Ahhh the convenience of technology. You don’t even need a phone or laptop to use the internet now. You can simply speak your wishes and it is done. Like a genie! The only thing I worry about is the fact that you need to have a Google Nest switched on all the time for this convenience. And I wonder, what sort of power consumption does this require…
Below we will discuss and test Google Nest wattage, explain how to work it out for yourself, and calculate the total electricity required.
How Many Watts is a Google Nest?
The average Google Nest uses 2 watts.
The exact number depends on the size and model of your Google Nest. For example, a Nest Mini uses 1.8W when switched on while a standard Nest uses 2.2W.
You should note there is a slight difference between power consumption in standby mode compared to switched on. When in standby mode these products will use 0.3W less.
How to Find Out Your Google Nest Wattage
There’s 3 ways you can work out the wattage of a Google Nest.
- Check Product Specification
The quickest way is to look at the Google Nest’s specification. The watts (W) is usually written on a sticker on the base of the appliance and adapter. This will tell you the maximum power rating rather than the actual running wattage. You can check the user manual or the manufacturer’s website for technical details.
- Use a Wattmeter
A wattmeter is brilliant for getting a live wattage reading and tracking total energy usage of any appliance. You can simply plug it into your Google Nest to get instant information.
I used one to test my Google Nest mini which gave a live reading of 1.8W.
- Wattage Formula or Calculator
If you know the amperage and voltage of your Google Nest you can use this to find the maximum watts. Simply use the formula Amps x Volts = Watts. Or you can head over to the ‘Watt Calculator’ to work this out.
Google Nest Wattage Examples
Let’s take a look at specific examples of how many watts a Google Nest draws. Below is a collection of modern Google Nests with their listed power ratings.
| Google Nest Model | Powered On (Watts) | Standby (Watts) |
| Nest Mini | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| Nest | 2.2 | 1.9 |
As you can see, the power ratings vary between different Google Nests. So you should take the time to check your own appliance.
How Much Electricity Does a Google Nest Use?
You can use Google Nest wattage to work out how much electricity it uses. Plus this can be useful in understanding how much it costs to run your Google Nest.
A watt (W) is a measurement of power at a single point in time. A watt-hour is the total amount of electricity used in an hour. For example, a Google Nest drawing 2W would use 2Wh when running for an hour.
Happily, electricity bills are recorded in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kilowatt is simply 1000 watts. So a 2W Google Nest running for 1 hour uses 0.002kWh.
A Google Nest will be on standby or running for 24 hours a day. This means a Google Nest uses about 48Wh or 0.048kWh electricity a day. That’s 1.44kWh a month and 17.52kWh a year.
That’s a rough electricity cost of $2.62 a year for the convenience of using a Google Nest at home.
Using a Google Nest Off-Grid
If you’re planning to use your Google Nest in an off-grid situation like an RV, boat, or truck, the information above is important. It enables you to pick the correct power products and know how long you can run everything.
You can either use a power inverter, portable power station, or generator for electricity.
To make sure everything runs smoothly you should check two things on this equipment – wattage capacity and total energy capacity.
Your power source, like an inverter, should have a wattage capacity of at least 20% more than your Google Nest. This ensures it will be able to deliver enough power as they are never 100% efficient. To enjoy this AI assistance, you will need at least 3W of power capacity, although the smallest size inverters are 75W.
Secondly, you need to ensure your energy source, like a battery, has enough energy to run the Google Nest for the required amount of time. As we already know, it will use about 48Wh electricity a day. This is the equivalent to 4Ah on a 12V battery. This is not a lot of energy, but it does seem like a waste if you have a limited supply.
I hope you now have a clear understanding of how many watts a Google Nest uses.
As expected, these devices are very low powered. They use a similar amount of electricity as your TV on standby. So you won’t notice a massive change in your overall usage. Just remember, it will be using power 24 hours a day unless you switch it off when you go out. If you have a limited supply of electricity then it might not be worth the convenience?
