How Much Does It Cost to Run Common Appliances? Monthly Cost Chart
The cost to run an appliance is its watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × the price per kWh. A 1,500 W space heater for 8 hours a day costs about $61 a month at 17¢ per kWh, and a modern refrigerator about $6 a month. The appliance electricity cost calculator does the sum for your own appliance and rate, and the watts to amps calculator shows the current.
Monthly cost of common appliances
At 17¢ per kWh, for a 30 day month. The figures are typical: the duty is the share of the time the appliance draws its full power (a fridge compressor, a thermostat). Check the label or use a watt meter for your own.
| Appliance | Watts | Duty | Hours a day | Energy a day | Cost a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (about 18 cubic feet) | 150 W | 35% | 24 h | 1.3 kWh | $6.43 |
| Chest freezer | 100 W | 30% | 24 h | 0.7 kWh | $3.67 |
| Central air conditioner (3 ton) | 3,500 W | 50% | 8 h | 14.0 kWh | $71.40 |
| Window air conditioner (8,000 BTU) | 700 W | 60% | 8 h | 3.4 kWh | $17.14 |
| Electric space heater | 1,500 W | 100% | 4 h | 6.0 kWh | $30.60 |
| Electric water heater (4,500 W element) | 4,500 W | 10% | 24 h | 10.8 kWh | $55.08 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,000 W | 100% | 1 h | 5.0 kWh | $25.50 |
| Clothes washer | 500 W | 50% | 1 h | 0.3 kWh | $1.28 |
| Dishwasher | 1,800 W | 50% | 1 h | 0.9 kWh | $4.59 |
| Electric oven | 2,500 W | 100% | 1 h | 2.5 kWh | $12.75 |
| Microwave oven | 1,100 W | 100% | 0.25 h | 0.3 kWh | $1.40 |
| Television (55 inch LED) | 100 W | 100% | 5 h | 0.5 kWh | $2.55 |
| Desktop computer | 200 W | 100% | 6 h | 1.2 kWh | $6.12 |
| Laptop | 50 W | 100% | 6 h | 0.3 kWh | $1.53 |
| LED light bulb | 10 W | 100% | 5 h | 0.1 kWh | $0.26 |
| Ceiling fan | 60 W | 100% | 8 h | 0.5 kWh | $2.45 |
| Dehumidifier | 500 W | 50% | 12 h | 3.0 kWh | $15.30 |
| Pool pump (single speed) | 1,500 W | 100% | 8 h | 12.0 kWh | $61.20 |
| Hot tub (kept heated) | 1,500 W | 15% | 24 h | 5.4 kWh | $27.54 |
| Electric car charging at home (7.2 kW) | 7,200 W | 100% | 3 h | 21.6 kWh | $110.16 |
How the price per kWh changes the cost
An 8-hour-a-day 1,500 W heater and a 100 W load left on all day:
| Price per kWh | 1,500 W for 8 hours a day | 100 W for 24 hours a day |
|---|---|---|
| 10¢ | $36.00 | $7.20 |
| 13¢ | $46.80 | $9.36 |
| 17¢ | $61.20 | $12.24 |
| 22¢ | $79.20 | $15.84 |
| 30¢ | $108.00 | $21.60 |
Your price is on your bill, in cents per kilowatt-hour, and it varies a lot between states and with time-of-use plans. Add up the delivery charges, not only the energy charge.
What to look at first
- Heating and cooling: the largest part of most bills. Insulation, a programmable thermostat and a right-sized system matter more than anything else. See the heating cost comparison.
- Water heating: often 15 to 20% of the energy a home uses. Lower the thermostat, insulate the pipes, and choose a right-sized or heat pump heater.
- Always-on loads: a fridge, a freezer and standby power run all year. An old second fridge can cost more than a new one.
- Lighting and electronics: LED bulbs use about a sixth of the energy of an incandescent bulb for the same light.
How to measure it yourself
- Plug the appliance into a watt meter or a smart plug that measures energy, and read the kWh after a day or a week.
- For hardwired loads, read your meter before and after you run the appliance.
- Multiply the kWh by your rate. For a rough idea use the label watts and a guess at the hours.
These are estimates for planning: real use depends on the age of the appliance, the weather and how you use it.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the cost to run an appliance?
Multiply the watts by the hours used and divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours, then multiply by your price per kWh. A 1,500 W heater for 8 hours is 12 kWh, which costs $2.04 at 17¢ per kWh.
How much does it cost to run a refrigerator?
About $6.43 a month, or $77 a year, for a modern fridge using about 1.3 kWh a day, at 17¢ per kWh.
How much does it cost to run a central air conditioner?
A 3 ton central air conditioner running half the time for 8 hours a day uses 14 kWh and costs about $71 a month at 17¢ per kWh. It depends on the weather and the size of the house.
Which appliances cost the most to run?
Heating and cooling, the water heater, the dryer and an electric car use the most electricity. Small electronics and LED lights are cheap to run.
How do I find the real watts of an appliance?
Read the label on the back, or plug the appliance into a watt meter. Appliances with a thermostat or a motor, such as a fridge or an air conditioner, cycle on and off, so measure the average over a day.
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