CCTV Camera Power Consumption: Watts & Cost 2026 Guide

Many of you might hear about IP security cameras slowing down your home network, but few of you have never factored in power consumption of your security cameras, CCTV cameras or security systems. So how much power do your analog CCTV cameras, PoE/wireless security cameras, DVR/NVR or security systems use? Do security cameras use a lot of electricity? Here we give you the answers.

How Many Watts Does a Security Camera Use?

Most security cameras use roughly 5–15 watts while operating, although consumption varies by camera type and features. Basic indoor cameras generally use less power, while PoE, PTZ, floodlight, or spotlight cameras may consume more. An NVR or DVR adds additional power, especially when running multiple hard drives and powering PoE cameras.

Daily energy use (kWh) = Watts × Hours ÷ 1,000

Annual electricity cost = Watts × 24 × 365 ÷ 1,000 × electricity rate

How Much Does It Cost to Run Security Cameras 24/7?

The cost of running a security camera 24/7 depends on its power consumption and your local electricity rate. In most cases, a single camera costs only a small amount to operate each month.

You can estimate the cost with this formula:

Monthly energy use (kWh) = Camera wattage × 24 hours × 30 days ÷ 1,000

For example, a 10W security camera running continuously uses:

10 × 24 × 30 ÷ 1,000 = 7.2 kWh per month

If electricity costs $0.20 per kWh, the monthly cost would be:

7.2 × $0.20 = $1.44 per month

These figures cover the cameras only. A complete CCTV or IP camera system may use additional electricity for an NVR/DVR, hard drives, PoE switch, router, or other networking equipment.

How Much Power Does a PoE Camera Use?

Most PoE cameras draw significantly less power during continuous operation than their maximum rated label. A typical 15W-rated camera actually averages 3W to 8W during the day and 6W to 12W at night.

A 15W PoE camera does not necessarily draw 15W continuously. The listed figure may represent maximum or full-load consumption.

How Much Power Does an NVR or DVR Use?

An NVR or DVR generally uses more electricity than a single security camera because it must power the recorder itself and one or more hard drives. For a PoE NVR that directly powers connected cameras, the cameras also contribute to the system's total power consumption.

For a PoE NVR system, total power use can be estimated as:

Total system power = NVR mainboard + HDD(s) + PoE cameras

For example, an 8-camera PoE system will consume power for the NVR hardware and hard drive, plus the combined wattage of all eight cameras. Features such as infrared night vision, spotlights, and PTZ movement can cause camera power consumption to increase when active.

Keep in mind that an NVR's power adapter rating represents its maximum available power, not necessarily how much electricity the NVR continuously consumes. Actual consumption depends on the NVR model, number of hard drives, connected cameras, and camera activity.

For compatible Reolink NVRs, users can also check the real-time PoE power consumption of connected cameras through the NVR interface. This can provide a more accurate estimate than calculating system usage from maximum power ratings alone.

What Affects IP Camera Power Consumption?

• Night vision: IR LEDs consume additional power when active.

• Spotlights/floodlights: White-light illumination can significantly increase peak consumption.

• Pan, tilt and zoom: Motors temporarily increase power use while the camera moves.

• AI processing: Detection and other onboard processing contribute to device workload, although actual impact varies by hardware.

• Wi-Fi vs. PoE: Both ultimately require electricity; they simply deliver power differently.

• Operating conditions: Extreme temperatures and device activity can affect consumption.

How to Reduce Security Camera Power Consumption?

Even though video surveillance cameras are not guzzling your electricity on a daily basis, while the type and number of security cameras, as well as the time of monitoring and their working temperatures, may contribute to the uptick on your electricity bill in the long run.

Therefore, it’s important to take some proper measures to whittle down security cameras/systems’ energy consumption, for example, buy reliable security cameras, quality wires, and cables, and tweak your cameras’ settings to save powers by customizing motion detection.

Reolink Security Camera Power Consumption

Reolink security camera power consumption varies by model, camera type, and active features such as infrared night vision, spotlights, PTZ movement, and auto tracking.

Typical maximum power consumption for selected Reolink plug-in camera groups includes:

These figures generally represent maximum or full-load power consumption, not constant real-world usage. Actual power draw may be lower during normal operation and increase when features such as IR LEDs, spotlights, PTZ motors, or tracking are active.

For the most accurate estimate, check the power specification for your specific Reolink model or monitor its actual wattage through a compatible PoE NVR, PoE switch, or power meter.

FAQs

Does CCTV use a lot of electricity?

No. Most CCTV cameras use relatively little electricity compared with larger household appliances. However, total power consumption increases with the number of cameras, DVR/NVR usage, hard drives, PoE equipment, and features such as infrared night vision, spotlights, or PTZ movement.

Does an IP camera need electricity?

Yes. An IP camera needs electricity to operate, but the power source varies by model. It may receive power through a wall adapter, Power over Ethernet (PoE), a rechargeable battery, or a solar panel connected to a battery-powered camera.

Do all outdoor security cameras have to be plugged in?

No. Outdoor security cameras can be plug-in, PoE, battery-powered, or solar-powered. Plug-in and PoE cameras need a continuous wired power source, while battery and solar cameras can operate without being directly connected to a wall outlet.

Conclusion

Even though a home security system only takes up a small portion of household energy consumption, taking a small step to green up your home security system will not only slash energy spending but also reduce carbon footprint in the long run.