Appliance Electricity Cost Calculator by State (EIA Rates)

Quick answer

To find what an appliance costs to run, multiply its watts by the hours it runs, divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours (kWh), then multiply by your price per kWh. At the July 2026 U.S. average home price of 18.31¢ per kWh (EIA), every kWh costs about 18¢, so a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour costs about 18¢. Enter your appliance and state in the calculator below, or type in the rate from your electric bill for the closest estimate.

Electricity cost calculator

Pick an appliance, or choose “Something else” and type the watts from its label. Enter the hours a day it actually runs, then pick your state or enter the price per kWh from your bill. If you only know how many kWh it uses in a year (the number on the yellow EnergyGuide label), switch to “yearly energy use.”

The formula behind it

The Department of Energy (DOE) uses the same three steps as the calculator:

1. Daily kWh = watts × hours used per day ÷ 1,000
2. Yearly kWh = daily kWh × days used per year
3. Yearly cost = yearly kWh × price per kWh

DOE’s own worked example is an electric kettle rated at 1,500 watts that runs about 1 hour a day. That is 1.5 kWh a day and 547.5 kWh a year. DOE prices it at an example rate of 11¢ per kWh and gets $60.23 a year. At the July 2026 U.S. average of 18.31¢, the same kettle comes to about 27¢ a day and $100.25 a year. The math is the same. The rate you plug in changes the answer a lot.

If you know the yearly kWh instead of the watts, skip straight to step 3. For example, a label that lists 450 kWh a year works out to $82.39 a year, or about $6.87 a month, at 18.31¢.

How to find your appliance’s watts

1. Read the rating label

According to DOE, the wattage of most appliances is stamped on the bottom or back of the unit or on its nameplate. DOE notes that this number is the maximum power the appliance draws, not what it uses every minute.

Only read labels you can see from the outside. If the label is behind or under a heavy appliance, such as a refrigerator or washer, use the owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s specification sheet instead. Do not remove panels or covers to look for it.

2. Multiply amps by volts

If the label lists amps (A) but no watts, multiply the amps by the voltage. DOE says most appliances in the United States use 120 volts, while larger ones such as clothes dryers and electric cooktops use 240 volts. DOE’s example is a paper shredder labeled 3 amps: 120 volts × 3 amps = 360 watts. The amps may also be printed in the owner’s manual or spec sheet.

3. Use the EnergyGuide label’s kWh per year

The yellow EnergyGuide label shows how much energy an appliance uses. The FTC lists the products that carry one: refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers, water heaters, televisions, room and portable air conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, pool heaters, and ceiling fans. Clothes dryers and space heaters are not on that list, so for those you need the watts.

DOE’s Energy Saver guide explains that the label shows the model’s estimated yearly electricity use in kWh and an estimated yearly operating cost. The FTC says that dollar figure is only an estimate based on typical use and a national average energy price, and that your real cost depends on how you use the appliance and your local price. That makes the kWh number the more useful one. Enter it in the calculator’s “yearly energy use” mode and it gets priced at your state’s rate. If the label is gone, the FTC suggests checking the seller’s or the manufacturer’s website.

4. Measure it with a plug-in usage monitor

DOE describes plug-in electricity usage monitors this way: plug the monitor into the outlet, plug the appliance into the monitor, and it shows how many watts the appliance is drawing. Leave it in place and it can show the kWh used over hours or days. DOE says that is especially useful for things that do not run constantly, like refrigerators. Some monitors also let you enter your rate and show a cost.

These monitors work only with 120-volt plug-in devices. DOE says they cannot be used with large appliances such as electric clothes dryers, central air conditioners, or water heaters. For those, DOE mentions whole-house energy monitoring systems, which are often installed in the main breaker panel and may need an electrician to install. Read the monitor’s manual before using it. Do not put a space heater on a monitor or any other adapter: heater manuals such as the Holmes HCH9264M guide say to plug the heater directly into a wall outlet.

