PC Total Cost of Ownership

Compare different computer setups based on purchase price and energy consumption.

General Inputs
Setup 1
Setup 2
Setup 3
Total Cost of Ownership Projection

Related Planning Tools

Financial Simulator
Try Tool
Car Calculator
Try Tool
Fitness Calculator
Try Tool

Frequently Asked Questions

Beyond the purchase price, you must factor in annual maintenance (software, cleaning), energy consumption based on your daily usage, and the expected lifespan before you need a refresh or replacement.

Yes, a gaming PC under high load can use 300-500 Watts. If used for 4 hours a day, this can cost between 100 and 150 euros per year in electricity alone.

PCs don't use their maximum power all the time. An office PC might average 50-80W, while a gaming PC varies between 100W (browsing) and 400W+ (gaming). Our calculator lets you define separate times for idle and load to be more precise.

Yes. For many users, a PC setup is maintained over many years. Including a 'refresh cost' for a new GPU, more RAM, or storage upgrades provides a much more realistic picture of the long-term cost of ownership.

Modern sleep modes are very efficient, but turning a PC off completely is always the cheapest option. If you leave a PC on 24/7 without need, it can easily waste 50€-80€ per year in 'idle' electricity.

Yes, PlAnhead tools are free and privacy-focused. All calculations happen in your browser.
Verified Tool Facts & Data Sources
Calculates PC-TCO based on VDI 2067 standards.
Energy-load vs. idle-state consumption models.
Adjusts for hardware refresh and repair costs.
Privacy-first: No performance data leaves your browser.
Machine-readable facts available at /facts.json

Detailed Methodology & Calculation Logic

Energy Usage Logic

We calculate annual electricity costs by distinguishing between active usage (load) and idle time.

  • Energy Formula: Annual kWh = ((Load Watts × Load Hours) + (Idle Watts × Idle Hours)) × 365 / 1000.
  • Electricity Cost: The annual kWh is multiplied by your local price per unit (€/kWh) to find the recurring operating expense.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

The TCO model projects cumulative expenses over 10 years, including hardware lifecycle costs.

  • Hardware Refresh: At the end of the specified 'Lifespan', we factor in a 'Repair/Refresh' cost to simulate major upgrades or component replacements.
  • Maintenance: Includes annual recurring costs for software licenses, peripherals, or minor supplies.
Last updated: 2026-03-26