How do I calculate electricity cost?

Cost = Watts × Hours ÷ 1,000 × Rate per kWh Step by step: 1. Convert watts to kilowatts: kW = Watts / 1,000 2. Calculate kWh: kWh = kW × Hours used 3. Calculate cost: Cost = kWh × Electricity rate Example — 1,500W space heater, 6 hours/day, $0.15/kWh: • kW: 1,500 / 1,000 = 1.5 kW • kWh/day: 1.5 × 6 = 9 kWh/day • Cost/day: 9 × $0.15 = $1.35/day • Cost/month: $1.35 × 30.44 = $41.09/month • Cost/year: $1.35 × 365.25 = $493/year A space heater running 6 hours every day costs nearly $500/year.

What uses the most electricity in a home?

Typical US home breakdown by appliance (approximate annual cost at $0.15/kWh): • Central AC / heat pump: $500–$1,200/year (biggest single load) • Electric water heater: $400–$600/year • Electric clothes dryer: $75–$150/year • Refrigerator: $50–$80/year (runs 24/7 but low watts) • Washing machine: $25–$50/year • Lighting (whole house, LED): $100–$200/year • TV + entertainment: $50–$150/year • Desktop PC (8 hrs/day): $100–$200/year • EV charging (average 30 miles/day): $200–$350/year Heating and cooling typically account for 40–50% of the average electricity bill. Water heating is usually the second largest load.

How do I find the wattage of my appliances?

3 ways to find wattage: 1. Check the label: Most appliances have a label on the back or bottom showing voltage (V), current (A), and power (W). If only V and A are listed: W = V × A. 2. Check the manual or manufacturer website: Search '[appliance model] specifications wattage'. 3. Use a plug-in power meter (e.g. Kill-A-Watt): Plugs between the appliance and wall socket, shows real-time wattage, kWh, and running cost. Most useful for devices with variable consumption (like fridges that cycle on and off). Note: appliance labels show maximum/rated wattage. Actual consumption is often lower — a fridge rated at 200W may actually average 150W because the compressor cycles. For accurate measurements, use a power meter.

How can I reduce my electricity bill?

High-impact changes: 1. Heating/cooling: Set thermostat 2°F (1°C) higher in summer and lower in winter. Each degree saves ~3% on HVAC costs. 2. Water heater: Turn down to 120°F (49°C). Add an insulating blanket. Consider a heat pump water heater (3× more efficient). 3. Switch to LED lighting: LEDs use 75–80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and last 10–25× longer. 4. Unplug standby devices: Electronics in standby use 5–10% of home electricity. Smart plugs with timers help. 5. Efficient appliances: Replace old appliances with ENERGY STAR rated models — refrigerators, washers, and dishwashers have improved dramatically. 6. Wash in cold water: 90% of washing machine energy goes to heating water. Cold wash does the same job for most laundry. 7. Line dry laundry: Tumble dryers are one of the most expensive household appliances. 8. Solar panels: In good sun locations, payback in 6–14 years with free electricity for 20+ years after.

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

EV charging cost = kWh needed × electricity rate For a typical EV with 250Wh/mile efficiency: • 30 miles/day × 0.25 kWh/mile = 7.5 kWh/day • At $0.15/kWh: 7.5 × $0.15 = $1.13/day = $34/month = $411/year Home charger types: • Level 1 (120V, 1.4kW): Very slow — adds ~5 miles/hour • Level 2 (240V, 7.2kW): Standard home charger — adds ~25 miles/hour • Level 3 / DC Fast Charge (50–350kW): Public stations only — adds ~100–200 miles/20 min For most drivers, overnight Level 2 charging at home is the cheapest and most convenient option. Many utilities offer lower overnight EV rates — check for time-of-use tariffs in your area.

What is the difference between watts and kilowatt-hours?

Watts (W) measure power — the rate of energy use at a moment in time. Kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy — the total electricity consumed over time. Analogy: • Speed (km/h) = Watts — how fast you are using energy • Distance (km) = kWh — total energy used Conversion: kWh = Watts × Hours / 1,000 Examples: • A 100W light bulb on for 10 hours = 100 × 10 / 1,000 = 1 kWh • A 3,000W AC on for 2 hours = 3,000 × 2 / 1,000 = 6 kWh • A 50W laptop on for 8 hours = 50 × 8 / 1,000 = 0.4 kWh Your electricity bill charges you for kWh (energy used), not watts (power level). Your meter measures total kWh consumed since installation.