Why real use is often lower than the label

The watts on a label tell you the most an appliance can draw. Over a day, many appliances use less than “label watts × hours switched on”:

• Settings change the draw. DOE notes that many appliances have a range of settings, so a fan on a higher speed uses more power than on a lower one. The Holmes HCH9264M ceramic heater is rated 1,500 watts on high and 900 watts on low. At the U.S. average, that is about 27¢ versus 16¢ an hour.
• Refrigerators cycle. A refrigerator is “on” all day, but it cycles on and off to hold its temperature. DOE’s rule of thumb is to divide the time it is plugged in by three to estimate the hours it runs at full wattage. So a full day counts as about 8 hours. With DOE’s sample refrigerator wattage of 225 watts, that is 1.8 kWh a day, 54 kWh over 30 days, or about $9.89 at 18.31¢. Our refrigerator electricity use guide goes deeper.
• Thermostats switch heaters off. The Holmes manual notes that it is normal for the heater to cycle on and off as it holds the set temperature. You pay only while the heating element is on. Our space heater cost guide shows how much that changes the bill.
• Some features add a lot. Virginia Cooperative Extension lists nameplate ratings of 1,200 to 2,400 watts for dishwashers and notes that using the drying feature greatly increases energy use.
• Some appliances draw power when “off.” DOE and Virginia Cooperative Extension both note that many appliances keep drawing a small standby (“phantom”) load when switched off. DOE says a usage monitor can measure it, and unplugging the appliance or switching off a power strip stops it.

The practical rule: in the calculator, enter the hours the appliance actually runs at full power, not the hours it is switched on. For always-on appliances like refrigerators, the EnergyGuide kWh per year is usually the better input.

Typical wattage of common appliances

If you cannot find a label, the sample wattages built into DOE’s Appliance Energy Calculator are a starting point. DOE says these values are samples only and that actual wattage varies with the product’s age and features. Some are far below typical nameplate ratings. Virginia Cooperative Extension, for example, lists nameplate ranges of 1,800 to 5,000 watts for clothes dryers, compared with DOE’s sample of 2,790 watts. Your own label always beats a table.

Appliance	DOE sample wattage	Cost per hour at 18.31¢/kWh
Water heater	4,500 W	82.4¢
Clothes dryer	2,790 W	51.1¢
Microwave oven	1,500 W	27.5¢
Space heater	1,320 W	24.2¢
Toaster	1,100 W	20.1¢
Iron	1,100 W	20.1¢
Toaster oven	1,051 W	19.2¢
Coffee maker	1,000 W	18.3¢
Pool pump	1,000 W	18.3¢
Well pump	725 W	13.3¢
Hair dryer	710 W	13.0¢
Vacuum	542 W	9.9¢
Dishwasher	330 W	6.0¢
Furnace fan	295 W	5.4¢
Clothes washer	255 W	4.7¢
Refrigerator	225 W	4.1¢
Slow cooker	200 W	3.7¢
Television, LCD	150 W	2.7¢
Computer, desktop PC	75 W	1.4¢
Ceiling fan	35 W	0.6¢
Computer, notebook PC	25 W	0.5¢
Router/DSL/cable modem	6 W	0.1¢

Cost per hour = watts ÷ 1,000 × 18.31¢, for each hour the appliance draws that wattage. Refrigerators, water heaters and other cycling appliances do not draw it every hour. Source: Wattages: U.S. Department of Energy, Appliance Energy Calculator (sample values, accessed Oct. 23, 2026). Price: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (U.S. residential average, July 2026: 18.31¢/kWh)

What 1 kWh costs in your state

A 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour uses exactly 1 kWh. That makes the table below a simple price list: the “per hour” column is the price of 1 kWh in each state, and the “per month” column is the price of 30 kWh. Multiply by your appliance’s kWh to scale it.

In July 2026, the average home price ranged from 12.72¢ per kWh in Louisiana, the lowest in the table, to 48.00¢ in Hawaii, the highest, according to the EIA. The same 30 kWh cost $3.82 in Louisiana, $5.49 at the U.S. average, and $14.40 in Hawaii. Electricity in Hawaii cost about 3.8 times as much as in Louisiana.

Cost to run a 1,000-watt appliance (1 kWh) 1 hour a day, by state (July 2026 rates)

