Appliance Electricity Cost Calculator
Pick your state, add your appliances, and see what each one costs per day, month and year.
State rates are EIA residential averages (March 2026). For the most accurate result, divide your bill total by the kWh used and enter that rate.
| Appliance | Watts | Hrs / day | Days / mo | Qty | kWh / mo | Cost / month | Cost / year |
|---|
Monthly cost by category
Insights
Estimates only. Wattage labels show maximum draw; appliances with thermostats or compressors cycle on and off, so actual use is often lower. Your bill may also include fixed fees and taxes.
Your electric bill is the sum of dozens of small decisions: how long the AC runs, how many loads go in the dryer, whether the game console sits in standby all night. Knowing the electricity cost by appliance turns that bill from a mystery into something you can control.
In 2026 the stakes are higher than usual. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects the average residential price to reach 18.2 cents per kWh this year, up from 17.3 cents in 2025 and 16.5 cents in 2024 (EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook, Oct 2026). Every figure in this guide uses that 18.2¢ rate, so you can scale it to your own bill.
Heating, cooling, water heating and pool pumps cost the most, often $50 to $150+ a month each. Kitchen appliances typically run $1 to $11 a month. Electronics and LED lighting usually cost pennies to a few dollars a month.
How to Calculate the Electricity Cost of Any Appliance
You only need three numbers: the appliance’s wattage, how long you use it, and your electricity rate. The wattage is printed on the label or in the manual. Your rate (in cents per kWh) is on your utility bill.
- Find the wattage. Check the label on the back or bottom. If it lists only amps, multiply amps × volts (usually 120 V in the U.S.).
- Convert to kilowatt-hours. Multiply watts by hours used, then divide by 1,000.
- Multiply by your rate. Use the total price per kWh from your bill, including delivery charges.
A 1,500-watt heater running 6 hours uses 1,500 × 6 ÷ 1,000 = 9 kWh. At 18.2¢ per kWh, that is $1.64 a day, or about $49 a month.
Tip: Wattage labels show the maximum draw. Appliances with thermostats or compressors (fridges, ACs, heaters) cycle on and off, so real use is often lower. A plug-in watt meter ($15–$25) measures actual consumption and is the most accurate way to check.
Electricity Cost by Appliance Chart (2026)
The chart below shows typical wattage, usage and cost for 34 common household appliances, sorted from most to least expensive per month. All costs use the 2026 U.S. average of 18.2¢ per kWh. Annual figures for seasonal items (AC, heaters, pool pumps, electric blankets) assume 4–5 months of use.
| Appliance | Watts | Assumed Use | kWh / Mo | Cost / Month | Cost / Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central AC (3-ton)Heating & Cooling | 3,500 | 8 hrs/day, summer | 840 | $152.88 | $612 (4 mo) |
| Electric water heater (50 gal)Heating & Cooling | 4,500 | ~3 hrs heating/day | 405 | $73.71 | $885 |
| Pool pump (single-speed)Other | 1,500 | 8 hrs/day, season | 360 | $65.52 | $328 (5 mo) |
| Electric vehicle (home charging)Other | 7,200 | 30 miles/day | 270 | $49.14 | $590 |
| Portable space heaterHeating & Cooling | 1,500 | 6 hrs/day, winter | 270 | $49.14 | $246 (5 mo) |
| Window AC (10,000 BTU)Heating & Cooling | 900 | 8 hrs/day, summer | 216 | $39.31 | $157 (4 mo) |
| Hot tub (insulated)Other | 1,500 | ~6.5 kWh/day | 195 | $35.49 | $426 |
| Dehumidifier (50-pint)Heating & Cooling | 450 | 12 hrs/day | 162 | $29.48 | $354 |
| Clothes dryer (electric)Laundry | 5,000 | 20 loads/mo | 75 | $13.65 | $164 |
| Electric cooktop (large burner)Kitchen | 2,000 | 1 hr/day | 60 | $10.92 | $131 |
| Dishwasher (heated dry)Kitchen | 1,800 | 1 load/day | 54 | $9.83 | $118 |
| Electric ovenKitchen | 2,400 | 1 hr, 20 days/mo | 48 | $8.74 | $105 |
| Refrigerator (Energy Star)Kitchen | 150 | 24/7 | 45 | $8.19 | $98 |
