How to Estimate Electricity Cost for an Appliance
Use watts, hours, and your kWh rate to estimate daily, monthly, and yearly appliance electricity costs.
Convert watts into kilowatt-hours
Electric bills are based on kilowatt-hours. Divide watts by 1,000, multiply by hours used, then multiply by your electricity rate to estimate cost.
Use realistic run time
Some devices run continuously, but many appliances cycle on and off. If you are estimating a heater, dehumidifier, refrigerator, or aquarium heater, actual cost depends on how long it actively draws power.
Your all-in rate may be higher than the supply rate
Bills often include delivery, riders, taxes, and other charges. For planning, the all-in average cost per kWh is usually more useful than the lowest rate shown on the bill.