Electricity
Calculator
Calculate exactly how much any appliance costs to run. Single device or full home — enter watts, hours, and your rate to get daily, monthly, and annual electricity costs.
Typical Power Consumption by Appliance
Average wattage for common household appliances. Actual values vary by model and age.
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | Annual kWh* | Annual Cost* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central A/C | 3,500 W | 1,750 kWh | $298 | Based on 500 hrs/year use |
| Electric Water Heater | 4,000 W | 4,000 kWh | $680 | Largest single cost after HVAC |
| Clothes Dryer | 5,000 W | 769 kWh | $131 | ~3 loads/week, 45 min each |
| Refrigerator | 150 W avg | 500 kWh | $85 | Cycles on/off; avg draw ~150W |
| Dishwasher | 1,800 W | 307 kWh | $52 | 5 loads/week, 1h each |
| Electric Stove (large burner) | 2,100 W | — | — | Varies widely by cooking time |
| Microwave | 1,000 W | 73 kWh | $12 | ~12 min/day use |
| Desktop Computer + Monitor | 300 W | 219 kWh | $37 | Gaming PC can be 500–800W |
| Laptop | 45 W | 66 kWh | $11 | Very efficient vs desktop |
| 55" LED TV | 80 W | 117 kWh | $20 | 4 hrs/day |
| Space Heater | 1,500 W | — | — | Expensive to run continuously |
| LED Bulb (60W equiv.) | 9 W | 13 kWh | $2.21 | 4 hrs/day; CFL=14W, incand.=60W |
| EV Charging (Level 2) | 7,200 W | 2,600 kWh | $442 | ~12,000 miles/year @25 kWh/100mi |
| Pool Pump | 1,500 W | 1,642 kWh | $279 | 3 hrs/day, 365 days |
*Annual estimates based on typical US household usage patterns and $0.17/kWh average rate.
Top Ways to Reduce Your Electricity Bill
Practical tips that can meaningfully reduce your monthly cost.
The Average US Home Uses ~900 kWh/Month — Worth $153
At the US average rate of ~$0.17/kWh, the average household pays about $1,836/year on electricity. HVAC accounts for the largest share (40–50%), followed by water heating (14–18%). Upgrading to a heat pump HVAC system and heat pump water heater can cut these two costs by 40–60% and is the single highest-impact home upgrade for electricity savings.
Your bill has multiple charges: Energy charge (the per-kWh rate you use in this calculator), distribution/delivery charge (fixed or variable fee for grid maintenance), and taxes/fees. The total all-in cost per kWh is your total bill divided by total kWh used — often $0.14–$0.30/kWh in the US.
To find your rate: look for "energy charge" or "supply charge" on your bill, usually in cents/kWh. Or divide your total bill by your kWh usage for the all-in effective rate.
The US average grid carbon intensity is approximately 386 g CO₂/kWh (0.386 kg/kWh). States with more renewables and nuclear have lower intensity; coal-heavy grids higher. A home using 900 kWh/month generates ~347 kg CO₂/month from electricity alone.
Switching from incandescent to LED lighting, or from a gas dryer to heat pump dryer, reduces both electricity cost and carbon footprint simultaneously. Solar panels can eliminate the carbon footprint of home electricity entirely.
How to Calculate Electricity Costs
Calculating electricity cost requires three inputs: the appliance's power consumption (in watts), how long it runs per day (hours), and your electricity rate (dollars per kWh). The formula is simple but applies to everything from a 9-watt LED bulb to a 5,000-watt clothes dryer.
The kWh Formula
Finding the Watts of Any Device
The wattage of any appliance is usually printed on a label on the back or bottom of the device, or in the user manual. It may be listed as "Max Power", "Rated Power", or "Input Power" in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). For variable-power devices (refrigerators, air conditioners), the listed wattage is the maximum draw when running — actual average consumption is lower due to cycling.