Appliance Energy Use

Learn the costs to operate typical 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 10.5¢ for firm service.
• An off-peak water-heating rate of 7¢ a kilowatt-hour.
• An off-peak heating rate of 4.5¢ a kilowatt-hour.
• Your actual price may vary by your state, season, and rate.
• All cost calculations are rounded to the nearest kilowatt-hour and penny.

Use this formula to 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. wattage	Cooling season (kWh)	Heating season (kWh)	Cooling cost	Heating cost
Cold-climate heat pump (seasonal heating and cooling)
Cold-climate heat pump (3 ton operating to 0°F)	3700	1473	6685	$154.67	$701.93
Cold-climate heat pump (3 ton operating to 0°F) off-peak	3700	1473	6685	$66.29	$300.83

 

	Approx. wattage	Low hours of use	High hours of use	Low kWh	High kWh	Low cost	High cost
Seasonal - cooling only
Air conditioner
Room 9,000 Btu	1050	120	720	126	756	$13.23	$79.38
Central (8.5 SEER 2.5 tons)	3530	240	860	847	3036	$88.96	$318.76
Central (ENERGY STAR 15 SEER 2.5 tons)	2000	240	860	480	1720	$50.40	$180.60
Air-source heat pump 12 SEER 2.5 tons off-peak	2500	240	860	600	2150	$27.00	$96.75
Air-source heat pump ENERGY STAR 15 SEER 2.5 tons off-peak	2000	240	860	480	1720	$21.60	$77.40
Monthly - heating and cooling
Baseboard heater (4 ft., 250 watts/ft.)	1000	100	200	100	200	$10.50	$21.00
Furnace fan motor - intermittent	350	160	415	56	145	$5.88	$15.25
Furnace fan motor - continuous	350	720	720	252	252	$26.46	$26.46
Heat recovery air exchanger	125	300	720	38	90	$3.94	$9.45
Heater - portable	1500	30	300	45	450	$4.73	$47.25
Monthly - spa and pool
Hot-tub
4-person, circulating pump	1500	30	45	45	68	$4.73	$7.09
4-person inside, 120-volt heater	1500	120	180	180	270	$18.90	$28.35
4-person outside, 120-volt heater	1500	90	540	135	810	$14.18	$85.05
4-person inside, 240-volt heater	6000	30	45	180	270	$18.90	$28.35
4-person outside, 240-volt heater	6000	90	135	540	810	$56.70	$85.05
Swimming pool
1/2 HP (Horsepower) pump	900	400	600	360	540	$37.80	$56.60
Filter motor 3/4 HP	1200	400	600	480	720	$50.40	$75.60
Filter motor 1.0 HP	1500	400	600	600	900	$63.00	$94.50
Filter motor 1.5 HP	2100	400	600	840	1260	$88.20	$132.30
Heater	5000	400	600	2000	3000	$210.00	$315.00
Monthly - household appliances
Lighting
Incandescent (60w)	60	17	200	1	12	$0.11	$1.26
Compact fluorescent (CFL)(60w equivalent)	13	17	200	0	3	$0.02	$0.27
LED (60w equivalent)	9.5	17	200	0	2	$0.02	$0.20
Chandelier (5 lamps, 40w each)	200	8	100	2	20	$0.17	$2.10
Fluorescent tube (2 tube, 4 ft.)	96	17	320	2	31	$0.17	$3.23
Christmas lights
1000 mini incandescent	408	60	240	24	98	$2.57	$10.28
1000 mini LED	69	60	240	4	17	$0.43	$1.74
300 C9 incandescent	200	8	100	2	20	$13.23	$52.92
300 C9 LED	96	17	320	2	31	$0.18	$0.73
Miscellaneous appliances
Air cleaner (room and furnace)	40	250	720	10	29	$1.05	$3.02
Blanket (electric)	180	30	90	5	16	$0.57	$1.70
Block heater	500	120	480	60	240	$6.30	$25.20
Clothes dryer	5000	6	28	30	140	$3.15	$14.70
Clothes washer	500	7	40	4	20	$0.37	$2.10
Computer with monitor and printer	200	25	160	5	32	$0.53	$3.36
Dehumidifier	350	120	720	42	252	$4.41	$26.46
Dishwasher	1300	8	40	10	52	$1.09	$5.46
Drill	300	3	7	1	2	$0.09	$0.22
DVD player	40	50	200	2	8	$0.21	$0.84
DVR	150	720	720	108	108	$11.34	$11.34
Fan - ceiling	60	15	330	1	20	$0.09	$2.08
Fan - portable	115	18	52	2	6	$0.22	$0.63
Frying pan	1150	10	20	12	23	$1.21	$2.42
Hair dryer - hand held	1100	4	10	4	11	$0.46	$1.16
Humidifier - portable	100	90	300	9	30	$0.95	$3.15
Iron - hand	1000	1	6	1	6	$0.11	$0.63
Microwave	1100	5	30	6	33	$0.58	$3.47
Music system - wireless speaker	150	15	45	2	7	$0.24	$0.71
Power saw	275	2	4	<1	1	$0.06	$0.12
Sewing machine	75	4	14	<1	1	$0.03	$0.11
Toaster oven	1500	2	15	3	23	$0.32	$1.58
Vacuum cleaner - portable	800	2	6	2	5	$0.17	$0.63
Vacuum cleaner - central	1600	2	6	3	10	$0.34	$0.63
Video game system	500	15	132	8	66	$0.79	$13.86
Range
Broiler	3000	4	12	12	36	$1.26	$3.78
Oven	3500	10	50	35	175	$3.68	$18.38
Small element	1200	10	50	12	60	$1.26	$6.30
Large element	2300	10	50	23	115	$2.42	$12.08
Self-cleaning cycle only	3200	10	50	32	160	$3.36	$16.80
Refrigerator/freezer
Frost-free refrigerator -16-18 cu. ft.	400	150	300	60	120	$6.30	$12.60
Not frost-free refrigerator -10-15 cu. ft.	300	190	300	57	90	$5.99	$9.45
Freezer -15 cu. ft. frost free	335	180	420	60	141	$6.33	$14.77
Freezer -20 cu. ft. chest	350	180	420	63	147	$6.62	$15.44
Side-by-side	780	190	300	148	234	$15.56	$24.57
Television
CRT 27"	170	60	440	10	75	$1.07	$7.85
LCD 32"	105	60	440	6	46	$0.66	$4.85
LCD 46"	190	60	440	11	84	$1.20	$8.78
LED 46"	119	60	440	7	52	$0.75	$5.50
Plasma 46"	311	60	440	19	137	$1.96	$14.37
Rear projection 42" to 50"	320	60	440	19	141	$2.02	$14.78
Water heater on the off-peak water heating rate of 7¢
Family of 6 off-peak	4500			540	725	$37.80	$50.75
Family of 4 off-peak	4500			360	485	$25.20	$33.95
Family of 2 off-peak	4500			180	245	$12.60	$17.15
Water heater on average off-peak rate of 4.5¢
Family of 6 off-peak	4500			540	725	$24.30	$32.63
Family of 4 off-peak	4500			360	485	$16.20	$21.83
Family of 2 off-peak	4500			180	245	$ 8.10	$11.03