Electricity consumption calculator – estimate kWh and cost
Estimate the electricity use and cost of one appliance from its wattage, daily use, monthly use days and a price per kWh.
Calculate appliance electricity use
Example electricity use for appliances
The values in the table are rough examples. Check your appliance label, manual or energy label for the actual power rating.
| Appliance | Example power | Example use | Estimated monthly consumption | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED bulb | 10 W | 8 h/day, 30 days/month | 2.40 kWh | |
| Television | 80 W | 4 h/day, 30 days/month | 9.60 kWh | |
| Laptop computer | 60 W | 6 h/day, 22 days/month | 7.92 kWh | |
| Desktop computer | 200 W | 4 h/day, 22 days/month | 17.60 kWh | |
| Oven | 2,000 W | 1 h/day, 8 days/month | 16.00 kWh | |
| Microwave oven | 1,000 W | 0.17 h/day, 30 days/month | 5.10 kWh | |
| Electric sauna heater | 6,000 W | 1 h/day, 8 days/month | 48.00 kWh | |
| Hair dryer | 1,800 W | 0.17 h/day, 20 days/month | 6.12 kWh | |
| Vacuum cleaner | 800 W | 0.5 h/day, 4 days/month | 1.60 kWh |
What the electricity consumption calculator shows
The electricity consumption calculator estimates how much electricity one appliance uses and what that use costs with the unit price you enter. It shows consumption per use day, per month and per year, plus matching cost estimates for the same periods.
How to use the calculator
Enter the appliance power in watts, the number of hours it is used per day, how many days per month it is used and the electricity price in cents per kWh. You can also choose an example appliance from the table and then adjust the values to match your own situation.
Power, time and price
Power describes how much electricity an appliance uses while it is running. Daily use and monthly use days determine the estimated kWh for the month and year. The cost is based only on the price per kWh that you enter.
Calculation logic
- Power in kW = watts / 1,000.
- Consumption per use day = power in kW x hours per day.
- Monthly consumption = consumption per use day x use days per month.
- Cost = kWh x cents per kWh / 100.
- Yearly estimate = monthly estimate x 12.
Example
- A 1,000 W appliance used for 1 hour per day over 30 days uses about 30 kWh per month.
- With an electricity price of 10 cents/kWh, the estimated cost is about 3.00 per month.
- A 500 W appliance used for 2 hours uses the same daily kWh as a 1,000 W appliance used for 1 hour.
kWh and electricity cost
kWh means kilowatt-hour. It is the energy used by 1 kilowatt of power for 1 hour. The calculator multiplies estimated kWh by the price you enter. It does not fetch live electricity prices and it does not compare electricity contracts.
Limitations and cost scope
The result is an estimate based on the values you enter. The calculator does not measure real electricity use and does not automatically include all parts of an electricity bill, such as network charges, taxes, fixed fees, contract-specific charges or other supplier costs.
Many appliances do not use the same power all the time. Thermostats, program choices, standby mode, energy efficiency and real usage patterns can make actual consumption higher or lower than the estimate.
FAQ
How do you calculate appliance electricity use?
Multiply the appliance power in kilowatts by the number of hours it is used.
What does kWh mean?
kWh means kilowatt-hour: 1 kilowatt of power used for 1 hour.
Can I use an hourly electricity price?
Yes, if you first choose or calculate an average cents/kWh value for the period you want to estimate. The calculator does not retrieve hourly or live market prices.
Does the calculator show my whole electricity bill?
No. It estimates one appliance at a time from the values you enter and does not include every charge that may appear on an electricity bill.
Why can actual consumption differ?
Actual consumption can vary with the appliance model, thermostat, program, standby use, power variation, efficiency and how the appliance is used.