Define which boxes you are counting
List the router, separate modem or optical terminal, network switch and any wireless extenders. A combined gateway is one box, while another household may use several. Do not compare a complete network measurement with somebody else’s router-only figure.
Check whether an internet provider owns the equipment and whether it supports phone or other services. Record the required operating arrangement before assuming that overnight shutdown is a practical savings option.
Use input energy, not adapter capacity
A power adapter’s maximum output describes what it can supply, not what the router continuously requests. For a permitted plug-in setup, measure cumulative kWh over several representative days and divide by elapsed hours to obtain an average.
An average of 10 W would use 7.2 kWh over a 30-day month, costing about $1.30 at $0.18/kWh. These values are illustrative and do not represent a typical model or internet plan.
Evaluate an overnight schedule realistically
Turning that hypothetical 10 W load off for eight hours every night would avoid 29.2 kWh over 365 days, worth about $5.26. It would also remove the network during those hours. Consider updates, remote access and connected services before making the schedule.
Do not count a modem or other box as switched off if it remains powered. Include the electricity and purchase cost of any controller bought solely to automate the change.
Choose what is worth measuring next
If the router’s annual cost is already small, replacing working equipment solely to save a few watts may have a long payback. Reliability, coverage and compatibility can be more important purchase criteria. Save your measured daily kWh and exact device list so future network additions are visible. That baseline lets you assess an extender or mesh node without mistaking a larger, more useful network for unexplained waste.
Choose your next step
Continue with the question that matches your next decision:
Sources & further reading
Numerical examples are illustrative unless explicitly described as measured. This guide does not claim hands-on product testing. Read the methodology and editorial disclosure.