The mining budget checklist: the true cost of a rig
Sticker price is the first line of the budget, not the budget. Delivery, electrical work, cooling, spares, deposits, and an operating reserve routinely add 30% before the first coin is mined.
2026-10-19·updated 2026-10-19·3 min·pow.family research#planning#economics
01
The full list
| Line | Round example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | $2,000 | the sticker everyone budgets |
| Delivery & import | $120 | shipping, duties, brokerage surprises |
| Electrical work | $250 | dedicated circuit, outlet, surge protection |
| Cooling & rack | $150 | fans, ducting, shelving, filters |
| Spares | $180 | one fan set, cables, spare PSU (or repair fund) |
| Power deposit / setup | $100 | utilities and landlords ask |
| Operating reserve | $500 | 3 months of power at reduced revenue |
| Total | $3,300 | 65% over sticker — typical, not pessimistic |
02
Why the reserve is not optional
Mining income arrives daily but varies with price and difficulty; bills arrive monthly and do not vary at all. A reserve equal to a quarter of power+hosting costs buys you the ability to mine THROUGH a bad month instead of panic-selling the rig into a down market — which is the single most common way small operators lock in losses.
03
See it live on pow.family
Pair this checklist with a coin's live economics from its project page — the reserve question is easier to answer when you can see the coin's historical variance in the analytics charts.