What is the electricity cost calculator?
This tool estimates the running cost of any electrical appliance. By entering the device’s power draw in watts, how many hours you use it each day, the number of days, and the price your utility charges per kilowatt-hour (kWh), you get both the total energy consumed and the money it costs.
It is handy for budgeting, comparing appliances, or deciding whether an upgrade to a more efficient model is worth it.
Formula
The power is divided by 1000 to convert watts into kilowatts, since electricity is billed per kilowatt-hour.
How to use
- Enter the appliance power in watts (check the label or spec sheet).
- Enter the hours you run it on a typical day.
- Enter the number of days over which you want the estimate.
- Enter your electricity rate (cost per kWh) from your utility bill.
- Read off the energy used in kWh and the total electricity cost.
Worked example
A 1000 W appliance used 5 hours a day for 30 days, with electricity priced at 0.15 per kWh:
So running the appliance consumes 150 kWh and costs 22.5 over the month.
FAQ
Where do I find the appliance’s power in watts? It is usually printed on a label on the device or in the manual, often as “W” or “watts”. If only amps and volts are listed, multiply them (watts = volts × amps).
Why divide the power by 1000? Electricity is billed in kilowatt-hours, and 1 kilowatt equals 1000 watts. Dividing by 1000 converts the appliance’s wattage into kilowatts before multiplying by the hours of use.