Appliance energy cost calculator
Add your appliances, set how long they run, and see exactly where your electricity money goes — ranked from biggest to smallest.
Your appliances
Your running costs
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| Appliance | kWh/yr | Per month | Per year |
|---|
Cost = watts ÷ 1,000 × hours/day × days/week × 52.14 × price. Watts are typical figures; check the label or measure with a plug-in meter. Thermostatic appliances (fridges, heaters) cycle, so we use average draw.
How to use the appliance cost calculator
Every electrical device has a power rating in watts. Run a 1,000-watt device for one hour and it uses one kilowatt-hour (kWh) — the unit on your bill. Multiply kWh by your price and you have the cost. The calculator does this for each appliance and ranks them, so the biggest opportunities float to the top.
Worked example
A 1,500 W space heater running 4 hours a day: 1.5 kW × 4 h = 6 kWh a day. Over a 30-day month that's 180 kWh; at $0.17/kWh, about $31 a month — often more than people expect from a "small" heater.
Finding real wattages
- Check the rating label on the back or base of the appliance.
- For fridges and freezers, the yearly kWh figure on an energy label is the most accurate number — divide by 8.76 to get average watts.
- A plug-in power meter costs little and measures actual use, including standby. See standby power.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate an appliance's electricity cost?
Watts ÷ 1,000 × hours used × your price per kWh. For example, a 100 W TV used 5 hours a day uses 0.5 kWh daily — about 15 kWh a month.
Which appliances use the most electricity?
Typically space heating and cooling, water heaters, clothes dryers, electric ovens, pool pumps and EV charging. Electronics individually use little but add up, especially on standby.
Why does my result differ from my bill?
Bills include fixed charges, taxes and appliances you didn't list. Seasonal loads like heating and cooling also vary month to month.