| Desktop computer + monitorElectronics | 250 | 6 hrs/day | 45 | $8.19 | $98 |
| Chest freezerKitchen | 100 | 24/7 | 24 | $4.37 | $52 |
| Electric blanketOther | 100 | 8 hrs/night, winter | 24 | $4.37 | $22 (5 mo) |
| Gaming console (PS5 / Xbox)Electronics | 200 | 3 hrs/day | 18 | $3.28 | $39 |
| Slow cookerKitchen | 200 | 8 hrs, 8 days/mo | 12.8 | $2.33 | $28 |
| 55-inch LED TVElectronics | 80 | 5 hrs/day | 12 | $2.18 | $26 |
| Air fryerKitchen | 1,500 | 30 min, 15 days/mo | 11.2 | $2.05 | $25 |
| Wi-Fi router + modemElectronics | 15 | 24/7 | 10.8 | $1.97 | $24 |
| Washing machine (motor only)Laundry | 500 | 20 loads/mo | 10 | $1.82 | $22 |
| Incandescent bulb (60W)Lighting | 60 | 5 hrs/day | 9 | $1.64 | $20 |
| LaptopElectronics | 50 | 6 hrs/day | 9 | $1.64 | $20 |
| MicrowaveKitchen | 1,100 | 15 min/day | 8.2 | $1.50 | $18 |
| Coffee makerKitchen | 1,000 | 15 min/day | 7.5 | $1.36 | $16 |
| Electric kettleKitchen | 1,500 | 10 min/day | 7.5 | $1.36 | $16 |
| Hair dryerOther | 1,500 | 10 min/day | 7.5 | $1.36 | $16 |
| Ceiling fanHeating & Cooling | 30 | 8 hrs/day | 7.2 | $1.31 | $16 |
| Clothes ironLaundry | 1,200 | 30 min, 8 days/mo | 4.8 | $0.87 | $10 |
| Vacuum cleanerOther | 1,000 | 30 min, 2×/week | 4 | $0.73 | $9 |
| ToasterKitchen | 1,100 | 6 min/day | 3.3 | $0.60 | $7 |
| LED bulb (60W equivalent)Lighting | 9 | 5 hrs/day | 1.4 | $0.25 | $3 |
| Phone chargerElectronics | 5 | 3 hrs/day | 0.5 | $0.08 | $1 |
Wattages are typical values for current models; check your own appliance label. Washer and dishwasher figures don’t include the cost of heating water with an electric water heater, which is listed separately.
Appliance Costs by Category
Heating & Cooling
The biggest line on your bill. A central AC costs about 64¢ for every hour it runs, and a space heater about 27¢ an hour. An electric water heater quietly adds around $74 a month year-round.
Kitchen
High wattage, short bursts. A microwave costs about $1.50 a month. An air fryer session costs about 14¢, versus 44¢ an hour for an electric oven. The fridge runs 24/7 but costs only about $8 a month.
Laundry
The dryer is the costly half: about 68¢ per load, or $164 a year. The washer motor uses little power; most of its energy goes into heating water, so cold washes save on every load.
Electronics
Cheap individually, but always plugged in. A 55-inch LED TV costs about 1.5¢ an hour. A desktop PC with monitor costs about $8 a month; a laptop uses roughly a fifth of that.
Lighting
The fastest payback. A 60W incandescent costs about $20 a year; its LED replacement about $3. A home with 30 bulbs can save over $500 a year by switching fully to LED.
Other Appliances
Pool pumps (about $66 a month in season), hot tubs and EV chargers are big, long-running loads. Charging an EV for 30 miles a day costs about $49 a month, still below most gasoline bills.
Heating and Cooling: Why It Dominates
Heating and cooling appliances change air or water temperature, which takes far more energy than anything else in the house. On a hot summer day with 8 hours of runtime, a 3,500-watt central AC costs over $5. Space heaters are the most common winter surprise: running two in different rooms all evening can add $80–$100 to a monthly bill.
The Refrigerator Exception
A modern Energy Star fridge costs about $8 a month, but a model from the early 2000s can use twice that. An old second fridge in the garage is one of the easiest $100-a-year savings in many homes.
The Biggest Energy Hogs (and the Hidden Ones)
Four appliances usually account for most of a home’s electric bill. If you own a pool or EV, those join the list. Focus your savings efforts here first: trimming one hour of AC a day saves more than unplugging every phone charger in the house for a year.
Phantom (Standby) Power
Many devices draw power even when “off”: TVs waiting for a remote signal, game consoles in rest mode, cable boxes, smart speakers and anything with a clock or glowing light. Each draw is small, often 1–10 watts, but a typical home has dozens of them.
