Appliance Energy Calculator
Pick an appliance and see what it costs to run per month and per year at your electricity rate.
How it works
yearly cost = watts × hours/day × 365 ÷ 1000 × rate
Each appliance is listed with a typical running wattage; multiplied by daily hours it gives kilowatt-hours, and your rate turns that into dollars. The wattages are averages while running — appliances that cycle (fridges, AC compressors) are best entered with their effective on-time rather than 24 hours.
Worked example
A refrigerator averaging 150 W with its compressor running an effective 8 hours a day uses 438 kWh a year. At 17¢/kWh that’s about $6.12 a month, or $74 a year.
Frequently asked questions
Why not enter 24 h/day for the fridge?
The compressor cycles on and off; 150 W is its running draw, not its average. Around 8 effective hours a day matches a typical modern fridge — old or badly sealed units run longer and cost more.
What does one dryer load cost?
A 3,000 W dryer running 45 minutes uses about 2.25 kWh — roughly 38¢ per load at 17¢/kWh, or about $100 a year at 5 loads a week. Line-drying even half your loads shows up on the bill.
Are these wattages exact for my model?
They’re typical values; models vary a lot (a mini-fridge vs a double-door, a 55″ LED vs an old plasma). Check the nameplate or a plug-in watt meter, then use the electricity cost calculator with the exact number.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.