Appliance Electricity Cost Calculator
The cost of running an appliance is simple arithmetic: the energy it uses in a year (kilowatt-hours, kWh) times what you pay for each kWh. The hard part is getting a realistic kWh figure. Enter it from the appliance’s yellow EnergyGuide label, or enter its watts and how long it runs, then check the price per kWh on your electric bill.
Where do I find the kWh per year?
Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and some other appliances sold in the U.S. carry a yellow EnergyGuide label required by the Federal Trade Commission. The label shows the estimated yearly electricity use in kWh and an estimated yearly cost. The cost on the label uses a fixed national rate set by the FTC, so it can be out of date; the kWh figure is the useful part, because you can multiply it by your own rate. If the label is gone, the model number usually leads to the same figures in the ENERGY STAR product finder (for certified models) or on the manufacturer’s spec sheet.
How do I work it out from watts?
For small appliances without a label, use the watts on the rating plate or under the base, and how long the appliance actually runs:
| Step | Formula | Example: 1,500 W air fryer, 30 minutes a day |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per day | watts × hours ÷ 1,000 | 1,500 × 0.5 ÷ 1,000 = 0.75 kWh |
| Energy per year | kWh per day × days used | 0.75 × 365 = 274 kWh |
| Cost per year | kWh per year × price per kWh | 274 × $0.1816 = about $50 |
The watts on the plate are the most the appliance can draw. Anything with a thermostat, such as a refrigerator, freezer, oven or water heater, switches its heating or cooling on and off, so watts × hours switched on overstates it. For those, use the EnergyGuide figure, or measure with a plug-in electricity usage meter for a week and scale it up.
What does electricity cost per kWh?
The calculator starts with the U.S. average price for homes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration: 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026 (EIA Electric Power Monthly, table 5.6.A). Prices differ a lot between states and between plans, and some utilities charge more at peak hours. Your bill shows your price: divide the energy charge by the kWh used, or look for the rate per kWh.
Is it worth replacing an old appliance to save electricity?
Enter the new model’s kWh per year in the last field to see the yearly difference. Then divide the price of the new appliance by the yearly saving to see how many years it takes to pay back. Electricity alone rarely pays for a new appliance quickly; it matters most when the old one is already failing, when it is a second fridge or freezer in a garage, or when the difference in kWh is large.