Appliance Energy Cost Calculator
Calculate energy cost for individual appliances. Compare with efficient alternatives to find savings.
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: DOE
Daily Cost
$0.17
Monthly Cost
$5.04
Annual Cost
$61.32
Energy Usage
| Wattage | 150W |
| Daily Usage | 1.20 kWh |
| Monthly Usage | 36.0 kWh |
| Annual Usage | 438 kWh |
| Daily Cost | $0.17 |
| Monthly Cost | $5.04 |
| Annual Cost | $61.32 |
Efficient Alternative: Energy Star fridge
| Current Wattage | 150W |
| Efficient Wattage | 100W |
| Current Annual Cost | $61.32 |
| Efficient Annual Cost | $40.88 |
| Annual Savings | $20.44 |
Use the Appliance Energy Cost Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.
How It Works
Every appliance in your home carries a running cost that's easy to overlook until the bill arrives. Feed in a device's wattage and how you use it, and you can spot the energy hogs in your house and weigh them against more efficient 2026 models, a comparison that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in savings.
The arithmetic is straightforward: (Appliance Wattage / 1000) * Hours Used Per Day * Days Used Per Year * Cost Per kWh. The default rate is an average 2026 residential figure of $0.17 per kilowatt-hour, but electricity prices vary widely by region, so swapping in your own rate sharpens the estimate considerably.
For accurate inputs, pull the actual wattage from the appliance manual or read it directly with a kill-a-watt meter rather than guessing. Standby power is the quiet culprit most people leave out, and it accumulates across a household full of devices. Older appliances also tend to run far less efficiently than their 2026 equivalents, which is often where the biggest savings hide.
Example: Refrigerator vs. Efficient Alternative
- 1 Input: Old Refrigerator (200W, running 24 hours/day, 365 days/year). New Energy Star Refrigerator (80W, running 24 hours/day, 365 days/year). Electricity cost: $0.17/kWh.
- 2 Calculation: Old Fridge: (200W/1000) * 24h * 365d * $0.17/kWh = $297.84/year. New Fridge: (80W/1000) * 24h * 365d * $0.17/kWh = $119.14/year.
- 3 Result: Your old refrigerator costs approximately $297.84 per year to operate. A new Energy Star model would cost only $119.14 annually.
- 4 Context: By upgrading to the Energy Star refrigerator, you could save approximately $178.70 each year on your electricity bill. Over a 10-year lifespan, this amounts to over $1,787 in savings, often recouping the cost of the new appliance.
Source: DOE · Last updated: April 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What appliances use the most electricity?
How much does it cost to run a space heater?
Does leaving appliances plugged in use electricity?
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