Calculator
Electricity Cost Calculator
Estimate the monthly and yearly cost of running any appliance or device.
This electricity cost calculator estimates how much it costs to run an appliance over time. Enter the device wattage, daily hours of use, and the price you pay per kilowatt-hour to see the daily, monthly, and yearly cost.
Result
Enter your values and tap "Calculate cost" to see your result.
How to use this calculator
Find the wattage on the device label or specifications. Enter that wattage, your daily usage in hours, and your electricity price per kWh. The calculator multiplies these to estimate energy use and cost.
How it works
This electricity cost calculator estimates how much it costs to run an appliance over time. Enter the device wattage, daily hours of use, and the price you pay per kilowatt-hour to see the daily, monthly, and yearly cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)?
A kilowatt-hour is the energy used by a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour. Utility bills are usually charged per kWh.
Where do I find an appliance's wattage?
Check the back or bottom label, the user manual, or the manufacturer's website. Wattage may be listed directly or calculated as volts × amps.
Why does my bill differ from this estimate?
Bills include fixed fees, taxes, time-of-use rates, and tier pricing that flat-rate calculations do not capture. Many appliances also vary their wattage by mode.
How can I reduce running cost?
Use the appliance for fewer hours, switch to a lower-wattage model, run it during off-peak hours if your utility offers them, or unplug devices that draw standby power.
What does standby power cost?
Many electronics draw 1–10 watts when off but plugged in. Across a household this can add up to a small but ongoing share of the bill.
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How to use the Electricity Cost Calculator
Estimate the running cost of a single appliance based on wattage, daily usage, and your local electricity rate; compare costs before buying a new appliance; identify high-consumption devices.
Example workflow
Enter your appliance wattage (e.g. 1500W for a hair dryer), how many hours per day you use it, and your electricity rate in cents/kWh. The calculator returns daily, monthly, and annual cost.
Common search topics
- appliance energy cost
- electricity bill estimate
- kWh cost calculator
- energy usage
Regional use
Rates, costs, codes, and measurement standards vary by location. This calculator supports common use cases in:
- Electricity Cost Calculator — United States
- Electricity Cost Calculator — Texas
- Electricity Cost Calculator — California
- Electricity Cost Calculator — New York
- Electricity Cost Calculator — Florida
- Electricity Cost Calculator — Canada
- Electricity Cost Calculator — United Kingdom
- Electricity Cost Calculator — India
- Electricity Cost Calculator — Australia
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my electricity rate?
Check your utility bill — it is usually listed as cents per kWh or pence per kWh. In the US, average retail rates range from around 10 to 30 cents/kWh depending on state and provider.
How do I find the wattage of my appliance?
Look for a label on the back or bottom of the appliance, or check the product manual. Wattage is usually listed directly; if only amps and volts are shown, multiply them to get watts.
Why does my actual bill differ from the estimate?
The estimate assumes the appliance runs at full rated wattage for the full duration entered. In practice, devices like refrigerators cycle on and off, reducing actual consumption.
Can I estimate a whole-room or whole-house cost?
Use the Home Electricity Use Calculator on this site — it lets you enter multiple appliances at once for a full household energy breakdown.
Does electricity cost vary by time of day?
Yes, if your provider uses time-of-use (TOU) pricing. Running high-wattage appliances during off-peak hours can reduce your bill. Check your utility plan for rate schedule details.
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People also ask
How much does it cost to run a space heater for 8 hours?
A typical portable space heater runs at 1,500 watts. At 8 hours per day and the US average electricity rate of roughly $0.16/kWh, that's 12 kWh daily — about $1.92/day or $57.60/month. Actual costs vary significantly by state: California averages around $0.28/kWh (making the monthly cost ~$100), while states like Louisiana average $0.11/kWh (~$40/month). Enter your local rate for an accurate figure.
Does leaving phone chargers plugged in waste electricity?
A phone charger draws about 2–5 watts when idle (not charging). At 24 hours/day and $0.16/kWh, an idle charger costs roughly $0.19–$0.47/month — negligible individually. But a household with 10 permanently plugged-in idle devices (chargers, TVs on standby, cable boxes, smart speakers) can collectively draw 50–100 watts continuously, adding $5–$10/month to the bill. The calculator makes it easy to check any specific device.
How much electricity does an EV charger use?
A Level 2 home EV charger typically draws 7.2–11.5 kW. Charging a 75 kWh battery from 20% to 80% (45 kWh) at $0.16/kWh costs about $7.20. If you charge nightly, monthly charging costs typically run $30–$70 depending on how much you drive and your local rate. Use the calculator: enter your charger's rated kW as watts (e.g. 7,200W for a 7.2kW unit) and your average daily charging hours.
Real-world scenarios
Comparing two appliances before buying
An old refrigerator rated at 800W vs a new Energy Star model at 400W: at 24 hours/day and $0.16/kWh, the old model costs about $111/year and the new one about $56/year — a $55 annual saving. If the new fridge costs $800 more than the old one, payback is roughly 14 years. Run both through the calculator before deciding whether efficiency savings justify a replacement cost.
Calculating cost of a home office setup
A desktop PC (300W) + two monitors (60W each) + router (20W) running 10 hours/day on weekdays: total daily draw ≈ 4.4 kWh on workdays, or roughly 96 kWh/month. At $0.16/kWh, that's about $15.36/month just for the office setup. Enter each device separately and add the results to build a complete office energy budget — useful for business expense tracking or working from home cost analysis.
Estimating the cost of leaving a TV on standby
Most modern smart TVs draw 0.5–3 watts in standby mode. At 3W standby and 18 hours/day (6 hours watched, 18 on standby), the standby cost is roughly $0.27/month — trivial. The active viewing cost at 100–150W for 6 hours/day at $0.16/kWh is about $2.88–$4.32/month. If your TV uses 200W, the watched-time cost rises to $5.76/month — worth knowing if you're trying to reduce energy use.