Energy Cost Calculator
Calculate per-appliance energy cost: cost per use, daily, monthly, and yearly. Compare appliances side-by-side and find your top 5 energy hogs.
US average: $0.156/kWh (EIA 2025)
Appliances
Total Monthly Cost
all appliances combined
Total Yearly Cost
12-month projection
Per-Appliance Cost Breakdown
| Appliance | Cost/Use | Daily | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central AC (3.5 ton) | $3.36 | $3.36 | $100.80 | $1210 |
| Refrigerator (full-size) | $0.58 | $0.58 | $17.28 | $207 |
| Electric Water Heater | $2.16 | $2.16 | $64.80 | $778 |
| Electric Dryer | $0.24 | $0.24 | $3.60 | $43 |
| TV (LED 55") | $0.08 | $0.08 | $2.40 | $29 |
Top 5 Cost Contributors
Energy Cost Statistics 2026
$0.156/kWh
national average residential electricity rate, up 4.7% year-over-year (EIA Electric Power Monthly, 2025)
52%
of household electricity consumption goes to space heating, cooling, and water heating combined (DOE / EIA RECS 2020)
$165/yr
average phantom load cost per US household — devices in standby mode drawing power 24/7 (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab)
Knowing the energy cost of each appliance is the fastest way to lower your bill. The DOE estimates that the average household could cut their electricity bill by 20-30% just by upgrading their top three energy users to current ENERGY STAR equivalents and eliminating phantom loads. Use the calculator above to find your top contributors, then explore our Electricity Bill Calculator for the full bill breakdown, our Heat Pump Calculator for HVAC ROI, and our Solar Savings Calculator to model offsetting your remaining usage with solar.
The Energy Cost Formula
The math behind appliance energy cost is simple. Every device with an electrical plug has a wattage rating (watts, W). Multiply by hours used to get watt-hours, divide by 1,000 to convert to kilowatt-hours (kWh), then multiply by your $/kWh rate to get cost:
Cost = (Watts × Hours / 1,000) × $/kWh
Example: a 1,100W microwave used 10 minutes per day (0.167 hours) at $0.16/kWh costs $0.029 per day, $0.88/month, or about $11/year. The same microwave running 2 hours a day in a heavy-cook household would cost $128/year — over 10× more.
For appliances that cycle on and off (refrigerators, AC compressors, freezers), use the average hours of actual operation rather than total time plugged in. A refrigerator runs about 8 hours per day on average, even though it is plugged in 24/7.
Wattage Reference: Common Household Appliances
Per the DOE Appliance Standards & Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) and ENERGY STAR product database:
| Category | Appliance | Typical Wattage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | Central AC (3.5 ton) | 3,000 - 5,000 W | Cycles on demand; 50% duty in summer |
| HVAC | Window AC | 500 - 1,500 W | Higher BTU = higher draw |
| HVAC | Heat Pump (3 ton, heating) | 2,500 - 4,500 W | 3× more efficient than resistive heat |
| Kitchen | Refrigerator (full-size) | 100 - 200 W | Runs ~8 hrs/day cycling |
| Kitchen | Dishwasher | 1,200 - 2,400 W | Heated dry doubles consumption |
| Kitchen | Microwave | 700 - 1,200 W | Runs only during use |
| Kitchen | Electric Oven / Range | 2,000 - 5,000 W | Self-clean cycle peaks at 6,000 W |
| Laundry | Electric Dryer | 1,800 - 5,000 W | Heat pump dryers use ~50% less |
| Laundry | Washing Machine | 350 - 500 W | Hot water adds water heater draw |
| Water Heat | Electric Water Heater | 3,000 - 5,500 W | Tank reheats throughout day |
| Water Heat | Heat Pump Water Heater | 500 - 1,500 W | 60-70% more efficient |
| Electronics | TV (LED 55") | 60 - 130 W | OLED higher than LED |
| Electronics | Gaming PC | 300 - 800 W | Idle ~50W, full load 500W+ |
| Lighting | LED Bulb (60W equiv) | 8 - 12 W | 83% less than incandescent |
| Outdoor | Pool Pump (single speed) | 1,200 - 2,500 W | Variable-speed cuts 50-80% |
| EV | Level 2 Charger (32 A) | 7,000 - 7,700 W | 3-5 hours/day for daily commute |
Source: DOE Appliance Standards, ENERGY STAR product database, NREL appliance benchmarking, manufacturer spec sheets.
Common Use Cases
Compare an old vs new refrigerator
A 2005 fridge averages 600 kWh/year; a 2025 ENERGY STAR model uses 380 kWh/year. At $0.16/kWh, that is $35/year savings — a 10-year payback even on a premium replacement.
Decide whether a space heater is cheaper than central heat
A 1,500W space heater at $0.16/kWh costs $0.24/hour. Heating one room for 8 hours = $1.92/day. Compare to your central heat cost per day — if you only use one room, the space heater wins. Otherwise central heat is cheaper because it does not waste energy on unused space.
