How do I calculate the electricity cost of an appliance?

Multiply the appliance wattage by hours used per day, divide by 1,000 to get kWh, then multiply by your electricity rate. For example, a 1,500W heater running 8 hours at $0.12/kWh costs $1.44 per day.

What is a kWh and how much does it cost?

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is 1,000 watts used for one hour. The average US electricity rate is about $0.16/kWh, but it varies by state from $0.10 to $0.35 or more.

How much electricity does a TV use per month?

A typical 55-inch LED TV uses about 60-80 watts. Running it 5 hours daily at $0.15/kWh costs roughly $1.35 to $1.80 per month.

What appliances use the most electricity?

Central air conditioning (3,000-5,000W), electric water heaters (4,000-5,500W), clothes dryers (2,000-5,000W), and electric ovens (2,000-5,000W) are typically the biggest energy consumers in a home.

How can I reduce my electricity bill?

Use this calculator to identify your most expensive appliances, then focus on reducing usage of those. Switch to LED lighting, use a programmable thermostat, and run major appliances during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use rates.

Electricity Cost Calculator — Free Online

About Electricity Cost Calculator

Electricity cost calculator to estimate your energy bill. Enter appliance wattage, hours used, and kWh rate to see daily, monthly, and yearly costs. Free and instant.

How to use

Enter the wattage of the appliance or device you want to calculate costs for. Check the label on the device or its manual for the wattage rating. Common wattages: LED bulb 10W, laptop 50W, desktop computer 200W, space heater 1,500W, electric oven 2,400W, clothes dryer 5,000W, central AC 3,500W.
Enter the number of hours per day the device is typically used. Be realistic: a refrigerator runs about 8 hours per day (the compressor cycles on and off), a TV might run 4-6 hours, and lights in a bedroom might be on for 3-4 hours.
Set your electricity rate in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Canadian residential rates vary by province: Ontario averages 10-17 cents/kWh (time-of-use pricing), Alberta 8-15 cents/kWh, BC 9-12 cents/kWh, Quebec 7-9 cents/kWh (cheapest in Canada due to hydroelectric power). Check your electricity bill for your exact rate.
View the calculated daily, monthly, and annual electricity cost for that device. A 1,500W space heater running 8 hours per day at $0.13/kWh costs $1.56/day, $46.80/month, or $569.40/year. This perspective helps you identify which devices are driving your electricity bill.
Compare multiple devices by running calculations for each major appliance. Typically, heating and cooling (space heaters, AC, furnace fans), water heating, and clothes dryers are the biggest electricity consumers. Replacing a single old appliance with an Energy Star model can save $50-$200 per year.
Calculate the savings from switching to energy-efficient alternatives. Replacing ten 60W incandescent bulbs with 10W LED bulbs saves 500W whenever the lights are on. At 5 hours per day and $0.13/kWh, that saves $11.86 per month or $142 per year in electricity costs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate electricity cost for an appliance?

Cost = (Wattage x Hours Used x Days) / 1,000 x Rate per kWh. A 100W device used 5 hours per day for 30 days: (100 x 5 x 30) / 1,000 = 15 kWh x $0.13/kWh = $1.95/month. The division by 1,000 converts watts to kilowatts. For devices with variable power consumption (like refrigerators that cycle on and off), use the average wattage or the estimated kWh per year listed on the EnerGuide label, which is more accurate than peak wattage calculations.

What uses the most electricity in a home?

The biggest electricity consumers in a typical Canadian home: space heating and cooling (45-55% of total, if electric), water heating (15-20%), clothes dryer (5-8%), refrigerator (4-6%), lighting (4-6%), cooking (3-5%), and electronics/entertainment (3-5%). In homes with natural gas heating and hot water, the remaining electrical loads shift proportionally higher for each category. A single space heater running 8 hours daily can cost more than all other devices combined. Understanding your consumption breakdown helps you target the biggest savings opportunities first.

How much does it cost to run a space heater?

A standard 1,500W space heater costs approximately $0.15-$0.23 per hour at Canadian residential rates ($0.10-$0.15/kWh). Running 8 hours per day for a month: 1,500W x 8h x 30 days / 1,000 = 360 kWh x $0.13 = $46.80/month. Over a 5-month heating season, a single space heater adds $234 to your electricity bill. Two space heaters double that to $468. Compare this to the cost of running your central heating system, which is often more efficient at heating the entire home than multiple space heaters warming individual rooms.

What is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)?

A kilowatt-hour is the unit of electricity consumption. It equals 1,000 watts of power used for 1 hour. A 100W light bulb running for 10 hours uses 1 kWh. A 2,000W hair dryer running for 30 minutes uses 1 kWh. Your electricity bill charges you per kWh consumed. The average Canadian household uses 900-1,100 kWh per month, or about 30-37 kWh per day. Quebec and BC homes tend to use more (electric heating in cold climates with cheap hydro rates) while Ontario homes use less (natural gas heating is common).

How much does electricity cost per kWh in Canada?

Residential electricity rates vary significantly by province. Quebec: 7-9 cents/kWh (cheapest, hydroelectric). Manitoba: 9-10 cents/kWh. BC: 9-12 cents/kWh (tiered pricing). Alberta: 8-15 cents/kWh (market rates fluctuate). Saskatchewan: 15-17 cents/kWh. Ontario: 10-17 cents/kWh (time-of-use: off-peak 8.7 cents, mid-peak 12.2 cents, on-peak 18.2 cents). Atlantic provinces: 13-18 cents/kWh. These rates exclude delivery charges, regulatory fees, and taxes that typically add 30-50% to the commodity rate on your bill.

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

An average EV uses 15-20 kWh per 100 km. At $0.13/kWh, that is $1.95-$2.60 per 100 km compared to $10-$14 per 100 km for a gasoline vehicle (at $1.50/litre and 10-14L/100km). Monthly cost for 1,500 km of driving: EV charges $29-$39, gasoline costs $150-$210. Annual savings: $1,400-$2,000. Charging overnight at off-peak Ontario rates ($0.087/kWh) reduces costs further to $1.30-$1.74 per 100 km. Home charging requires a Level 2 charger (240V) that costs $500-$1,500 installed but recovers its cost in fuel savings within the first year.

How do I reduce my electricity bill?

Highest-impact actions: (1) Switch to LED lighting — saves 75-80% on lighting costs, pays for itself in months. (2) Use a programmable thermostat — reducing heating/cooling by 2-3 degrees when sleeping or away saves 5-10% on heating costs. (3) Run dishwasher and laundry during off-peak hours (Ontario time-of-use pricing). (4) Upgrade old refrigerators and freezers — a 20-year-old fridge uses 2-3x the electricity of a new Energy Star model. (5) Air dry clothes when possible — a dryer costs $0.50-$1.00 per load. (6) Unplug phantom loads (devices that draw power when off) — these can account for 5-10% of your bill. Once you know your monthly savings target, use the Savings Goal Calculator to see how those monthly reductions compound into meaningful long-term savings.

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About Electricity Cost Calculator

How to use

Frequently asked questions

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