How much electricity does a house use monthly?

The average US household uses about 886 kWh/month (~30 kWh/day), varying by climate, home size, and habits.

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Electricity Cost Calculator

Q: How do I find my appliance wattage?

Check the appliance label, user manual, or search the model number online. Our calculator also lists typical wattages.

Q: What is a kWh?

A kilowatt-hour is the energy used by a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour. This is how electricity is billed.

Typical Appliance

Define your own

Appliance Power (Watts)

Use/Run at Capacity (%)

Usage (hours per day)

Electricity Price ($/kWh)

Common Appliance Wattages

Appliance	Wattage (W)
LED Light Bulb	3–25
Ceiling Fan	15–200
Laptop	35–150
Refrigerator	500–1,000
Microwave	750–1,500
Washing Machine	400–1,500
Window AC	1,500–5,000
Electric Water Heater	3,000–6,600
Electric Range/Oven	2,000–5,000
EV Charger	1,500–20,000

Electricity Cost Calculator: Estimate Energy Usage & Cost

Our Electricity Cost Calculator estimates how much electricity an appliance uses and how much it costs to run. Simply enter the appliance's wattage, how many hours per day you use it, and your electricity rate — the calculator shows daily, monthly, and annual energy consumption and cost.

Understanding your electricity usage is the first step toward reducing energy bills. Heating, cooling, and water heating typically account for the largest share of household energy costs, but small appliances running continuously can add up significantly over time.

This calculator includes a database of common household appliances with typical wattage values, making it easy to estimate costs for items from LED lights (3–25W) to electric vehicle chargers (1,500–20,000W).

Understanding Electricity Units

Watts (W) measure the rate of energy consumption. A kilowatt (kW) equals 1,000 watts. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the energy used by a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour — this is how electricity is billed.

The relationship between power and energy is: Energy (kWh) = Power (kW) × Time (hours). So a 100W bulb running for 10 hours uses 1 kWh. At $0.15/kWh, that costs $0.15.

Other power units include BTU/h (1 kWh ≈ 3,412 BTU), horsepower (1 HP ≈ 746 watts), and tons of refrigeration (1 ton ≈ 3,517 watts or 12,000 BTU/h).

How to Use the Electricity Calculator

Step 1: Select Appliance: Choose from common appliances or enter custom wattage.
Step 2: Enter Power: Input the appliance's wattage (found on the label or in the manual).
Step 3: Set Usage Capacity: Appliances often run below maximum wattage; adjust the capacity percentage.
Step 4: Enter Daily Hours: How many hours per day the appliance runs.
Step 5: Enter Electricity Price: Your cost per kWh (check your utility bill).
Step 6: Calculate: See daily, monthly, and annual energy use and cost.

Electricity Cost Formulas

Energy Consumption

Energy (kWh) = (Watts × Hours per day) / 1000

Convert watt-hours to kilowatt-hours by dividing by 1,000.

Daily Cost

Cost = Energy (kWh) × Price per kWh

Multiply daily energy use by your electricity rate.

Monthly/Annual Cost

Monthly = Daily × 30 | Annual = Daily × 365

Scale daily costs to monthly and yearly estimates.

Common Appliance Wattages

Appliance	Typical Wattage (W)	Category
LED Light Bulb	3–25	Lighting
Refrigerator	500–1,000	Kitchen
Window AC Unit	1,500–5,000	HVAC
Electric Water Heater	3,000–6,600	Home
Laptop Computer	35–150	Electronics
Washing Machine	400–1,500	Laundry
EV Charger (Level 2)	3,300–19,200	Automotive
Hair Dryer	750–2,000	Personal

Benefits of Our Electricity Calculator

✓
Appliance Database
Built-in wattage values for dozens of common household appliances.
✓
Custom Usage
Adjust capacity percentage and daily hours for realistic estimates.
✓
Full Cost Breakdown
See daily, monthly, and annual costs at a glance.
✓
Free & Instant
No registration needed — works on any device with real-time results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my appliance's wattage?

Check the label on the appliance, look in the manual, or search the model number online. Our calculator also has typical wattages for common appliances.