Electricity Cost Calculator – Estimate Your Energy Bill
Our electricity cost calculator helps you quickly estimate how much any appliance costs to run daily, monthly, and yearly. Simply enter the wattage of your device, how long you use it, and your local electricity rate to get an instant breakdown. Whether you're trying to reduce your energy bill or compare appliances, this tool makes it easy to understand your power consumption.
Check the label on your appliance or its manual for the wattage (power consumption).
How many hours per day is the appliance running on average?
Enter how many days per month the appliance is in use.
Find your rate on your electricity bill. The US average is around $0.13 per kWh.
Select the currency you want results displayed in.
Your results will appear here
How to Use This Calculator
1. Enter the wattage of your appliance — you can usually find this on a label on the device, in the manual, or by searching the model online. 2. Input the average number of hours per day you use the appliance. 3. Enter how many days per month the appliance is in use (default is 30). 4. Enter your electricity rate in cents or dollars per kilowatt-hour (kWh) — check your utility bill for this figure. 5. Select your preferred currency symbol. 6. Click Calculate to instantly see your daily, monthly, and yearly electricity costs along with your total energy consumption in kWh.
How Electricity Cost Is Calculated
Electricity is billed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kilowatt-hour equals 1,000 watts of power used for one hour. The formula to calculate energy consumption is straightforward:
Key Formulas
- Daily kWh = (Wattage × Hours per Day) ÷ 1,000
- Monthly kWh = Daily kWh × Days per Month
- Yearly kWh = Monthly kWh × 12
- Cost = kWh × Rate per kWh
Understanding Wattage
Wattage is the rate at which a device consumes energy. A 100-watt light bulb uses 100 watts of power every hour it is on. A 1,500-watt space heater uses 15 times more energy per hour. Knowing your appliance's wattage is the first step in understanding its energy cost.
Common Appliance Wattages
- LED light bulb: 8–10 W
- Laptop: 50–100 W
- Desktop computer: 150–300 W
- Refrigerator: 100–400 W
- Washing machine: 500–1,200 W
- Electric dryer: 2,000–6,000 W
- Air conditioner (window): 900–1,440 W
- Electric water heater: 3,000–4,500 W
- Microwave: 600–1,200 W
What Is a kWh?
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the standard unit utility companies use to bill electricity. If you run a 1,000-watt appliance for one hour, you consume 1 kWh. If your utility rate is $0.13 per kWh, that one hour costs you $0.13. Over a month or year, even small appliances can add up significantly.
How to Find Your Electricity Rate
Your electricity rate is printed on your utility bill, usually expressed as cents per kWh (e.g., 13¢/kWh = $0.13/kWh). Rates vary by location, time of day, and provider. The US average is approximately $0.13–$0.16 per kWh, while European rates can range from €0.20–€0.40 per kWh depending on the country.
Tips to Reduce Your Electricity Bill
- Switch to LED lighting — uses up to 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
- Unplug devices when not in use to eliminate standby power draw.
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat to optimize heating and cooling.
- Run laundry and dishwashers during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use pricing.
- Replace old appliances with ENERGY STAR-certified models.
- Seal drafts around windows and doors to reduce HVAC load.