Buying a TV in the US: Check ENERGY STAR information and the installed cost

Check the exact model, everyday controls and running costs before deciding whether a discount represents good value.

A television needs to fit your room and work with the equipment you already own. Start with your requirements, then compare specific models rather than promotional headlines.

Use US product information, not an imported energy scale

ENERGY STAR publishes information about certified televisions and energy use in different modes. Consult the specific product information and your utility rate when building a budget. Do not transfer a European energy-label class onto a US model, even when the product names look similar. Match the full US model number. ENERGY STAR: Televisions.

Try the tasks you will actually use

Measure the available space and list existing devices, including a games console, receiver, sound system or headphones. Take photographs of their connections. Ask the retailer to explain how each device would connect and whether the sockets remain accessible in the intended installation. Check your required streaming services on the specific model.

Use the remote yourself. Change the input, switch on subtitles and open an app. Ask to see ordinary programmes and decide whether speech is clear at a comfortable volume. This is a personal usability check, not a laboratory assessment of picture quality.

Build a complete budget

Write down the purchase price, delivery, installation and any genuinely necessary accessories. For an energy comparison, use the same operating conditions and your own electricity tariff. Keep your personal picture and sound preferences separate from the calculation of running costs.

Example only: a difference of 30 kWh over the same usage period costs $6 at an assumed $0.20 per kWh. This is an illustration, not an average US electricity rate. Add any applicable sales tax and quoted delivery or installation costs separately.

Sources and date

• ENERGY STAR: Televisions

Research checked on 5 November 2026.

Transparency: This article was researched and written with AI assistance. Net Trends did not perform product tests. Numerical examples use explicitly assumed inputs and are not current offers.