How do I calculate the cost of electricity for an appliance?

Multiply the appliance power in kilowatts (watts divided by 1000) by the hours it runs, then multiply by your electricity rate per kilowatt hour. For example a 1500 watt heater for 8 hours uses 12 kWh, and at 17 cents per kWh that costs about 2 dollars and 4 cents a day.

What is the average electricity rate in the United States?

The average US residential electricity price is about 17 cents per kilowatt hour as reported by the Energy Information Administration, but rates vary widely by state from roughly 11 cents to over 40 cents. Enter your own rate from your bill for an exact result.

How much does it cost to run a space heater?

A typical 1500 watt space heater uses 1.5 kWh per hour. At the US average of about 17 cents per kWh that is roughly 26 cents an hour, so running it 8 hours a day costs about 2 dollars a day, or around 62 dollars a month.

Where do I find an appliance wattage?

Look for a rating label on the appliance, usually on the back or base, or check the manual. It is shown in watts, or as volts and amps which you multiply together to get watts.

Home / Electricity Cost Calculator

Electricity Cost Calculator

An electricity cost calculator tells you what an appliance costs to run. It takes the power in watts, the hours it runs, and the price you pay per kilowatt hour, and returns the cost per hour, day, month, and year. Pick an appliance below or type the wattage. Everything runs in your browser, with no signup.

Updated for 2026

Your appliance

Pick a preset or type the wattage. Results update instantly.

Appliance preset

Power

watts

Hours per day

h / day

Electricity rate

$/ kWh

Costs to run

Per hour

Per day

Per year

Energy per day

0 kWh

Energy per year

0 kWh

What common appliances cost to run

Typical running cost at your rate of 17 cents per kWh, using common daily usage. Tap any row to load it into the calculator. Change the rate above and these update instantly.

Appliance	Typical use	Per day	Per month

How the running cost is calculated

The energy an appliance uses is its power in kilowatts multiplied by the hours it runs. The cost is that energy multiplied by your electricity rate:

Cost = ( Watts ÷ 1000 ) × Hours × Rate per kWh

A kilowatt hour, or kWh, is one kilowatt of power used for one hour. It is the unit your utility bills you in. Divide watts by 1000 to get kilowatts, multiply by hours to get kWh, then multiply by your rate.

Worked example (Stand: 2026)

ApplianceSpace heater
Power1,500 watts
Runs8 hours / day
Energy per day (1.5 kW × 8 h)12 kWh
Electricity rate$0.17 / kWh
Cost per day (12 × 0.17)$2.04
Cost per month$62.05
Cost per year$744.60

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the cost of running an appliance?

Multiply the power in kilowatts (watts divided by 1000) by the hours it runs, then by your electricity rate per kWh. The calculator above does this for any wattage, hours, and rate you enter.

What is the average electricity rate in the US?

The average US residential price is about 17 cents per kWh as reported by the Energy Information Administration, but it ranges from roughly 11 cents in some states to over 40 cents in others. The exact rate is on your electricity bill. Enter it above for a result that matches your bill.

How much does a space heater cost to run?

A typical 1500 watt heater uses 1.5 kWh each hour, about 26 cents an hour at 17 cents per kWh. Run 8 hours a day that is roughly 2 dollars a day or about 62 dollars a month.

Where do I find the wattage of an appliance?

Check the rating label on the appliance, usually on the back or base, or its manual. It is listed in watts, or as volts and amps which you multiply to get watts.

Does this calculator store my numbers?

No. Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to a server or saved.

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