Math
Electricity Cost Calculator
Calculate exactly how much any electrical appliance costs to run per day, month, and year. Enter the appliance's wattage, daily hours of use, and your electricity rate for instant results across all time periods.
Quick appliance presets
Energy Saving Tips
💡
Switch to LED bulbs
Replace a 60W bulb with a 10W LED → save $10–15/year per bulb
🌡️
Adjust thermostat by 1°C
Each degree lower saves ~3% on heating. Smart thermostats save ~$180/year
🔌
Eliminate standby power
Devices on standby use 5–10% of household electricity — use smart power strips
🧺
Wash clothes in cold water
90% of a washing machine's energy goes to heating water. Cold wash saves ~$60/year
Common Appliance Wattage Reference
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | Category |
|---|---|---|
| LED bulb | 8–15W | Lighting |
| Fluorescent light | 14–40W | Lighting |
| Incandescent bulb | 40–100W | Lighting |
| Laptop computer | 30–70W | Electronics |
| Desktop computer | 150–250W | Electronics |
| Gaming PC (high end) | 400–600W | Electronics |
| TV (32"-43") | 50–120W | Electronics |
| TV (55"-65") | 100–200W | Electronics |
| Phone charger | 5–25W | Electronics |
| Refrigerator | 100–200W | Kitchen |
| Dishwasher | 1,200–1,500W | Kitchen |
| Microwave | 700–1,200W | Kitchen |
| Electric oven | 2,000–5,000W | Kitchen |
| Coffee maker | 600–1,200W | Kitchen |
| Kettle | 1,500–3,000W | Kitchen |
| Washing machine | 400–1,200W | Laundry |
| Tumble dryer | 1,800–5,000W | Laundry |
| Air conditioner | 900–3,500W | HVAC |
| Electric heater | 750–3,000W | HVAC |
| Ceiling fan | 15–75W | HVAC |
| Hair dryer | 1,000–1,875W | Personal care |
| Electric car charger (L2) | 7,200–11,500W | EV |
Wattages are typical ranges — check your appliance label for the exact figure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate electricity cost?
Formula: Cost = Watts ÷ 1000 × Hours × Rate ($/kWh). First convert watts to kilowatts (÷1000), then multiply by hours used to get kWh consumed, then multiply by your electricity rate. Example: a 1,500W heater running 4 hours/day at $0.13/kWh: 1500 ÷ 1000 × 4 × 0.13 = $0.78/day = $23.40/month = $284.70/year.
How do I find my electricity rate?
Check your electricity bill — it's listed as cents or dollars per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Common labels: 'Energy charge', 'kWh rate', or 'unit rate'. The average US residential electricity rate in 2025 is approximately $0.13–0.16/kWh, but it varies widely: Hawaii averages $0.39/kWh, while Louisiana averages $0.09/kWh. UK rates are approximately £0.24/kWh.
How do I find an appliance's wattage?
Check the label on the back or bottom of the appliance — it typically shows watts (W) or sometimes amps (A) and volts (V). If listed in amps: Watts = Amps × Volts (120V in the US, 230V in Europe). You can also search '[appliance name] wattage' online. For devices with variable power (like computers), wattage varies by workload — use typical/average wattage rather than peak.
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator per month?
A modern energy-efficient refrigerator uses approximately 100–150 watts but runs intermittently — roughly 8 hours per day on average. At 150W × 8hrs × 30 days = 36 kWh/month. At $0.13/kWh: $4.68/month or about $56/year. Older refrigerators can use 2–3× more. An Energy Star certified model can save $100–200 over its lifetime vs a non-certified one.
How much electricity does an air conditioner use?
A standard central air conditioner uses 2,000–5,000 watts. A window AC unit uses 500–1,500 watts. A portable AC uses 900–1,500 watts. Running a 1,500W window AC for 8 hours/day: 1500 × 8 × 30 ÷ 1000 = 360 kWh/month. At $0.13/kWh: $46.80/month. Over a 3-month summer: ~$140. Setting your thermostat 1°C higher saves about 3% on cooling costs.
What is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)?
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the standard unit of electrical energy on your bill. It equals the energy used by a 1,000-watt appliance running for 1 hour. Examples: a 100W bulb for 10 hours = 1 kWh. A 2,000W kettle for 30 minutes = 1 kWh. A 500W TV for 2 hours = 1 kWh. Your electricity meter counts kWh consumed, and you're billed per kWh at your rate (often $0.10–$0.20 in the US).
How can I reduce my electricity bill?
High-impact strategies: switch all bulbs to LED (saves $100+/year for a whole home), use a programmable thermostat (saves $180/year average), eliminate standby power with smart strips (saves 5–10% of bill), wash clothes in cold water (saves $60/year), run dishwashers and laundry during off-peak hours if you have time-of-use pricing, and replace appliances older than 15 years with Energy Star models.