Community Forex Questions
What is the ideal watts-per-terahash ratio?
The ideal watts-per-terahash (W/TH) ratio measures how energy-efficient a Bitcoin miner is. It shows how many watts of electricity are needed to produce one terahash per second of computing power. The lower the number, the more efficient the miner, and efficiency is critical because electricity is the highest ongoing cost in mining.
As a general benchmark today, an excellent W/TH ratio is around 15–20 W/TH. Miners in this range are considered highly efficient and are better positioned to remain profitable during periods of high difficulty or lower Bitcoin prices. Ratios between 20–30 W/TH are still acceptable, especially in regions with cheap electricity. Anything above 35 W/TH is usually considered inefficient and risky unless power costs are extremely low.
The “ideal” ratio also depends on context. If electricity costs are high, even a small efficiency difference can significantly affect profitability. For example, a miner running at 18 W/TH may survive market downturns that force a 30 W/TH miner offline. Cooling, firmware optimisation, and undervolting can also improve real-world efficiency beyond factory specs.
It is important to look at total system efficiency, not just the advertised number. Power supplies, cooling systems, and environmental conditions all affect actual watts consumed. Ultimately, the ideal W/TH ratio is the lowest you can afford within your budget and power constraints, while still allowing room for future difficulty increases and market volatility.
As a general benchmark today, an excellent W/TH ratio is around 15–20 W/TH. Miners in this range are considered highly efficient and are better positioned to remain profitable during periods of high difficulty or lower Bitcoin prices. Ratios between 20–30 W/TH are still acceptable, especially in regions with cheap electricity. Anything above 35 W/TH is usually considered inefficient and risky unless power costs are extremely low.
The “ideal” ratio also depends on context. If electricity costs are high, even a small efficiency difference can significantly affect profitability. For example, a miner running at 18 W/TH may survive market downturns that force a 30 W/TH miner offline. Cooling, firmware optimisation, and undervolting can also improve real-world efficiency beyond factory specs.
It is important to look at total system efficiency, not just the advertised number. Power supplies, cooling systems, and environmental conditions all affect actual watts consumed. Ultimately, the ideal W/TH ratio is the lowest you can afford within your budget and power constraints, while still allowing room for future difficulty increases and market volatility.
Dec 26, 2025 03:01