5 Ways to Reduce Your Wi-Fi Network’s Electricity Use

Your Wi-Fi has a small, steady electricity bill

A router does not look like a major appliance. It also tends to run all day, every day, which gives even modest power draw plenty of time to accumulate. A router, modem, and mesh system can add up to more than one box quietly glowing in the hallway.

The sensible first move is measurement, not buying a newer router. A 10-watt device running continuously uses about 88 kilowatt-hours a year. At 16.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, that is roughly $14.50 annually. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported an average residential electricity price of about 16.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2024, but your own rate may differ. The way time-of-use rates affect a power bill can also change the value of shifting when a device runs.

Fact: That $14.50 is a calculation from an assumed 10-watt load and the EIA’s national average price, not a claim about every router. Interpretation: Small savings are possible, but a network shutdown that disrupts work or security may cost more in inconvenience than it saves in electricity.

1. Measure the equipment before changing it

Plug a modem, router, or mesh node into a plug-in electricity meter and record its wattage over at least a day. Many meters show live watts and accumulated kilowatt-hours. A basic meter often costs around $15 to $30, though prices vary; borrowing one from a library or utility program may cost nothing.

Measure each box separately if possible. A combined reading can tell you the total, but not whether the extra mesh point is responsible for most of it. Use the reading to estimate annual energy: watts multiplied by 8.76 gives yearly kilowatt-hours for equipment left on continuously. Multiply that result by your own electricity price from your bill.

Why it works: Manufacturer power figures may describe a particular operating condition, while your home’s usage depends on the model, settings, and connected equipment. Cost or saving: Measurement costs $0 to about $30. It saves no electricity by itself, but prevents replacing a $100 device to chase a $10 annual bill.

2. Remove mesh nodes that are not doing useful work

Mesh systems help when a single router cannot cover the home reliably. They also add powered equipment. Check the system’s app for connection quality and try turning off one satellite for a day. Test calls, video, and the rooms where coverage matters before deciding whether it can stay off.

Do not assume the closest-looking node is redundant. Walls, floors, and interference make signal maps less intuitive than the product packaging suggests. If disabling a node forces devices to reconnect poorly or causes repeated dropouts, restore it. A stable connection is part of the service you are paying for.

Why it works: Removing a node eliminates its measured energy use. Cost or saving: The change is free; if a 5-watt node is switched off for a full year, the maximum avoided use is about 44 kilowatt-hours, or roughly $7 at the EIA’s 2024 national average. Your meter and local rate provide the better estimate.

3. Turn off a second Wi-Fi network you do not use

Some homes keep an ISP gateway’s Wi-Fi active even after adding a separate router or mesh system. If both networks are broadcasting and you use only one, log in to the gateway settings or ask your provider whether its wireless radios can be disabled. Keep the modem function running if the separate router depends on it.

This change may reduce radio activity, but do not expect the whole gateway to stop drawing power. It still has a job to do, and settings vary by model. Check that the active network covers your usual rooms before putting the unused one away.

Why it works: It removes an unnecessary wireless function and can simplify the network. Cost or saving: Usually $0 if you can change the setting yourself. The electricity saving is model-specific, so compare the meter reading before and after rather than treating the wattage of the entire gateway as saved.

4. Use scheduled Wi-Fi shutdown only when the household can tolerate it

Some routers let you schedule wireless radios to switch off overnight. This can make sense if everyone is asleep, no device needs a connection, and the modem or router does not provide a required security or home-automation function. Try a short window first, then check whether phones, cameras, alarms, or scheduled downloads actually depend on overnight access.

Disabling Wi-Fi is not the same as unplugging the equipment. The router may continue to use power for its wired functions, so measure the change rather than assuming the full load disappears. A smart plug can turn equipment off, but it can also leave you without internet if the plug does not reconnect correctly. Router settings are usually the less dramatic option.

Why it works: Fewer operating hours can mean lower energy use. Cost or saving: A schedule costs $0 if built into the router. For a measured 10-watt reduction over eight hours each night, the theoretical annual saving is about 29 kilowatt-hours, or under $5 at the EIA average. Real savings may be smaller.

5. Shut equipment down when you will be away for days

If a home will be empty for a longer trip, consider switching off nonessential network equipment. First check whether you rely on remote cameras, leak sensors, smart thermostats, or internet-based alarms. Some devices can keep working locally; others stop reporting as soon as the connection disappears.

Unplugging a modem or router may also mean waiting for it to restart when you return. That is a minor task, but not if you are asking someone else to check the house. If you use a provider’s voice service over the same equipment, verify whether it needs power during an outage.

Why it works: A complete shutdown avoids the equipment’s measured draw for the time it is off. Cost or saving: There is no equipment cost, and the savings depend on the trip length and meter reading. A 10-watt load switched off for seven days avoids about 1.7 kilowatt-hours, roughly 28 cents at the EIA average. This is a useful housekeeping move, not a vacation fund.

What is likely to matter

Prediction: For most households, the best opportunities will be removing an unnecessary mesh node, disabling a duplicate network, or avoiding a replacement purchase made without measurement. The arithmetic suggests that switching off one small device saves dollars a year, not hundreds. A router may still be worth keeping on for reliable coverage and connected safety equipment.

Home network electricity is only one small part of household use. If cooling is the larger seasonal expense, the practical steps in this guide to reducing a cooling bill during a heatwave address a much larger load. Measure the network, make one change at a time, and keep the settings that reduce consumption without making the home harder to use.