 hours | 0.45 kWh | $0.144 | $4.32 | $52.56 |
| 16 hours | 0.48 kWh | $0.154 | $4.61 | $56.06 |
| 17 hours | 0.51 kWh | $0.163 | $4.90 | $59.57 |
| 18 hours | 0.54 kWh | $0.173 | $5.18 | $63.07 |
| 19 hours | 0.57 kWh | $0.182 | $5.47 | $66.58 |
| 20 hours | 0.6 kWh | $0.192 | $5.76 | $70.08 |
| 21 hours | 0.63 kWh | $0.202 | $6.05 | $73.58 |
| 22 hours | 0.66 kWh | $0.211 | $6.34 | $77.09 |
| 23 hours | 0.69 kWh | $0.221 | $6.62 | $80.59 |
| 24 hours | 0.72 kWh | $0.23 | $6.91 | $84.10 |
How we worked it out
- Energy per hour: 30 W ÷ 1,000 = 0.03 kWh
- Cost per hour: 0.03 kWh × $0.32 = $0.01
- Cost per day: × 10 hours = $0.096
- Month and year: × 30 days = $2.88, × 365 days = $35.04
California electricity prices
California pays about $0.32 per kWh, which is 83% higher than the US average of $0.175. The same NAS server would cost $1.58 a month at the national average.
What it costs in different places
Same 30-watt NAS server, 10 hours a day. Only the local electricity rate changes.
| Place | Rate per kWh | Cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $0.175 | $1.58 |
| California | $0.32 | $2.88 |
| Texas | $0.155 | $1.40 |
| New York | $0.25 | $2.25 |
| Florida | $0.155 | $1.40 |
| Illinois | $0.17 | $1.53 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.18 | $1.62 |
| Ohio | $0.17 | $1.53 |
| Washington | $0.115 | $1.04 |
About NAS server running costs
A network-attached storage server runs for long periods. Hard-drive count, workload and sleep settings change its average draw.
Typical sizes: 30 W, 60 W, 100 W, 150 W.
How to spend less: Enable drive sleep where suitable and use efficient drives for always-on storage.
What this estimate assumes
- The appliance draws its full stated wattage the whole time it is on. Real units with a thermostat cycle off and cost less.
- Wattage is the typical label value, not a measured value. Check the label on your own appliance.
- The rate is an approximate residential average in California. Your bill may include fixed fees, tiers or time-of-use pricing. Edit the rate above.
- A month is 30 days and a year is 365 days.