Electricity
Calculator
Calculate exactly how much your appliance costs to run. Single device or full home — enter watts, hours, and rate to get daily, monthly, and annual electricity costs.
kWh
Energy
$
Cost
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Presets
CO2
Footprint
Electricity Cost Calculator
Watts → Cost
Quick Appliance Presets
Device — Annual Cost
$49.67
Per Day
$0.136
0.80 kWh/day
Per Month
$4.14
24 kWh/mo
Per Year
$49.67
292.2 kWh/yr
🍃 Annual CO2: 112.8 kg (249 lbs)
Based on US avg grid intensity (0.386 kg/kWh)
POWER REFERENCE
Typical Power Consumption by Appliance
Average wattage for common household appliances. Actual values vary by model and age.
| Appliance | Typical Wattage | Annual kWh* | Annual Cost* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central A/C | 3,500 W | 1,750 kWh | ~$400 | Based on 500 hrs/year use |
| Electric Water Heater | 4,000 W | 4,000 kWh | ~$680 | Largest single-cost after HVAC |
| Clothes Dryer | 5,000 W | 769 kWh | ~$131 | ~3 loads/week, 45 min each |
| Refrigerator | 150 W avg | 500 kWh | ~$85 | Cycles on/off, avg draw ~150W |
| Dishwasher | 1,800 W | 207 kWh | ~$52 | 5 loads/week, 1 hr each |
| Electric Stove (large burner) | 2,100 W | — | — | Varies widely by cooking time |
| Microwave | 1,000 W | 73 kWh | ~$12 | ~12 min/day use |
| Desktop Computer + Monitor | 300 W | 219 kWh | ~$51 | Gaming PC can be 500-800W |
| Laptop | 65 W | 66 kWh | ~$21 | Very efficient vs desktop |
| 55" LED TV | 80 W | 66 kWh | ~$20 | 4 hrs/day |
| Space Heater | 1,500 W | 913 kWh | ~$221 | Expensive to run continuously |
| LED Bulb (60W-equiv) | 9 W | 13 kWh | ~$3 | 4 hrs/day, CFL=14W, incand=60W |
| EV Charging (Level 2) | 7,300 W | 2,600 kWh | ~$442 | ~12,000 miles/year @ 25 kWh/100mi |
| Pool Pump | 1,500 W | 1,642 kWh | ~$279 | 3 hrs/day, 365 days |
*Annual estimates based on typical US household usage patterns and $0.17/kWh average rate.
ENERGY SAVING TIPS
Top Ways to Reduce Your Electricity Bill
Practical tips that can meaningfully reduce your monthly cost.
HVAC = 40-50% of Bill
Set thermostat to 68°F (20°C) in winter and 78°F (26°C) in summer. Each degree closer to outdoor temp saves 1-3%. A smart thermostat with setbacks while away or sleeping pays for itself in a season.
Switch to LED Lighting
LEDs use 75-80% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 15-25x longer. Replacing 10 frequently-used bulbs with LEDs typically saves $100-$150 a year, depending on hours of use.
Eliminate Phantom Loads
TVs, cable boxes, chargers, and game consoles draw power even when 'off.' Standby draw can add up to 5-10% of a home's electricity bill. Smart power strips cut it off with zero sacrifice.
Water Heater Temp
Set your water heater to 120°F (49°C) — most homes run it too hot. Use cold water for laundry when possible; heat pump water heaters are 2-3x more efficient than standard electric units.
Insulation & Air Sealing
Adding attic insulation to R-38 and sealing air leaks can reduce heating and cooling costs by 15-20%. Weatherstripping typically pays back in 1-3 years and stays cheap year after year.
Time of Use Rates
Many utilities offer time-of-use (TOU) rates where off-peak electricity is significantly cheaper on weekends and 10-30% cheaper overnight. Running dishwashers and EV chargers during off-peak hours can add up to real savings.
⚡ The Average US Home Uses ~900 kWh/Month — Worth $153
At the US average rate of ~$0.17/kWh, the average household uses about 10,800 kWh a year. HVAC accounts for the largest share (40-50%), followed by water heating (14-18%). Cutting a heat pump water heater and smart thermostat can lower these two costs by 40-60% while cutting your home's overall electricity footprint significantly.
Understanding Your Electricity Bill
Your bill has multiple charges: Energy charge (the per-kWh rate you use in this calculator), distribution/delivery charge (fixed or usage-based), and taxes/fees. The total all-in cost per kWh in your total bill divided by total kWh used — often $0.10 to $0.30/kWh in the US.
To find your actual rate, look for "energy charge" or "supply charge" on your bill, usually in cents/kWh. Or divide your total bill by your usage in kWh for the all-in rate.
Carbon Footprint of Electricity
The US average grid carbon intensity is approximately 0.386 kg CO2/kWh. States with more renewables and nuclear have lower intensity; coal-heavy states have higher intensity. A home using 900 kWh/month generates ~347 kg CO2/month from electricity alone.
Switching from incandescent to LED lighting, or from a gas dryer to heat pump dryer, reduces both electricity cost and carbon footprint simultaneously. Solar panels can eliminate the carbon footprint of home electricity entirely.
How to Calculate Electricity Costs
Calculating electricity cost requires three inputs: the appliance's power consumption (in watts), how long it runs per day (hours), and your electricity rate (dollars per kWh). The formula is simple but it applies to everything from a 5-watt LED bulb to a 5,000-watt clothes dryer.
🧮 The kWh Formula
Energy (kWh) = Power (W) × Time (hours) ÷ 1,000Daily cost = kWh × Rate ($/kWh) | Monthly cost = Daily cost × ~30.4Annual cost = Daily cost × 365.25 | Example: 1,500W heater, 4 hrs/day, $0.17/kWh → 6 kWh/day → $1.02/day → $31.05/mo → $372.60/yr🔍 Finding the Watts of Any Device
The wattage of any appliance is usually printed on a label on the back or bottom of the device, or in the user manual. It may be listed as "Max Power," "Rated Power," or "Input Power" in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). For variable-power devices (refrigerators, air conditioners), the listed wattage is the maximum draw when running — actual average consumption is lower due to cycling.
🌱 Carbon Footprint Calculation
CO2 (kg/day) = kWh/day × grid intensity (kg CO2/kWh) | CO2 (kg/year) = kWh/year × 0.386US avg grid intensity: ~0.386 kg CO2/kWh. Clean grid states (WA, OR, VT): ~0.05-0.15 kg/kWh. Coal-heavy states (WV, KY, WY): ~0.65-0.90 kg/kWh. Example: 900 kWh/month household → 900 × 0.386 = 347.4 kg CO2/month, or roughly 4,169 kg/year.
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