By the numbers: 50 watts of combined standby load running 24/7 uses about 36 kWh a month, roughly $6.50 a month or $80 a year at 18.2¢. Smart power strips, which cut power to devices when the main one switches off, eliminate most of it automatically.
How Your State’s Electricity Rate Changes the Cost
The same appliance can cost three and a half times more depending on where you live. In March 2026, residential rates ranged from 11.95¢ per kWh in North Dakota to 42.23¢ in Hawaii, per EIA data compiled by JouleIO.
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Central AC / Month | Refrigerator / Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 42.23 | $354.73 | $19.00 |
| California | 33.35 | $280.14 | $15.01 |
| New York | 28.55 | $239.82 | $12.85 |
| U.S. average (2026 forecast) | 18.20 | $152.88 | $8.19 |
| Texas | 16.39 | $137.68 | $7.38 |
| Florida | 14.86 | $124.82 | $6.69 |
| North Dakota | 11.95 | $100.38 | $5.38 |
Adjust for your area: divide your rate by 18.2 and multiply any cost in this guide by the result. At 28.55¢ in New York, for example, multiply each cost by about 1.57. On time-of-use plans, running big appliances off-peak can lower your effective rate considerably.
10 Ways to Lower Your Appliance Electricity Costs
- Raise the AC setpointEach degree warmer trims cooling costs by a few percent. A smart thermostat automates setbacks while you’re away.
- Heat people, not roomsUse a space heater only in the room you’re in. An electric blanket at 100 watts costs a fraction of a 1,500-watt heater.
- Set the water heater to 120°FMany are factory-set to 140°F, which wastes energy and raises scald risk.
- Wash in cold waterMost of a washer’s energy goes to heating water.
- Dry smarterClean the lint filter every load, use the moisture sensor, and air-dry when possible.
- Switch every bulb to LEDAbout $17 saved per bulb per year; LEDs pay for themselves within months.
- Kill phantom loadsUse smart power strips and disable rest mode on game consoles.
- Retire the second fridgeAn old garage fridge or freezer can cost $100+ a year.
- Upgrade the pool pumpA variable-speed pump uses far less energy than a single-speed model.
- Shift loads off-peakOn time-of-use plans, run the dishwasher, dryer and EV charger late at night.
When replacing an appliance, look for the Energy Star label and compare the yellow EnergyGuide sticker, which lists estimated yearly operating cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which appliance uses the most electricity in a home?
Central air conditioning is usually the biggest single user in summer, at about $150 a month with 8 hours of daily use at the 2026 average rate. In homes with electric heat or an electric water heater, those can rival or exceed it.
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator per month?
A modern Energy Star refrigerator uses about 1.5 kWh a day, or roughly $8 a month at 18.2¢ per kWh. Older models can cost $15 or more.
How much does a space heater cost per hour?
A standard 1,500-watt space heater costs about 27 cents an hour at the 2026 national average rate, or about $1.64 for a 6-hour evening.
Does leaving a phone charger plugged in use electricity?
Yes, but very little. An idle charger draws a fraction of a watt, costing well under $1 a year. TVs, consoles and cable boxes in standby matter far more.
Is it cheaper to use an air fryer or an oven?
Usually the air fryer. It uses about 0.75 kWh per 30-minute session (about 14 cents), while an electric oven running for an hour uses about 2.4 kWh (about 44 cents).
How do I find my electricity rate?
Divide the total on your electric bill by the kWh used that month. This gives your all-in rate, including delivery fees and taxes, which is the most accurate number for appliance cost calculations.
What is the average electricity rate in 2026?
The EIA forecasts an average U.S. residential price of 18.2¢ per kWh for 2026, up from 17.3¢ in 2025.
Conclusion
Most of your electric bill comes from a handful of appliances that heat, cool or run all day. Small electronics and lighting barely register by comparison. Use the formula and chart above to find your own biggest loads, adjust for your local rate, and target the changes that save real money, usually the thermostat, the water heater and the dryer.
Check the wattage label on each appliance, plug the figures into the formula above, and compare the results with your monthly bill. You’ll know exactly where your money goes.
Sources: U.S. EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook (Oct 2026); JouleIO, Electricity Cost by State 2026 (EIA Electric Power Monthly, March 2026 data). Appliance wattages are typical values; usage assumptions are illustrative.
