The more electricity a router consumes, the higher the electricity costs and the worse the environmental balance sheet. We explain the power consumption of a router on average. Also find out how you can calculate the power consumption of the router yourself and reduce it by more than 50 percent.

How much power does a typical router use?

Many underestimate the power consumption of a router. The devices are usually in operation around the clock and provide constant performance. As a rule, modern routers consume between 5 and 12 watts of electricity per hour. In most households, the router is on 24 hours a day, all year round. With an average electricity price of 43 cents per kilowatt hour, the device causes annual costs of up to 45 euros. With our tips you can reduce them by more than 50 percent.

This is how you calculate the power consumption of the router

To calculate the power consumption of your router, you need the following information:

• The power consumption of the router in watts (W). You can find this information in the operating instructions or on the back of the device.
• The uptime of the router in hours per day.
• The electricity price per kilowatt hour (kWh), which is set in your tariff.

With this information you can calculate the power consumption of your router as follows:

Determine the daily power consumption of the router by multiplying the power consumption in watts by the hours of operation:

• Power consumption (W) × operating time (h) = daily power consumption (Wh)
• Example : power consumption: 8 W, duration of use: 24 h

Daily power consumption: 8 W × 24 h = 192 Wh

Convert daily electricity consumption to kilowatt-hours by dividing the daily consumption in watt-hours by 1,000:

• daily electricity consumption (Wh) ÷ 1,000 = daily electricity consumption (kWh)
• Example : daily electricity consumption: 192 Wh

daily electricity consumption: 192 Wh ÷ 1000 = 0.192 kWh

Finally, to calculate the router's annual power consumption , multiply the daily power consumption by the number of days in the year.

• daily electricity consumption × 365 days = annual electricity consumption
• Example: daily electricity consumption: 0.192 kWh

0.192kWh × 365 = 70.08kWh

How much does electricity cost for my router?

Calculate the electricity costs by multiplying the annual electricity consumption in kilowatt hours by the electricity price per kilowatt hour:

• annual electricity consumption (kWh) × electricity price per kWh (Euro) = annual electricity costs
• Example: Annual electricity consumption: 70.08 kWh, electricity price: 0.43 euros

70.08 kWh × 0.43 euros = 30.13 euros

There are also handy online calculators that you can use to calculate the cost of your device.

How can I reduce the power consumption of the router?

1. Settings that reduce the power consumption of the router

Depending on the model, there are a number of measures you can take to reduce power consumption:

• Activate energy saving mode
• Reduce radio frequency
• Change WiFi encryption
• Activate timer
• Activate router standby
• Use of newer wireless standards (like 802.11ac)
• Reduction of transmission power

To make these changes, you need to log into the router's configuration page:

1. Connect your smartphone or computer to the router's network.
2. Open a web browser and enter the router's IP address in the address bar. Typically, the IP address is specified in the router's manual or written on the router itself.
3. Enter the username and password provided in the router's instructions – assuming you haven't changed them.
4. Go to the router settings. This works a little differently depending on the device. There you will see a list of available settings options. Activate the features you want to try.

2. Deactivate WLAN on the router

Connecting the router to your computer with an Ethernet cable (LAN) increases Internet speed and improves security. You can also switch off the WLAN function and save electricity – and still continue surfing.

How to disable WiFi on the router:

1. Open a web browser and enter the router's IP address in the address bar. Typically, the IP address is specified in the router's manual or written on the router itself.
2. Log in to the router. To do this, enter the username and password specified in the router's instructions. Unless you have changed it – then enter your individual access data.
3. Look for the "WLAN" option.
4. Change the setting from Enabled to Disabled.
5. Save the changes and close the window.
6. Your WiFi is now disabled.

In addition to WiFi and Ethernet, there are alternative technologies that your router can use to save electricity:

• Power Line Communication (PLC) is a method by which data is transmitted over the power line.
• Mesh networks work according to the peer-to-peer principle. That is, each device on the network forwards data sent between other devices. Mesh networks use wireless, infrared, or Wi-Fi technology. They are only suitable for transmission with a low bandwidth.

Tip: Connecting via Ethernet cable or using alternative technologies are not options for you? Purchasing a more economical router and avoiding excessive uploads and downloads can also reduce the router's power consumption.

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3. Has several advantages: Turn off the router at night

You may have heard that it makes sense to turn off the router at night. Although this may seem annoying, it has several advantages:

• Save energy: Routers use up electricity unnecessarily if you leave them on at night even though no one is using them. This can result in higher electricity bills.
• Make the network more secure: A switched on router is more susceptible to hacker attacks. If you turn it off regularly, you can protect your data and devices.
• Speed up the Internet: If your router is constantly on, it can become overloaded. The result: Your connection will be slower. If you take a break at night, the router can reset itself and your connection will be back to normal speed.

Conclusion

There are various settings and tips that you can use to reduce the power consumption of your router – from enabling energy saving mode to reducing the radio frequency to buying a more economical device. If you take at least some of these measures, you will save money and at the same time make your household more sustainable.