Skint Dad

Where Every Penny Counts

  • Home
  • Save money
    • How to save money on groceries
    • Save money on energy bills
    • Save money on water bills
    • Frugal living tips
    • 1p Saving Challenge
    • Sun holiday codes
  • Make money
    • Make money online
    • Best paid surveys
    • Best side hustle ideas
    • Free money
    • Genuine work from home jobs
    • Bank switch offers
  • Manage money
    • Best budgeting apps
    • Average household bills
    • Credit score apps
  • Our Book
  • News
  • Deals
    • Farmfoods offers
    • Blue Light Card discounts list
    • When is the Next sale
    • 25% off wine
  • About us
  • Community
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Save Money / Worst appliances to leave on standby mode

Skint Dad is reader supported. Purchases through links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission. Learn more

Worst appliances to leave on standby mode

by Naomi Willis · updated 21 March 2023

While in standby mode, appliances continue to consume energy, even when they’re not in use. UK households are wasting hundreds of pounds leaving devices on.

Cartoon of a phone charger

£10 sign up bonus: Earn easy cash by watching videos, playing games, and entering surveys.

Get a £10 sign up bonus when you join today.

Join Swagbucks here >>

Leaving appliances on standby can add to your entire household’s energy bills.

So if you are feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis, turning your gadgets off could help save you some cash.

If you leave an appliance plugged in, it can still use some energy. From your alarm clock to gaming consoles, every appliance that’s plugged in is costing you money.

Saving money by turning off appliances

Many cash-strapped Brits think that hitting the switch off button on remote controls makes a saving.

While you can – a little – leaving the TV on standby costs you more. So, give the remotes a miss and turn off your TV properly.

Leaving just one TV on standby can add around £16 to your entire average household bill.

But your TV is just one of the worst offenders costing you money.

What devices are the worst culprits in the UK?

Modern TVs offer standby mode, but you’ll be better off just turning it off completely. By turning off or unplugging appliances when they’re not in use, you can save a bit of dosh.

You might turn it off, but when on standby, some appliances can use as much energy as when they’re switched on.

So, it’s always a good idea to switch off your smart speaker or gaming console frequently to avoid wasting energy and money.

Studies show that leaving everyday items on standby can cost billpayers hundreds of pounds annually, which might be one of the reasons your electric bill is so high. With electricity prices on the rise, these tips can help save money on your energy bills.

Here is a list of the worst appliances to leave on standby that cost the most money.

Worse appliances to leave on standby

Televisions and game consoles are one of the most common appliances left on standby, and they can consume up to 20% of their energy while on standby.

Games consoles

Gaming consoles such as Xbox and PlayStations can drain electricity when on standby mode.

It’s better to turn them off completely when you’re not using them.

Desktop computers

Left on standby, computers can consume up to 50% of their energy.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to turn them off when not in use, especially if you’re going to be away from your desk for a while.

Chargers

Pretty much everyone has a phone these days, and I wonder how many people are guilty of leaving chargers plugged in all the time?

I have to admit it’s one thing I forget to unplug!

It’s easy to think that by being plugged in that they’re ready to charge, but it’s costing you money.

Chargers for mobile phones, tablets, and laptops can consume energy even when they’re not charging.

Avoid leaving an empty charger plugged in.

Baby monitor

Baby monitors are super sensitive and, even in standby mode, will be listening out for any noises or movement.

Airfryers

Air fryers are all the rage. But after using it to cook your dinner or tea, switch this appliance off from the wall. Although it can cost less to run than your oven, leaving it on costs you.

This applies to the average kettle left plugged in too.

Coffee Makers

Have your coffee hit, and then turn your coffee maker off.

They are not the worst energy consumer, but switching off all helps save some pennies.

Fridge freezers

Fridge freezers are one of the worse energy-guzzling appliances, but you can do things to make them run more effectively.

Be cost-conscious and make sure the fridge functions properly. Make savings with your appliance by keeping the cooling system on the exterior clean and dust free.

And why have your fridge cooling things when they don’t need to be – it’s just costing you money. Keep on top of food rotation and make sure to dispose of any out-of-date food.

Printers

Printers left on can be an energy drainer.

Turn them off completely when you’re not using them, rather than leaving appliances on standby.

Speakers

Speakers are common household appliances plugged in all the time.

Left on standby mode, they consume energy even when they’re not playing music.

So, it’s a good idea to turn them off completely when you’re not using them to save on your energy bills.

Save money by turning off your appliances

Leaving just one appliance on when you’re not using them can also be a drain on your finances. Not something we need during the energy price cap crisis.

So, if you’re not watching that TV or using that microwave, switch it off at the plug and save some cash on your energy bill!

You’ll be amazed at how much those little changes can add up to big savings in annual bills in the long run.

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Naomi Willis
Naomi Willis
Content editor at Skint Dad
Naomi knows the burden of living on very little and became debt free by following her own money saving tips and tricks. She is an expert on saving money at the supermarket and side hustles.
Naomi Willis
Latest posts by Naomi Willis (see all)
  • TopCashback Sweet Treats Giveaway this Easter 2025: ALL answers - 7 April 2025
  • Tesco clothing sale 2025 – 25% off F&F sale dates - 27 March 2025
  • Next sale dates 2025 and how to book an early VIP slot - 17 March 2025
Newsletter Title

Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest money saving content

Plus an exclusive £16 cashback offer for new Quidco members.

Comments

  1. Jane says

    22 March 2023 at 09:04

    Printers, smart TVs, games consoles, PC’s and the like do not get updates if you turn them off and when you turn them on they then install the update so you can’t use it until the update is finished. This also costs more than if done overnight..

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ricky and Naomi Willis

Ricky and Naomi Willis, founders and editors of the Skint Dad website.

We know every penny counts, so we’re sharing resources, tips, tricks, and deals that will keep more money in your pocket.

Read more about us.

Make Every Penny Count by Ricky and Naomi Willis
Skint Dad in the media

Explore

Save money

Make money

Manage money

Buy our book

Budget recipes

Join the community

Information

About us

Contact us

Awards, Media and Press

Affiliate Disclosure

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Terms & Conditions

Sitemap

Skint Dad

K2 Tower
Bond Street
Hull
HU1 3EN
01482 230059

Skint Media Limited
is a registered company
in England & Wales.
Company reg no: 09991508
VAT No: 318 7349 80

Copyright © 2025 · Skint Media Limited · All rights reserved · Registered in England and Wales with company number 09991508

Skint DadLogo Header Menu
  • Home
  • Save money
    • How to save money on groceries
    • Save money on energy bills
    • Save money on water bills
    • Frugal living tips
    • 1p Saving Challenge
    • Sun holiday codes
  • Make money
    • Make money online
    • Best paid surveys
    • Best side hustle ideas
    • Free money
    • Genuine work from home jobs
    • Bank switch offers
  • Manage money
    • Best budgeting apps
    • Average household bills
    • Credit score apps
  • Our Book
  • News
  • Deals
    • Farmfoods offers
    • Blue Light Card discounts list
    • When is the Next sale
    • 25% off wine
  • About us
  • Community
  • Subscribe