Electricity Cost Calculator: What Is That Appliance Actually Costing You?

Your electric bill is abstract — a total that doesn't tell you what's driving it. The electricity cost calculator makes it concrete: how much does each appliance cost to run?

The Calculation

Running cost = (Wattage ÷ 1,000) × Hours used per day × Days × Your electricity rate ($/kWh)

The national average electricity rate is ~$0.16/kWh. In California it's ~$0.30/kWh. In Louisiana it's ~$0.11/kWh. Your rate is on your electric bill.

The Surprising Culprits

Electric water heater: 4,000-5,000 watts, runs 2-3 hours/day. Annual cost: $180-360. Insulating the tank and lowering the temperature to 120°F (from the factory default of 140°F) saves meaningful money and reduces scalding risk.

Central AC: 3,000-3,500 watts. Running 8 hours/day in summer at $0.16/kWh: $4.60/day, $138/month. Every degree you raise the thermostat saves roughly 3% on cooling costs.

Refrigerator: Older models (pre-2000) can use 150-200 kWh/month. Modern Energy Star refrigerators use 35-50 kWh/month — a $15-20/month difference.

Phantom loads (standby power): Devices in standby — TVs, game consoles, cable boxes, phone chargers — collectively add 5-10% to the average home's electricity bill. Smart power strips eliminate this for entertainment centers.

Dryer vs. line drying: A dryer costs $0.40-0.50 per load. Line drying is free. If you do 5 loads/week, that's $100+/year.

[Calculate your electricity costs →](https://doesitaddup.com)

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