How much does it cost to run your appliances?
Enter your appliance power, how long you use it and your electricity price. EnergyCosted will instantly calculate the estimated cost per hour, day, week, month and year.
Appliance Running Cost Calculator
Find out approximately how much an electrical appliance costs to run. Choose an appliance below or enter its wattage yourself.
Your estimated running cost
These are estimates based on the wattage, usage pattern and electricity unit price you enter. Actual electricity consumption can vary because many appliances cycle on and off or use different amounts of power during operation.
How Much Does an Appliance Cost to Run?
The cost of running an electrical appliance depends mainly on its power consumption, how long it is used and the price you pay for electricity.
EnergyCosted’s appliance calculator lets you enter these details to estimate the electricity cost per hour, day, week, month and year.
For example, at an electricity price of 26p per kWh, an appliance continuously using:
100 watts costs about 2.6p per hour
500 watts costs about 13p per hour
1,000 watts (1kW) costs about 26p per hour
2,000 watts (2kW) costs about 52p per hour
These are simple examples based on continuous electricity consumption at the stated power. Actual consumption can vary because many appliances do not draw their rated maximum power continuously.
How is appliance running cost calculated?
The basic calculation is:
Power in kW × time used in hours × electricity price per kWh = estimated running cost
To convert watts into kilowatts, divide the wattage by 1,000.
For example, a 500W appliance is:
500 ÷ 1,000 = 0.5kW
If that appliance operates for four hours at an electricity price of 26p per kWh:
0.5kW × 4 hours × £0.26 = £0.52
The estimated electricity cost would therefore be 52p for four hours.
Where can I find an appliance’s wattage?
The power rating is often shown on a label or plate on the appliance, on its power supply, in the instruction manual or in the manufacturer’s specifications.
It may be shown as W for watts or kW for kilowatts.
For example:
1000W = 1kW
1500W = 1.5kW
2000W = 2kW
If an appliance has several power settings, its electricity consumption may depend on the setting being used.
What is the difference between watts, kilowatts and kWh?
Watts (W) and kilowatts (kW) describe power — the rate at which an appliance uses energy.
There are 1,000 watts in one kilowatt.
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a measure of electrical energy used over time and is the unit normally used when electricity consumption is billed.
For example, an appliance continuously using 1kW for one hour uses:
1kW × 1 hour = 1kWh
If electricity costs 26p per kWh, that 1kWh would cost 26p.
Why might the real cost be different?
An appliance’s rated wattage does not necessarily mean it consumes that amount of power continuously throughout its use.
Many appliances regulate their power consumption. Heating elements may switch on and off, refrigerators and freezers cycle their compressors, computers vary their power according to workload, and some appliances have different operating modes.
The EnergyCosted calculator therefore provides an estimate, not a measurement of actual electricity consumption.
For greater accuracy, actual consumption can be measured with a suitable plug-in electricity usage monitor where appropriate for the appliance.
What about standby electricity?
Some electrical equipment continues to consume a small amount of electricity when it appears to be switched off or is placed in standby mode.
Standby consumption varies considerably between devices.
If you want to estimate the cost of standby power separately, enter the standby wattage into the calculator together with the amount of time the device remains in that state.
Do not assume that an appliance’s normal operating wattage is also its standby consumption.
How can I estimate monthly and yearly electricity costs?
A small hourly cost can become more significant when an appliance is used frequently.
For example, suppose a 100W device operates for five hours every day at 26p per kWh.
Its estimated daily cost would be:
0.1kW × 5 hours × £0.26 = £0.13 per day
Over a full year:
£0.13 × 365 = £47.45
This is why looking at weekly, monthly and annual estimates can be useful when comparing appliances and usage habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 1000W appliance cost to run for one hour?
A 1,000W appliance is a 1kW appliance.
At an electricity price of 26p per kWh, continuous operation at 1kW for one hour would cost approximately 26p.
How much does a 500W appliance cost to run?
At 26p per kWh, a 500W appliance continuously drawing 500W would cost approximately 13p per hour.
Running it for four hours would therefore cost approximately 52p.
Does a 2000W appliance always use 2000 watts?
Not necessarily.
A 2,000W rating may represent the appliance’s rated or maximum power under particular operating conditions. Actual electricity consumption can vary according to the appliance and how it operates.
For example, thermostatically controlled heating appliances may switch their heating elements on and off rather than continuously drawing full rated power.
Which appliances cost the most to run?
Appliances with high power consumption can have high hourly running costs, but total cost also depends heavily on how long and how often they are used.
A lower-powered appliance used for many hours can consume more electricity overall than a high-powered appliance used for only a few minutes.
The most useful comparison is therefore total energy consumption in kWh, rather than wattage alone.
Is the electricity price on my bill shown in pence per kWh?
UK electricity tariffs commonly quote a unit rate in pence per kilowatt-hour (p/kWh).
Your bill may also include a separate standing charge. The EnergyCosted appliance calculator estimates the electricity used by the appliance itself and does not allocate your household standing charge to individual appliances.
Enter the unit rate that applies to your own electricity tariff for a more relevant estimate.
Can I calculate costs for only a few minutes of use?
Yes. The EnergyCosted calculator allows you to enter hours and additional minutes, making it useful for appliances that operate for relatively short periods as well as equipment used for several hours.