What your appliances cost to run depends on their wattage, how long they run and what you pay for electricity. Pick an appliance below or use the calculator with your own numbers and state.
Calculate any appliance
What common appliances cost to run
| Appliance | Typical watts | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | — | — | $113 (618 kWh) |
| Air conditioner | 533 W | 9.8¢ | $424 (2,318 kWh) |
| Space heater | 750–1,500 W | 14¢–27¢ | $75 at 1 h/day |
| Ceiling fan | 65–175 W | 1.2¢–3.2¢ | $41 (226 kWh) |
| Electric blanket | 60–100 W | 1.1¢–1.8¢ | $5 at 1 h/day |
| Desktop computer | 120–270 W | 2.2¢–4.9¢ | $13 at 1 h/day |
| Laptop | 50 W | 0.9¢ | $3 at 1 h/day |
| TV | 120 W | 2.2¢ | $39 (211 kWh) |
| Microwave | 750–1,100 W | 14¢–20¢ | $19 (106 kWh) |
| Hair dryer | 1,200–1,875 W | 22¢–34¢ | $103 at 1 h/day |
| LED light bulb | 9 W | 0.2¢ | $1 at 1 h/day |
| Clothes dryer | 1,800–5,000 W | 33¢–92¢ | $125 (680 kWh) |
| Electric water heater | 4,500–5,500 W | 82¢–$1.01 | $495 (2,705 kWh) |
| Dehumidifier | 785 W | 14¢ | $183 (999 kWh) |
| Hot tub | — | — | $360 (1,964 kWh) |
| Electric car charging | — | — | see page |
Appliance energy cost FAQ
How do I calculate how much electricity an appliance uses?
Multiply its wattage by the hours you use it each day, then divide by 1,000 to get kWh per day. Multiply by your price per kWh to get the cost. A 1,000-watt appliance used for 2 hours uses 2 kWh.
Which household appliances use the most electricity?
Of the appliances here, an electric water heater uses the most in homes that have one: about 2,705 kWh a year on average, according to EIA's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. An air conditioner (2,318 kWh) and a hot tub (1,964 kWh) come next.
Why do my appliance costs differ from these?
Real use depends on the model, its settings and how long it runs. Check the wattage on the label of your appliance, enter your own hours and your state in the calculator, or use the rate from your bill.
Sources: U.S. EIA 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey; U.S. Department of Energy typical appliance wattages (via Virginia Cooperative Extension); ENERGY STAR certified product data; electricity prices from EIA retail sales data (July 2026). Last updated 2026-10-20.