Key Moments
How to calculate appliance cost
Multiply wattage by hours daily, convert to kWh, then multiply by your electricity rate.High energy-consuming appliances
Heating, cooling devices, and always-on devices like fridges dominate electricity consumption.Impact of electricity rates
Variations in rates greatly affect cost; using your actual bill rate ensures accuracy.Tips to lower your electric bill
Adjust thermostat, switch to LEDs, run full appliance loads, and unplug standby devices.Ever wonder which appliance is quietly driving up your electric bill? A space heater left running, an old fridge, or that second fridge in the garage can each add real money every month. The calculator below shows exactly what any device costs to run — per day, per month, and per year — using your own electricity rate.
Pick an appliance (or enter custom wattage), set how many hours a day you use it, and drop in your rate from your latest bill.
Appliance Electricity Cost Calculator
See what any device costs to run per day, month, and year.
Cost to run
$0 / mo
How to read what an appliance costs
Electricity is billed in kilowatt-hours (kWh) — one kilowatt (1,000 watts) of power used for one hour. The math behind the calculator is straightforward: take the appliance’s wattage, multiply by the hours you run it, divide by 1,000 to get kWh, then multiply by your rate. A 1,200-watt window AC running six hours a day uses about 7.2 kWh daily. At the 2026 U.S. average of roughly 19 cents per kWh, that’s about $1.37 a day, or around $41 a month while it’s running. If you’re fuzzy on the unit itself, our explainer on what a kilowatt hour is breaks it down.
Your rate matters enormously. Electricity prices have climbed about 25% over four years and vary from around 12 cents per kWh in the cheapest states to over 45 cents in Hawaii. Always pull the actual rate off your bill for the truest number — divide the total charge by the kWh used if it isn’t printed directly.
The appliances that cost the most
A few categories dominate almost every electric bill. Anything that heats or cools is the heavyweight: central air, electric water heaters, space heaters, clothes dryers, and electric ovens all pull thousands of watts. A single 1,500-watt space heater run through an evening can quietly add $30 to $50 a month. Always-on devices are the sneaky ones — your fridge, chest freezer, and Wi-Fi router run 24/7, so even modest wattage adds up over a full month. EV charging is increasingly the single biggest line item for households that have one.
By contrast, the electronics people worry about most — TVs, laptops, LED bulbs, phone chargers — are usually cheap to run. A modern LED TV costs pennies a day. Run the numbers through the calculator and you’ll often find the culprit isn’t what you expected. That’s the same insight behind our guide on why your electric bill is so high.
Small changes that actually lower the bill
Once you know which appliances cost the most, the fixes are obvious. Heating and cooling respond best to behavior: adjust the thermostat a few degrees, use fans to spread cool air, and seal drafts. Swap remaining incandescent bulbs for LEDs. Run full loads in the dishwasher and dryer, and air-dry when you can. Unplug or use a smart power strip for the “vampire” devices that draw power even when off. For a full playbook, see our guide on how to lower your electric bill, and if you’re renting, compare your usage against the average electric bill for a one-bedroom apartment.
How to find an appliance’s wattage
The calculator’s presets cover common devices, but for anything specific, check the label. Most appliances list their wattage (or their amps and volts) on a sticker on the back or bottom, in the manual, or on the manufacturer’s website. If you only see amps, multiply amps by volts — 120 in most U.S. homes — to get watts. For devices that cycle on and off, like refrigerators and air conditioners, the nameplate wattage is the running draw rather than a round-the-clock average, which is why the calculator’s default hours reflect typical real-world use instead of 24 hours straight. For the most precise reading, a plug-in energy monitor measures actual consumption right at the outlet, so you can catch an aging appliance that’s drawing far more than it should.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the cost to run an appliance?
Multiply the appliance’s wattage by the hours used per day, divide by 1,000 to get kWh, then multiply by your electricity rate. The calculator above does this automatically for daily, monthly, and yearly figures.
What is the average cost of electricity per kWh?
The U.S. residential average is roughly 19 cents per kWh in 2026, but it ranges from about 12 cents in the cheapest states to over 45 cents in Hawaii. Use your own rate for an accurate estimate.
Which household appliance uses the most electricity?
Heating and cooling equipment — central AC, electric water heaters, and space heaters — typically use the most, along with always-on appliances like refrigerators and any EV charger.
Does leaving things plugged in cost money?
Yes, a little. Many devices draw standby “phantom” power even when off. It’s usually small per device but adds up across a whole home; a smart power strip is an easy fix.
