Home Tech Vault practical guide
How much does an appliance cost to run?
Multiply the energy used in kilowatt-hours by your electricity rate. Watts and operating time can estimate energy use when measured kWh is unavailable.
By Home Tech Vault · Reviewed October 21, 2026
Use energy rather than maximum power
A refrigerator or air conditioner cycles on and off. Its rated maximum wattage multiplied by 24 hours can overstate consumption. Use measured average consumption or label information when possible.
Check the rate units
A rate of 15 cents per kWh is entered as $0.15, not $15. A bill can include fixed fees and other charges that this energy-only estimate does not model.
Compare equal periods
Compare appliances over the same daily usage and number of days. Annual estimates in this tool use 365 days, rather than twelve 30-day months.
Try it with your own numbers
A 1,000-watt appliance used one hour daily at $0.15/kWh costs $4.50 over 30 days and about $54.75 over 365 days.
Open the free appliance running cost calculator →
Cycling appliances do not continuously draw their rated maximum power. Use measured average consumption or the EnergyGuide label when available. Fixed utility fees are excluded.