Calculate daily, monthly, and yearly electricity costs for your appliances and devices. Understand and reduce your energy expenses.
Last updated: March 2026 | By Patchworkr Team
Power consumption (check appliance label or manual)
Average daily usage (0-24 hours)
Check your electricity bill. Rates vary by region and utility (residential US: typically $0.10–$0.16/kWh, but local rates may differ)
Electricity is billed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kWh is the energy used by a 1000-watt appliance running for one hour. For example, a 100W light bulb running for 10 hours uses 1 kWh (100W × 10h = 1000 Wh = 1 kWh).
Your electricity rate varies by location, time of day, and provider. The US average is around $0.12/kWh, but rates range from $0.08/kWh in some states to $0.30+/kWh in others. Check your electricity bill for your exact rate - it's usually shown as "Price per kWh" or "Rate per kWh."
Understanding electricity costs helps identify energy hogs in your home. A space heater running 8 hours daily costs significantly more than a laptop running the same time. Small changes like switching to LED bulbs or adjusting thermostat settings can substantially reduce your monthly bill.
1500W space heater running 8 hours/day at $0.12/kWh:
Check your monthly electricity bill - look for "Price per kWh" or "Rate." It's usually between $0.08-0.30/kWh depending on location. Some areas have time-of-use rates (higher during peak hours).
LED bulb (10W): ~$1/year. Laptop (65W): ~$10/year. Desktop PC (300W): ~$40/year. Refrigerator (150W avg): ~$150/year. AC unit (3500W): ~$300-600/season. Space heater (1500W): ~$40/month.
Heating/cooling (HVAC) typically accounts for 45% of home energy. Water heater: 14%. Washing machine/dryer: 13%. Lighting: 9%. Refrigerator: 4%. Small appliances and electronics make up the rest.
Yes! Switch to LED bulbs (75% less energy), adjust thermostat by 2°F (10% savings), use ceiling fans, unplug phantom loads, wash clothes in cold water, air-dry when possible, and maintain HVAC systems regularly.
Yes, "phantom" or "vampire" loads consume 5-10% of home energy. TVs, chargers, computers, and appliances in standby mode still draw power. Use power strips and turn them off to eliminate phantom loads.
Usually yes. An Energy Star refrigerator saves ~$35/year. LED bulbs save $8/year each vs incandescent. Calculate payback time: (Extra Cost) / (Annual Savings). Typical payback is 2-5 years with 10-20 year product life.
Very accurate for constant-load devices (heaters, lights). Less accurate for variable loads (refrigerators cycle on/off). Actual costs vary with usage patterns, rates, and efficiency. Use this as an estimate.
Time-of-use rates charge more during peak hours (4-9 PM). Calculate costs separately for peak/off-peak hours. Shift usage to off-peak when possible - run dishwasher/laundry at night for significant savings.
Related Tools
Calculate battery capacity.
Calculate charging duration.
Calculate runtime.
Calculate battery pack size.
Calculate single device cost.
Calculate electrical power.