Appliance Energy Use

Learn the costs to operate typical appliances

The cost calculations below are intended as examples for common household items and are based on the approximate prices in place in January 2021. Prices used include:

A per-kilowatt-hour rate of 10.84¢ for firm service.
An off-peak water-heating rate of 8¢ per kilowatt-hour.
An off-peak heating rate of 4.76¢ per 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

Seasonal use calculations

Heating and cooling	Approx. wattage	Cooling season kWh	Heating season kWh	Cooling cost	Heating cost
Cold-climate heat pump (3-ton operating to 0°F)	3700	1473	6685	$159.67	$724.65
Cold-climate heat pump (3-ton operating to 0°F) off-peak	3700	1473	6685	$70.11	$318.21

Cold-climate heat pumps provide 100% of cooling and 82% or more of heating requirements with energy efficiency of 200% or higher!

Cooling only	Approx. wattage	Low hours of use	High hours of use	Low kWh	High kWh	Low cost	High cost
A/C room - 9,000 Btu	1050	120	720	126	756	$13.66	$81.95
A/C central - 15 SEER 2.5 tons	2000	240	860	480	1720	$52.03	$186.45
Air-source heat pump 15 SEER 2.5 tons off-peak	2000	240	860	480	1720	$22.85	$81.87

Monthly use calculations

Heating and cooling	Approx. wattage	Low hours of use	High hours of use	Low kWh	High kWh	Low cost	High cost
Baseboard heater - 4 ft., 250 watts/ft.	1000	100	200	100	200	$10.84	$21.68
Fan - ceiling	60	15	330	1	20	$0.11	$2.15
Fan - portable	115	18	52	2	6	$0.22	$0.65
Furnace fan motor - intermittent	350	160	415	56	145	$6.07	$15.75
Furnace fan motor - continuous	350	720	720	252	252	$27.32	$27.32
Heat recovery air exchanger	125	300	720	38	90	$4.07	$9.76
Portable heater	1500	30	300	45	450	$4.88	$48.78
Water heating			Approx. wattage	Low kWh	High kWh	Low cost	High cost
Water heating on off-peak water heating rate: $0.08/kWh
family of 6 off-peak			4500	540	725	$43.20	$58.00
family of 4 off-peak			4500	360	485	$28.80	$38.80
family of 2 off-peak			4500	180	245	$14.40	$19.60
Water heating on off-peak heating rate: $0.0476/kWh
family of 6 off-peak			4500	540	725	$25.70	$34.51
family of 4 off-peak			4500	360	485	$17.14	$23.09
family of 2 off-peak			4500	180	245	$8.57	$11.66
Heat pump water heater 3.24 EF; heat pump mode			500	77	112	$8.35	$12.14
Hot tub	Approx. wattage	Low hours of use	High hours of use	Low kWh	High kWh	Low cost	High cost
4-person, circulating pump	1500	30	45	45	68	$4.88	$7.32
4-person inside, 120-volt heater	1500	120	180	180	270	$19.51	$29.27
4-person outside, 120-volt heater	1500	90	540	135	810	$14.63	$87.80
4-person inside, 240-volt heater	6000	30	45	180	270	$19.51	$29.27
4-person outside, 240-volt heater	6000	90	135	540	810	$58.54	$87.80
Kitchen appliances
Coffeemaker	1000	4	30	4	30	$0.43	$3.25
Dishwasher	1300	8	40	10	52	$1.13	$5.64
Frying pan	1150	5	15	6	17	$0.62	$1.87
Microwave	1100	5	15	6	17	$0.60	$1.79
Toaster oven	1500	2	15	1	23	$0.11	$1.63
Range
Broiler	3000	1	10	3	30	$0.33	$3.25
Oven	3500	10	50	35	175	$3.79	$18.97
Small element	1200	10	25	12	30	$1.30	$3.25
Large element	2300	10	25	23	58	$2.49	$6.23
Self-cleaning cycle only	3200	3	6	10	19	$1.04	$2.08
Refrigerator-freezer
Non frost-free 17 cu. ft.	500	150	300	75	150	$8.13	$16.26
ENERGY STAR® frost-free 19 cu. ft.	400	150	300	60	120	$6.50	$13.01
Freezer ENERGY STAR® 19-22 cu. ft. chest	350	180	420	63	147	$6.83	$15.93
Household Appliances
Clothes dryer	5000	6	28	30	140	$3.25	$15.18
Clothes washer	500	7	40	4	20	$0.38	$2.17
Dehumidifier	350	120	720	42	252	$4.55	$27.32
Humidifier - portable	100	90	300	9	30	$0.98	$3.25
Television
LED 30"	50	60	440	3	22	$0.33	$2.38
LED 42"	80	60	440	5	35	$0.52	$3.82
LED 50"	100	60	440	6	44	$0.65	$4.77
LCD 50"	150	60	440	9	66	$0.98	$7.15
Plasma 50"	300	60	440	18	132	$1.95	$14.31
Lighting
Incandescent (60w)	60	17	200	1	12	$0.11	$1.30
Compact fluorescent (CFL)(60w equivalent)	13	17	200	0.2	3	$0.02	$0.28
LED (60w equivalent)	9.5	17	200	0.2	2	$0.02	$0.21
Chandelier (5 lamps, 40w each)	200	8	100	2	20	$0.17	$2.17
Fluorescent tube (2 tube, 4 ft.)	96	17	320	2	31	$0.18	$3.33
Christmas lights 1,000 mini incandescent	408	60	240	24	98	$2.65	$10.61
Christmas lights 1,000 mini LED	69	60	240	4	17	$0.45	$1.80
Christmas lights 300 C9 incandescent	2100	60	240	126	504	$13.66	$54.63
Christmas lights 300 C9 LED	29	60	240	2	7	$0.19	$0.75

Hourly use calculations