Appliance Electricity Cost Calculator
Find out how much any appliance costs to run. Enter its power in watts, how long you use it and your electricity price.
Calculate an appliance's running cost
Check the label or manual. Actual use varies by model and setting.
e.g. 0.25 = 15 min
0 to 7
Example rate — enter your own tariff.
Estimated cost to run this appliance
£0.50per day used
Uses 2 kWh on each day it's used (2,000 W × 1 h).
How it works: cost = power (kW) × hours used × price per kWh. Standing charges aren't included because you pay them whether or not the appliance is on.
Estimates only. Real consumption depends on the model, settings and how the appliance is used.
How appliance running costs are worked out
Electricity cost = power consumption × usage time × electricity price
Power is converted from watts to kilowatts (divide by 1,000). Multiply by the hours used to get kWh, then by your price per kWh. For example, a 2,000 W appliance used for 1 hour uses 2 kWh. At 25p per kWh that's 50p.
Getting a more accurate figure
- Use the energy label's kWh per cycle or per year figure where available.
- Plug-in energy monitors measure what an appliance actually uses.
- Your smart meter's in-home display can show the jump in usage when something switches on.
Not sure of the wattage? The quick appliance calculator has example figures for common appliances.