Short answer: likely only a few dollars a year in electricity if the MacBook Air averages around 3.1 watts—but that figure is an estimate based on Apple’s idle test, not a measurement of YouTube playback. At a hypothetical $0.15 per kWh, it works out to about $4.07 a year. Your actual cost depends on the laptop’s measured power draw and your electricity rate.
Estimate the electricity cost
Use this formula, substituting your local marginal electricity price:
Cost = power in watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × electricity price per kWh.
Apple’s March 2024 environmental report measured the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air at 3.09 W at 100 V, 3.12 W at 115 V, and 3.13 W at 230 V in its defined “Idle—Display On” test. Using 3.1 W as a proxy gives the following energy use. It is not a YouTube streaming measurement. Apple’s M3 MacBook Air environmental report describes the test as display on, brightness set according to ENERGY STAR requirements, Auto-Brightness off, Wi-Fi connected, and other settings at their defaults.
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| Period | Calculation at 3.1 W | Estimated energy | Cost at $0.15/kWh | Cost at $0.30/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One day | 3.1 ÷ 1,000 × 24 | 0.0744 kWh | About $0.01 | About $0.02 |
| 30-day month | 3.1 ÷ 1,000 × 720 | 2.232 kWh | About $0.33 | About $0.67 |
| 365 days | 3.1 ÷ 1,000 × 8,760 | 27.159 kWh | About $4.07 | About $8.15 |
The two example rates are illustrative only. Electricity prices vary by location and plan; use the rate that applies to the additional energy your household consumes. At 3.1 W, multiply 27.159 kWh by your rate for an annual estimate.
Why the real streaming cost can differ
The cited Apple figure is a useful low-power reference, but it does not establish the wattage of a MacBook Air actively playing a YouTube video around the clock. Video decoding, display brightness, audio, browser or playback settings, connected accessories, and the MacBook Air model can all affect power use. The available published figures do not quantify how much each factor changes YouTube playback draw.
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Apple’s current specifications for the cited 13-inch configuration list a 53.8 Wh battery and up to 18 hours of video streaming. Neither figure determines continuous wall consumption: battery runtime is a battery-life claim under specified conditions, not an outlet measurement of a plugged-in stream. Likewise, the listed 40 W Dynamic Power Adapter, with 60 W maximum output, describes adapter capacity—not the Mac’s continuous draw. See Apple’s MacBook Air technical specifications.
How to get a more accurate number for your setup
- Measure at the outlet. Use a plug-in electricity monitor with the complete setup connected, including the MacBook Air and any accessories whose consumption you want to count.
- Run the intended stream. Use the actual video, playback resolution, brightness, sound level, power settings, and connected peripherals you plan to keep in use.
- Record energy over a representative period. Use the monitor’s accumulated kWh reading rather than estimating from the charger’s wattage rating.
- Multiply by your electricity rate. If the monitor records 1 kWh and your marginal rate is $0.20 per kWh, that measured period costs $0.20. For another duration, scale the measured energy and cost to the period you care about.
This approach captures the whole setup under your conditions. A short test may not reflect changes in playback or power use over a full day, so measure long enough to represent the way you will actually leave it running.
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What the other published power figures do—and do not—tell you
ENERGY STAR’s US certification record for the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air (A3240) lists 3.6 W for short idle, 0.7 W for long idle, 0.3 W for sleep, and 0.1 W when off. These are distinct test states, not active video playback measurements, so they should not be used as the stream’s wattage. The record lists availability from March 5, 2025, and certification on October 24, 2025. See the ENERGY STAR certification record.
For a stream that is meant to remain visible, sleep and off-state figures are especially poor substitutes: those describe states in which the computer is not actively playing the video. Apple’s stated video-streaming battery life is also not a substitute for a wall meter.
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Does leaving it plugged in change the electricity estimate?
The estimate is based on power drawn at the outlet, not on how often the battery charges. Apple says the battery charges whenever the MacBook Air is connected to power. Its Optimize Battery Charging feature can delay charging past 80% when the Mac predicts the computer will remain plugged in for an extended period, then charge before it expects the Mac to be unplugged. For Apple’s guidance, see Charge the MacBook Air battery.
Reducing display brightness can help lower energy use, and Apple provides Low Power Mode and battery-use information. The actual savings for continuous YouTube playback are not quantified in the cited material, so measure again if you want to know the effect on your setup.
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Keep the stream eligible and available
Low electricity use does not guarantee that a 24/7 stream will remain available or suitable for monetization. Make sure you have the rights to the video and audio you broadcast, and review YouTube’s policies on copyright and reused content before running a continuous loop. A stream can also stop because of a network, playback, or platform interruption; if it matters that it resumes, monitor the stream and test your recovery plan.
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