Electricity Cost Calculator — Cost Per Appliance & Total Bill

The Electricity Cost Calculator shows exactly what each appliance costs to run — per day, per month, and per year. Build your own appliance list from 30+ presets (AC, fridge, dryer, EV charger, lighting and more) or enter custom wattage and hours. Toggle appliances on and off to model savings without deleting them. Ent..

APPLIANCES

$41.09/mo

WATTS (W)

HOURS / DAY

9.000 kWh/day·$1.3500/day·$493.09/yr

YOUR ELECTRICITY RATE ($/kWh)

$/kWh

US avg: $0.12–$0.17 · UK avg: ~$0.30 · Australia: ~$0.25 · India: ~$0.08

TOTAL — ALL APPLIANCES

PER DAY

$1.35

PER MONTH

$41.09

PER YEAR

$493.09

kWh / DAY

9.00

kWh / MONTH

274

kWh / YEAR

3,287

TOP APPLIANCES BY MONTHLY COST

COST BREAKDOWN

ApplianceW/day/month

Space Heater1500$1.350$41.09

TYPICAL WATTAGE REFERENCE

EV Charger (Level 2)7,200W

Tumble Dryer5,000W

Water Heater4,000W

Central AC3,500W

Electric Oven2,400W

Washing Machine2,000W

Electric Kettle2,000W

Space Heater1,500W

Dishwasher1,800W

Microwave1,000W

Refrigerator150W

Desktop PC400W

LED TV (55")100W

Laptop65W

LED Bulb10W

Created with❤️byeaglecalculator.com

HOW TO USE

1
Start by adding appliances to your list. Click '+ Add from list' to open the preset picker with 30+ common appliances grouped by category (heating, kitchen, laundry, entertainment, lighting, other). Click any appliance to add it instantly with a sensible default wattage and daily hours. Or click '+ Add custom appliance' to enter any device manually.
2
For each appliance, set the wattage in watts (W) — found on the device label, power adapter, or manufacturer spec sheet. Then set how many hours per day you typically use it. Appliances like fridges run 24 hours; appliances like ovens might run just 1 hour. Use the toggle switch to temporarily exclude an appliance without removing it.
3
Set your electricity rate in $/kWh from your electricity bill. The US average is $0.12–$0.17/kWh, UK is around $0.30, Australia $0.25, India $0.08. If you have time-of-use pricing, use your average blended rate. Regional rate guides are shown below the input.
4
The results panel shows cost per day, per month, and per year for each appliance, plus grand totals. The horizontal bar chart on the right ranks all appliances by monthly cost so you can instantly see which devices are driving your electricity bill.
5
Use the full breakdown table on the right to see all appliances side by side with daily and monthly costs. Toggle appliances on and off to model what would happen if you ran a device less often — a simple way to find energy savings without changing your lifestyle significantly.

WORKED EXAMPLE

Estimating the monthly electricity cost for a UK household: Appliances: • Fridge: 150W × 24h/day = 3.6 kWh/day • Washing machine: 2,000W × 1h/day = 2.0 kWh/day • LED TV: 80W × 4h/day = 0.32 kWh/day • Laptop: 65W × 6h/day = 0.39 kWh/day • LED lighting: 100W total × 5h/day = 0.5 kWh/day • Electric shower: 10,000W × 0.25h/day = 2.5 kWh/day Total daily kWh: 3.6 + 2.0 + 0.32 + 0.39 + 0.5 + 2.5 = 9.31 kWh/day Monthly (×30.44): 9.31 × 30.44 = 283.4 kWh/month Cost at $0.30/kWh (UK rate): 283.4 × $0.30 = $85.02/month Biggest loads: 1. Fridge: $32.85/month (runs continuously) 2. Shower: $22.84/month (high wattage) 3. Washing machine: $18.26/month

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Last updated: April 29, 2026 · Formula verified by EagleCalculator team · Eagle-eyed accuracy for every calculation.