How much does it cost to run?

How to calculate what an appliance costs

Multiply the appliance’s power in kilowatts by the hours it runs and by your price per kWh. A 1,500 W space heater is 1.5 kW; running 8 hours uses 12 kWh, which costs $2.18 a day at the U.S. average of 18.2¢. Over a month that’s about $66.

Appliances with a thermostat or compressor, such as fridges, A/C units and water heaters, don’t run at full power all the time, which is why the hours above are the time they actually draw power. For a precise number, plug the appliance into an electricity usage monitor for a few days.

Typical running costs at the U.S. average price

Monthly cost at 18.2¢ per kWh with typical daily use. Tap a name to load it into the calculator.

What a space heater costs in every state

A 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day, for one month, at each state’s average price. Heating one room this way can make sense; heating a whole house with plug-in heaters almost never does.

Biggest energy users in most homes

Heating and cooling, water heating, a second fridge, pool pumps and electric car charging usually dwarf everything else. Electronics and small kitchen appliances rarely add more than a few dollars a month each. See how to lower your electric bill for the changes that save the most.