Estimate EV charging cost
A 7,200W Level 2 charger running 4 hours adds 28.8 kWh per session. At $0.16/kWh = $4.61 per charge. For a typical 12,000 mile/year driver charging once or twice per week, that is $480-$960/year — about half the cost of gasoline.
Diagnose a high bill
If your bill jumps unexpectedly, list your major appliances and their hours of use. The biggest culprits are usually a malfunctioning HVAC system, a failing fridge, or a recently added appliance (pool, hot tub, EV) you forgot to factor in.
Cost-Per-kWh Across the United States
The same appliance costs very different amounts depending on where you live. Here are state-level residential rates per the EIA:
| State | Avg Rate ($/kWh) | Cost to Run 1,500W Heater 8hr/day for a Month |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $0.42 | $151 |
| California | $0.30 | $108 |
| Massachusetts | $0.28 | $101 |
| New York | $0.22 | $79 |
| Florida | $0.15 | $54 |
| Texas | $0.14 | $50 |
| Tennessee | $0.12 | $43 |
| Idaho | $0.10 | $36 |
Source: EIA Form EIA-861, residential rates, 2025 average.
Edge Cases and Calculation Caveats
- Cycling appliances: Refrigerators, AC compressors, and freezers do not draw their nameplate wattage continuously. They cycle on and off. Use approximate average hours of actual operation (refrigerator: ~8 hrs/day, AC compressor: 4-10 hrs/day in summer).
- Variable-speed motors: Modern variable-speed AC units, pool pumps, and inverter-driven appliances draw less than peak nameplate. The calculator gives a worst-case estimate; actual usage may be 20-40% lower.
- Tier and TOU pricing: The calculator uses a single $/kWh. If you are on a tiered or time-of-use plan, use your weighted blended rate (total bill / total kWh from a recent statement).
- Phantom loads: Many "off" appliances still draw 1-10W. Add a 5-10% buffer to the total monthly cost to account for vampire draw across the home.
- Resistive heating: All resistive electric heat (space heaters, electric ovens, dryers, water heaters) is 100% efficient at converting kWh to heat — no model is meaningfully better than another at the appliance level. Savings come from using less of it, switching to heat pumps, or insulating.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is energy cost calculated for an appliance?
Multiply the appliance wattage by the hours used per day, divide by 1,000 to convert watt-hours to kilowatt-hours (kWh), then multiply by your electricity rate in dollars per kWh. Example: a 1,500W space heater used 4 hours a day at $0.16/kWh costs (1,500 × 4 / 1,000) × $0.16 = $0.96 per day, or $28.80 per month.
Where do I find the wattage of my appliance?
Look at the manufacturer label, usually on the back, bottom, or inside the door of the appliance. It will list either watts (W) or amps (A) and volts (V). If only amps are listed, multiply amps × volts to get watts. The calculator presets above use typical wattages from ENERGY STAR and DOE Appliance Standards.
How much does running an air conditioner cost?
A central AC unit drawing 3,500W and running 6 hours per day at $0.16/kWh costs about $3.36 per day, $100/month, or $410 in a typical 4-month cooling season. Window units (900-1,200W) cost roughly a third of that. Heat pump systems with SEER 18+ ratings can cut these costs by 40-60%. See the Heat Pump Calculator for the upgrade math.
What appliance uses the most electricity?
In most US homes, the rank order is: 1) Central AC or heat (15-30% of bill), 2) Electric water heater (12-18%), 3) Refrigerator (5-7%), 4) Electric dryer (3-5%), 5) Lighting (5-10%). Pool pumps and EV chargers, when present, can vault into the top three. Use the calculator above to see your specific ranking.
Does an appliance use electricity when plugged in but turned off?
Yes — this is called phantom load or vampire draw. TVs, game consoles, chargers, smart speakers, and modern kitchen appliances with clocks all draw 1-10W continuously. Across a typical home, phantom loads add up to 50-100W of constant draw, costing $70-$150/year. Smart power strips that cut power when devices are idle eliminate most of this waste.
How do I compare an old appliance vs. a new ENERGY STAR model?
Use the calculator above twice — once with the old wattage, once with the new model wattage. The yellow EnergyGuide label on new appliances shows estimated annual kWh, which you can convert to dollars by multiplying by your $/kWh rate. ENERGY STAR refrigerators use ~15% less than baseline; heat pump water heaters use 60-70% less than electric resistance.
Why is my calculated cost different from my actual bill?
A few reasons. (1) The calculator assumes a constant wattage, but many appliances cycle on and off (refrigerators run ~30% of the time, AC compressors more or less based on demand). (2) Tiered or time-of-use rates change the effective $/kWh. (3) Fixed monthly fees and tax add 5-15% on top of the energy charge. Use the result here as a high-confidence directional estimate, not a billing prediction.
How can I cut the cost of my top energy users?
For HVAC: upgrade to a SEER 18+ heat pump (40-60% savings), install a smart thermostat (8-15%), seal duct leaks. For water heating: switch to a heat pump water heater (60-70% savings) or tankless. For refrigeration: replace any unit older than 15 years. For lighting: switch every bulb to LED. For pool pumps: install a variable-speed pump (50-80% savings vs single-speed).