Electricity Cost Calculator
Calculate the daily, monthly, and yearly cost to run any appliance.
This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional financial, medical, legal, or engineering advice. See Terms of Service.
Can't find what you need?
Request a ToolHow to Use the Electricity Cost Calculator
Calculate the running cost of any appliance in three inputs:
- Find the wattage. Check the label on the appliance, the user manual, or search the model number online. Wattage is usually printed near the power cord connection or on a sticker on the back or bottom.
- Enter hours per day. How many hours per day you typically use this appliance. For appliances used sporadically, estimate the average daily use (e.g., a space heater used 8 hours on 3 days per week averages about 3.4 hours per day).
- Enter your electricity rate. Find this on your electricity bill. The US average is about $0.12-0.16 per kWh.
About Electricity Costs
Electricity cost is calculated as: kWh = Watts x Hours / 1000, then Cost = kWh x Rate. A 1,500-watt space heater running 4 hours per day uses 6 kWh daily. At $0.12/kWh, that is $0.72 per day, $21.60 per month, or $262.80 per year.
Common appliance wattages: refrigerator 100-400W, washing machine 500-1,500W, clothes dryer 1,800-5,000W, electric oven 2,000-5,000W, air conditioner 1,000-4,000W, TV 30-200W, desktop computer 80-250W, LED light bulb 8-15W. Energy Star appliances typically use 10-30% less electricity than standard models.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to run a space heater?
A typical 1,500-watt electric space heater running 8 hours per day costs about $1.44 per day at the US average rate of $0.12/kWh. That is approximately $43 per month. Running it 24 hours per day would cost $4.32/day or $130/month. Smaller 750-watt heaters cost half as much to operate. Using a programmable thermostat and only heating occupied rooms significantly reduces the total cost.
How much electricity does a TV use per hour?
Modern LED TVs typically use 30-100 watts, depending on screen size. A 55-inch LED TV uses about 60-90 watts. At 4 hours of daily viewing and $0.12/kWh, a 75-watt TV costs about $0.036 per hour, $0.14 per day, $4.32 per month, or $52 per year. Older plasma TVs used 200-400 watts, costing 3-5 times more. OLED TVs are efficient at 75-150 watts for large screens.
What is kWh and how do I read my electricity bill?
kWh stands for kilowatt-hour, the standard unit of electrical energy. One kWh is the energy consumed by a 1,000-watt appliance running for 1 hour. Your electricity bill shows your total monthly usage in kWh and your rate per kWh. To find your rate, divide your total electricity charge (before taxes and fees) by your kWh usage. The US national average is about $0.12-0.16 per kWh, but rates vary from $0.08 in cheap states to $0.30+ in Hawaii.
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator per month?
A typical modern refrigerator uses 100-200 watts but runs only about 30-40% of the time, giving an effective draw of 30-80 watts averaged over 24 hours. At an effective 50 watts running 24 hours, daily energy use is 1.2 kWh, costing about $0.14/day or $4.32/month at average US rates. Older refrigerators from before 2000 can use 400-800 watts and cost 2-4 times more to operate. Energy Star models significantly reduce this.