Our electricity cost calculator helps you understand how much it costs to run any electrical appliance or device. Enter the wattage, daily usage hours, and your electricity rate to see costs broken down by hour, day, month, and year. Supports both single appliance and multiple appliance calculations to help you identify the biggest energy consumers in your home and find ways to reduce your electric bill.
Input the appliance wattage or select from common presets
Enter how many hours per day you use the appliance
Input your electricity rate (check your utility bill)
See hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly electricity costs
Energy consumption in kilowatt-hours is calculated by multiplying the power in watts by the usage hours and dividing by 1000. The cost is then determined by multiplying kWh by your electricity rate.
kWh = Watts x Hours / 1000; Cost = kWh x Rate
Check your electricity bill for your actual rate per kWh - US average is about $0.16/kWh
Appliances with heating elements (space heaters, ovens, dryers) consume the most electricity
Energy Star rated appliances use 10-50% less energy than standard models
Standby power (phantom load) from electronics can add 5-10% to your electric bill
Running appliances during off-peak hours can save money with time-of-use rate plans
LED bulbs use about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs for the same brightness
Air conditioning is typically the largest single electricity expense in warm climates
Using a programmable thermostat can reduce heating and cooling costs by 10-15%
Electricity is one of the largest recurring household expenses, with the average US home spending roughly $1,500 per year according to the Energy Information Administration. Yet most people have no idea which appliances drive their electric bill. A central air conditioner running 8 hours a day can cost $150-$250 per month alone, while a modern LED light bulb running 12 hours daily costs only about $1.50 per month. Understanding these per-appliance costs is the key to reducing your electricity bill through targeted efficiency upgrades and usage changes. The calculation is straightforward: multiply the appliance wattage by hours of use to get watt-hours, divide by 1,000 to convert to kilowatt-hours (kWh), then multiply by your electricity rate. The US average electricity rate is approximately $0.16 per kWh, but rates vary widely from $0.10 in states like Louisiana to over $0.30 in Hawaii and California. This electricity cost calculator takes any appliance's wattage, your daily usage hours, and your local electricity rate, then computes the daily, weekly, monthly, and annual operating cost. Use it to compare the running costs of old versus new appliances, estimate the payback period for energy-efficient upgrades, or simply understand where your electricity dollars are going.
Electricity costs depend on three factors: the power consumption of your appliances (measured in watts), how long you use them, and your utility rate per kilowatt-hour. By calculating the cost of individual appliances, you can identify the biggest energy consumers and find opportunities to save on your electric bill.
Switch to LED lighting, use Energy Star appliances, unplug devices when not in use, and consider time-of-use rate plans. Smart power strips can eliminate phantom loads, and programmable thermostats can optimize heating and cooling schedules.
Data sourced from trusted institutions
All formulas verified against official standards.