Start with watts
Check the appliance label or manufacturer's specifications. Rated power may differ from actual average power consumption, particularly for equipment that cycles on and off.
Appliance Electricity Cost Calculator
Estimate how much your electrical appliances consume and cost to run. Compare several devices, enter your own electricity rate, and estimate the cost for your billing cycle or a full year.
Calculate your electricity costs
Use your appliances' actual wattage and your electricity tariff when possible.
Your electricity cost report
Energy consumed per cycle
Average energy per day
Estimated average 30-day cost
Estimated annual energy use
Estimated annual total cost
Largest energy consumer
What this means
Cost and usage by appliance
| Appliance | kWh/cycle | Energy cost/cycle | Estimated annual cost | Share of usage | Relative usage |
|---|
Appliance costs include energy charges only. Fixed bill charges are included in the total cost summary and are not arbitrarily assigned to individual devices.
How to calculate appliance electricity consumption
An appliance's electricity use depends on its power draw, how many units you operate, how long they run, and how often they are used. You can use the calculator to compare lighting, computers, fans, kitchen equipment, cooling appliances, and other electrical devices.
Estimate usage time
Enter the hours used on a typical usage day and the number of days used in one billing cycle. Do not count the same run time twice.
Compare the result
Compare energy consumption as well as cost. The device with the highest wattage is not always the device that consumes the most electricity over a billing period.
The electricity consumption formula
Energy (kWh) = Power (W) × Quantity × Hours per day × Days used × Average load fraction ÷ 1,000
Energy cost = Energy consumption (kWh) × Electricity rate per kWh
Average load fraction is your entered load percentage divided by 100. For a device using its full rated power during every entered hour, set the load percentage to 100%. For devices that cycle on and off, an estimated average load can provide a better approximation if it is not already represented by the wattage you enter.
Worked example
Suppose one 100 W device runs for 5 hours a day and is used on 30 days of a billing cycle, with an average load of 100%.
| Calculation | Result |
|---|---|
| Daily energy | 100 × 5 ÷ 1,000 = 0.5 kWh |
| 30-day energy | 0.5 × 30 = 15 kWh |
| Energy cost at 10 currency units/kWh | 15 × 10 = 150 currency units |
This illustration assumes constant 100 W power draw and excludes fixed charges, taxes, and tariff tiers. Your results may differ substantially if the actual operating pattern is different.
About real electricity bills: This calculator uses
a flat rate per kWh. Some electricity providers calculate charges
using consumption tiers, time-of-use pricing, taxes, minimum charges,
or other rules. Entering an average effective rate can help with
budgeting, but it does not reproduce every utility bill.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate electricity cost for an appliance?
Multiply the appliance's power in watts by its quantity, daily operating hours, days used, and average load fraction. Divide by 1,000 to obtain kilowatt-hours, then multiply the energy consumption by your electricity rate. This gives an estimated energy charge before any separate fixed fees or taxes.
What is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)?
A kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy. Using a 1,000-watt device at its full rated power for one hour consumes 1 kWh. A 100-watt device at full power for ten hours also consumes 1 kWh.
How accurate is this appliance electricity cost calculator?
Accuracy depends on the wattage, usage hours, number of devices, average load, tariff, and billing assumptions you provide. Nameplate wattage may not equal actual power draw. For more accurate results, measure consumption where practical and use the rate structure on your electricity bill.
Why is a refrigerator's actual electricity use different from its rated wattage?
Many refrigerators cycle their compressors rather than drawing the same power constantly. The hours or average-load assumptions can therefore differ from their actual operating patterns. A measured average or manufacturer's energy-use estimate can be more suitable than assuming rated power for every hour.
Can I calculate costs for multiple appliances together?
Yes. Add a row for each device, enter its power, quantity, usage time and average load, and run the calculation. The report totals their estimated energy use and charges, then shows each appliance's contribution to overall consumption.
Does this calculator use my electricity provider's actual tariff?
No. You enter the price per kWh and any fixed bill charge yourself. If your provider uses different rates for different usage levels, use a suitable effective average rate or calculate the tiers separately before entering an equivalent total.
Does changing the display currency convert electricity prices?
No. Currency selection changes the formatting of the displayed amounts only. There is no exchange-rate lookup or conversion. Enter the tariff and fixed charges in the currency you select.
Does this tool upload my appliance data?
The calculator's arithmetic and report exports run in your browser. This page's tool code does not send your inputs to a calculation server. Hosting, analytics or advertising services configured separately may have their own data practices.