ELECTRICITY AND APPLIANCES

Appliance Energy Cost Calculator

Estimate recurring energy costs for appliances used by sessions, cycles, or schedules.

Transparent formula User-controlled electricity rate Calculations stay in your browser

Your estimate will appear here

Enter your inputs and click calculate to see the cost and energy breakdown.

How It Works

The calculator uses the following formulas to determine your appliance energy costs:

  • kWh per use = (Watts / 1000) × (Minutes / 60)
  • Monthly uses = Uses per week × (52 / 12)
  • Monthly kWh = kWh per use × Monthly uses
  • Cost = Energy (kWh) × (Rate in cents / 100)

Worked Example

A 1,000 W appliance used for 45 minutes, 5 times per week, at 18 cents/kWh uses 0.75 kWh per use. That is about 16.25 kWh per month, and costs about $2.93 per month.

CALCULATOR QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers about wattage, runtime, electricity rates, estimated costs, and the limitations of this calculator.

Review the calculator formula →

WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE

  • Input and unit guidance
  • Formula and worked-example explanations
  • Reasons actual costs may differ
Why use 52/12 for monthly frequency?
There are 52 weeks in a year and 12 months. Dividing 52 by 12 gives about 4.33 weeks per month. This provides a more accurate average monthly cost than assuming exactly 4 weeks per month.
What if the appliance changes power during a cycle?
Many appliances (like dishwashers or washing machines) vary their power draw during different parts of the cycle. This calculator uses a constant wattage assumption. For more precise results, use our specific appliance calculators or measure with a plug-in watt meter.
Can I use an EnergyGuide annual kWh value instead?
If you have an EnergyGuide label, it already provides the estimated annual kWh based on typical use. You can multiply that annual kWh by your electricity rate to get the annual cost directly.
Looking for a question that is not covered here? Contact DataWisdom.