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Estimate your monthly electricity costs based on appliance wattage, usage hours, and local utility rates. Identify your biggest energy consumers and save on your electric bill.
Everything you need to know
Electricity bills can be confusing. You know you're using power, but which appliances are the biggest culprits? Our electricity calculator breaks down your energy consumption appliance by appliance, helping you identify where your money is going and how to reduce your bill.
What you can calculate:
Cost = (Wattage × Hours Used) ÷ 1000 × Price Per kWh
Where:
Daily cost = (150 × 8) ÷ 1000 × 0.14 = $0.17/day Monthly cost = $0.17 × 30 = $5.10/month Yearly cost = $5.10 × 12 = $61.20/year
| Appliance | Wattage | Daily Hours | Monthly Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central AC (3-ton) | 3,500 | 8 (summer) | $117.60 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 (winter) | $37.80 |
| Water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $56.70 |
| Clothes dryer | 3,000 | 1 | $12.60 |
| Washing machine | 500 | 1 | $2.10 |
| Dishwasher | 1,800 | 1.5 | $11.34 |
| Refrigerator | 150 | 24 (8 active) | $5.04 |
| LED TV (55") | 80 | 5 | $1.68 |
| Desktop computer | 200 | 8 | $6.72 |
| Laptop | 60 | 8 | $2.02 |
| Incandescent bulb (60W) | 60 | 5 | $1.26 |
| LED bulb (eq. 60W) | 10 | 5 | $0.21 |
| Ceiling fan | 75 | 8 | $2.52 |
| Microwave | 1,100 | 0.25 | $1.16 |
| Coffee maker | 1,000 | 0.5 | $2.10 |
*At $0.14/kWh; rates vary by location and season
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kWh | Kilowatt-hour = 1,000 watts used for 1 hour | Running a 100W bulb for 10 hours = 1 kWh |
| Rate | Cost per kWh | $0.12 - $0.30+ depending on location |
| Base charge | Fixed monthly fee | $10-20/month |
| Tiered pricing | Higher rates after using certain kWh | First 500 kWh @ $0.12, next 500 @ $0.15 |
| Time-of-use | Different rates by time of day | Peak hours @ $0.25, off-peak @ $0.10 |
| Delivery charges | Grid maintenance fees | Separate from generation charges |
| Household Size | Average kWh/Month | Estimated Bill* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person (apartment) | 300-500 | $42-70 |
| 2 people (small home) | 600-900 | $84-126 |
| 4 people (medium home) | 1,000-1,500 | $140-210 |
| 4+ people (large home) | 1,500-2,500+ | $210-350+ |
*At $0.14/kWh
Example: Replacing 20 incandescent bulbs (60W) with LEDs (10W)
Watts (W) measure power (rate of use). Kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy (total used over time). A 1,000W appliance running for 1 hour uses 1 kWh.
Air conditioning is typically the largest energy consumer. A central AC unit can use 3,000-5,000 watts and run 8+ hours daily in hot climates.
Yes. "Phantom load" or "vampire power" from devices in standby mode can account for 5-10% of your bill. Use smart power strips to eliminate this.
A typical EV gets 3-4 miles per kWh. At $0.14/kWh, driving 12,000 miles/year costs approximately $420-560/year in electricity—much less than gas.
If your utility offers time-of-use pricing, yes. Off-peak rates (usually 9 PM - 7 AM) can be 50% cheaper than peak rates.