State	Rate (¢/kWh)	Per hour	Per day	Per month (30 days)
U.S. average	18.31¢	$0.18	$0.18	$5.49
Alabama	16.40¢	$0.16	$0.16	$4.92
Alaska	28.83¢	$0.29	$0.29	$8.65
Arizona	15.38¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.61
Arkansas	14.33¢	$0.14	$0.14	$4.30
California	33.61¢	$0.34	$0.34	$10.08
Colorado	17.00¢	$0.17	$0.17	$5.10
Connecticut	24.16¢	$0.24	$0.24	$7.25
Delaware	18.48¢	$0.18	$0.18	$5.54
District of Columbia	25.21¢	$0.25	$0.25	$7.56
Florida	15.03¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.51
Georgia	16.27¢	$0.16	$0.16	$4.88
Hawaii	48.00¢	$0.48	$0.48	$14.40
Idaho	13.73¢	$0.14	$0.14	$4.12
Illinois	19.22¢	$0.19	$0.19	$5.77
Indiana	16.73¢	$0.17	$0.17	$5.02
Iowa	15.99¢	$0.16	$0.16	$4.80
Kansas	15.27¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.58
Kentucky	13.81¢	$0.14	$0.14	$4.14
Louisiana	12.72¢	$0.13	$0.13	$3.82
Maine	32.41¢	$0.32	$0.32	$9.72
Maryland	21.41¢	$0.21	$0.21	$6.42
Massachusetts	30.49¢	$0.30	$0.30	$9.15
Michigan	23.05¢	$0.23	$0.23	$6.92
Minnesota	17.45¢	$0.17	$0.17	$5.23
Mississippi	14.54¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.36
Missouri	16.09¢	$0.16	$0.16	$4.83
Montana	14.99¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.50
Nebraska	13.78¢	$0.14	$0.14	$4.13
Nevada	12.77¢	$0.13	$0.13	$3.83
New Hampshire	26.60¢	$0.27	$0.27	$7.98
New Jersey	25.19¢	$0.25	$0.25	$7.56
New Mexico	16.09¢	$0.16	$0.16	$4.83
New York	29.90¢	$0.30	$0.30	$8.97
North Carolina	15.16¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.55
North Dakota	13.41¢	$0.13	$0.13	$4.02
Ohio	19.45¢	$0.19	$0.19	$5.84
Oklahoma	14.35¢	$0.14	$0.14	$4.31
Oregon	15.97¢	$0.16	$0.16	$4.79
Pennsylvania	21.72¢	$0.22	$0.22	$6.52
Rhode Island	28.29¢	$0.28	$0.28	$8.49
South Carolina	15.47¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.64
South Dakota	15.37¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.61
Tennessee	13.71¢	$0.14	$0.14	$4.11
Texas	15.88¢	$0.16	$0.16	$4.76
Utah	13.12¢	$0.13	$0.13	$3.94
Vermont	23.75¢	$0.24	$0.24	$7.13
Virginia	17.55¢	$0.18	$0.18	$5.27
Washington	14.71¢	$0.15	$0.15	$4.41
West Virginia	15.78¢	$0.16	$0.16	$4.73
Wisconsin	19.06¢	$0.19	$0.19	$5.72
Wyoming	14.36¢	$0.14	$0.14	$4.31

Which rate to use: latest month, year-to-date, or your bill

The calculator lets you choose between two EIA figures, or your own rate:

• Latest month (the default). This is EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, currently July 2026. It is the most recent price, but one month can run high or low.
• Year-to-date. Table 5.6.B averages January through July 2026. For the U.S., the two are close: 18.19¢ year-to-date versus 18.31¢ for July. Some states differ more. Connecticut averaged 24.16¢ in July but 27.97¢ for the year so far, and Maine was 32.41¢ in July versus 29.99¢ year-to-date. For an appliance that runs all year, like a refrigerator, the year-to-date figure smooths out those swings.
• Your own rate. This gives the closest estimate. EIA’s averages are statewide: its glossary explains that average revenue per kWh is total monthly revenue divided by total monthly sales for each sector and state, and EIA labels the monthly values as preliminary estimates. Your plan can differ. DOE also notes that many utilities offer time-based rates, which charge more at times of peak demand and less off-peak. On a plan like that, when you run an appliance changes what it costs.

To get one average rate from your bill, divide the total electric charges by the kWh used. Multiply by 100 to get cents, then enter that in the calculator.

Where to go next

• Space heaters: costs by state, thermostat cycling, and safe use in our space heater cost guide.
• Refrigerators: how much a fridge really uses and what changes it, in our refrigerator electricity use guide.
• Heating the whole house: if you heat with a heat pump or furnace, see our winter thermostat settings guide.
• More cost guides: everything in the electricity cost section.

How we calculated these numbers

• Prices: EIA Electric Power Monthly, average residential price by state, July 2026 (Table 5.6.A) and January through July 2026 (Table 5.6.B). The values in our data match the EIA tables as checked on October 23, 2026. They are statewide averages, not the rate on any one plan.
• Formula: watts ÷ 1,000 × hours × price per kWh. In watts mode, the calculator’s yearly figure is its monthly figure × 12. In yearly-kWh mode, it starts from your yearly kWh.
• Wattages: the sample values in DOE’s Appliance Energy Calculator. Your appliance’s label or a usage monitor gives a better number.
• Rounding: costs are rounded to the cent, or to a tenth of a cent in the wattage table.
• Updates: we recalculate when the EIA publishes new monthly prices.