Appliance Energy Use
Learn how much it costs to run typical home appliances.
- These costs are based on the average operating costs for many typical home appliances. Cost calculations are intended to be examples only and are based on:
- A per-kilowatt-hour rate of $0.085 for firm service.
- An off-peak water-heating rate of $0.065 a kilowatt-hour.
- An off-peak heating rate of $0.045 a kilowatt-hour.
- Your actual price may vary by your state, season, and rate.
- All cost calculations are rounded to the nearest $.01.
Calculate the cost to operate any appliance
Appliance wattage ÷ 1,000 × the hours the appliance is used × the price per kilowatt-hour of electricity = cost of operation
Appliance energy-use chart
| Approx. average wattage | Low hours of use | High hours of use | Low kWh | High kWh | Low cost | High cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cooling Season Costs |
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|
Air conditioner |
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| Room 9,000 Btu | 1050 | 120 | 720 | 126 | 756 | $10.71 | $64.26 |
| Central (8.5 SEER 2.5 tons) | 3500 | 240 | 860 | 840 | 3010 | $71.40 | $255.85 |
|
Air-source heat pump |
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| 12 SEER 2.5 tons off-peak | 2500 | 240 | 860 | 600 | 2150 | $27.00 | $96.75 |
| 14.5 SEER 2.5 tons off-peak | 2060 | 240 | 860 | 494 | 1772 | $22.25 | $79.72 |
|
Monthly cost |
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Miscellaneous appliances |
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| Baseboard heater (4 ft., 250 watts/ft.) | 1000 | 100 | 200 | 100 | 200 | $8.50 | $17.00 |
| Blanket | 180 | 30 | 120 | 5.4 | 21.6 | $0.46 | $1.84 |
| Block heater | 500 | 120 | 360 | 60 | 180 | $5.10 | $15.30 |
| Clothes dryer | 5000 | 6 | 28 | 30 | 140 | $2.55 | $11.90 |
| Clothes dryer off-peak | 5000 | 6 | 28 | 30 | 140 | $1.35 | $6.30 |
| Clothes washer | 500 | 7 | 40 | 3.5 | 20 | $0.30 | $1.70 |
| Computer with monitor and printer | 200 | 25 | 160 | 5 | 32 | $0.43 | $2.72 |
| Dehumidifier | 350 | 120 | 720 | 42 | 252 | $3.57 | $21.42 |
| Dishwasher | 1500 | 8 | 40 | 12 | 60 | $1.02 | $5.10 |
| Humidifier | 100 | 80 | 540 | 8 | 54 | $0.68 | $4.59 |
|
Furnace fan motor |
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| Intermittent | 350 | 160 | 415 | 56 | 145 | $4.76 | $12.35 |
| Continuous | 350 | 720 | 720 | 252 | 252 | $21.42 | $21.42 |
| Heater - portable | 1500 | 30 | 248 | 45 | 372 | $3.83 | $31.62 |
|
Hot tub |
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| 4-Person, circulation pump |
1500 | 30 | 45 | 45 | 68 | $3.83 | $5.74 |
| 4-Person inside, 120-volt heater |
1500 | 120 | 180 | 180 | 270 | $15.30 | $22.95 |
| 4-Person outside 120-volt heater |
1500 | 90 | 540 | 135 | 810 | $11.48 | $68.85 |
| 4-Person inside 240-volt heater |
6000 | 30 | 45 | 180 | 270 | $15.30 | $22.95 |
| 4-Person outside 240-volt heater |
6000 | 90 | 135 | 540 | 810 | $45.90 | $68.85 |
|
Lighting |
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| Incandescent (60w) | 60 | 17 | 200 | 1 | 12 | $0.09 | $1.02 |
| Compact fluorescent (CFL) (60w equivalent) |
18 | 17 | 200 | 0.3 | 4 | $0.03 | $0.31 |
| LED (60w equivalent) | 9.5 | 17 | 200 | 0.16 | 2 | $0.01 | $0.16 |
|
Cooking |
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| Oven | 3500 | 10 | 50 | 35 | 175 | $2.98 | $14.88 |
| Small element | 1200 | 10 | 50 | 12 | 60 | $1.02 | $5.10 |
| Large element | 2300 | 10 | 50 | 23 | 115 | $1.96 | $9.78 |
| Self-cleaning cycle only | 3200 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 32 | $1.36 | $2.72 |
| Microwave oven | 1100 | 5 | 30 | 6 | 33 | $0.47 | $2.81 |
|
Refrigerator/freezer |
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| Frost-free 16-18 cu.ft. | 400 | 150 | 300 | 60 | 120 | $5.10 | $10.20 |
| Side-by-side | 780 | 190 | 300 | 148 | 234 | $12.60 | $19.89 |
| Freezer (15 cubic ft. frost free) | 335 | 180 | 420 | 60 | 141 | $5.13 | $11.96 |
|
Television |
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| Cable box with DVR - standby mode | 45 | 744 | 744 | 33 | 33 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| CRT 27" | 170 | 60 | 440 | 10 | 75 | $0.87 | $6.36 |
| LCD 32"-46" | 110 | 60 | 440 | 7 | 48 | $0.56 | $4.11 |
| LED 32"-46" | 100 | 60 | 440 | 6 | 44 | $0.51 | $3.74 |
| Plasma 50"-60" | 300 | 60 | 440 | 18 | 132 | $1.53 | $11.22 |
| X-box 360 | 185 | 15 | 75 | 3 | 14 | $0.24 | $1.18 |
|
Water heater on the off-peak water heating rate of $0.065 |
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| Family of 4 off-peak | 4500 | 90 | 138 | 405 | 621 | $26.33 | $40.37 |
| Family of 2 off-peak | 4500 | 66 | 92 | 297 | 414 | $19.31 | $26.91 |
|
Water heater on average off-peak rate of $0.045 |
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| Family of 4 off-peak | 4500 | 90 | 138 | 405 | 621 | $18.23 | $27.95 |
| Family of 2 off-peak | 4500 | 66 | 92 | 297 | 414 | $13.37 | $18.63 |
