Electricity Cost Calculator
Find out how much electricity an appliance or device costs to run. Calculate daily, monthly and annual electricity expenses using power consumption, operating hours, electricity price and optional standby usage.
Calculate Your Electricity Running Cost
Enter the rated or measured power of your device, the time it operates and your electricity tariff. The calculator estimates energy use and running costs.
Energy Usage Details
4 EASY STEPSYour Electricity Cost Estimate
LIVE RESULTSEstimated for 30 use days per month at $0.20/kWh
Monthly Consumption Breakdown
Assumes 1 identical device, 4 active hours and 20 standby hours on each of 30 use days per month. Annual values use 12 identical months; taxes, fixed utility charges and tiered tariffs are excluded.
What Can You Calculate?
Estimate electricity consumption for household appliances, office equipment and other electrical devices.
Power to Energy
Convert power consumption in watts or kilowatts into estimated kilowatt-hours based on operating time.
Daily to Annual Cost
Estimate expenses over different periods using the electricity rate and operating schedule you enter.
Standby Electricity
Include optional standby consumption to understand the additional electricity used when devices remain powered.
How to Calculate Electricity Cost
Electricity consumption is commonly measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kilowatt-hour represents the energy consumed when a device operates at one kilowatt of power for one hour. Your electricity expense depends on how much energy you consume and the tariff applied by your electricity provider.
Electricity Cost Formula
To estimate electricity expenses, convert watts to kilowatts, multiply by operating hours and then multiply the result by your electricity price per kWh.
Worked Example: 1,500-Watt Appliance
- Appliance power: 1,500 watts
- Operating time: 4 hours per day
- Days used: 30 days per month
- Electricity price: $0.20 per kWh
- Standby consumption: 5 W for 20 hours per use day
Active daily energy = 1,500 ÷ 1,000 × 4 = 6 kWh.
Standby daily energy = 5 ÷ 1,000 × 20 = 0.1 kWh.
Monthly energy = (6 + 0.1) × 30 = 183 kWh.
Monthly electricity cost = 183 × $0.20 = $36.60.
What Is the Difference Between Watts and kWh?
Watts measure the rate at which electrical energy is used. Kilowatt-hours measure the total amount of energy consumed over time. For example, a 1,000-watt appliance operating for two hours consumes approximately 2 kWh of electricity if it maintains that power throughout the period.
How Much Does It Cost to Run a 100-Watt Device?
At $0.20 per kWh, a 100-watt device operating for one hour consumes 0.1 kWh and costs approximately $0.02. Running the same device for eight hours consumes 0.8 kWh and costs approximately $0.16, excluding other charges.
How Do I Calculate Monthly Electricity Cost?
Multiply daily electricity consumption by the number of days the appliance operates in a month. Then multiply the monthly kWh by your electricity price. If you have multiple identical appliances, multiply energy consumption by the device quantity.
Why Does Actual Appliance Power Vary?
A device’s rated power may represent its maximum or nominal consumption rather than its continuous average. Refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines and other appliances often cycle between operating modes. For these devices, measured average energy consumption or manufacturer energy-label data can provide a more representative estimate.
What Is Standby Power?
Some devices continue consuming electricity while switched off or waiting for input. Examples can include televisions, monitors, entertainment systems and networking equipment. The standby fields allow you to estimate this consumption separately from active use.
Does This Calculator Estimate My Full Electricity Bill?
Not necessarily. It estimates the electricity cost of the selected devices. A complete utility bill may include multiple appliances, tiered tariffs, demand charges, fixed service fees, taxes and other adjustments.
What About Tiered or Time-of-Use Electricity Rates?
This calculator uses one flat electricity price per kWh. If your utility charges different prices based on consumption level or time of day, you can run separate calculations for each tariff period. The resulting estimates should not be mistaken for an exact utility bill.
Can I Calculate Electricity Cost in AED?
Yes. Select AED and enter your applicable electricity tariff in dirhams per kWh. The calculator displays results in AED but does not retrieve tariffs or perform currency conversion.
How Can I Reduce Electricity Consumption?
Reducing unnecessary operating hours, choosing efficient equipment and checking standby consumption may help lower energy use. For appliances with variable power consumption, compare measured energy use before and after making changes.
Further Reading
For information on appliance efficiency and energy-saving practices, visit Energy Saver — US Department of Energy . You can also explore our EV & Energy Calculators for related energy planning tools.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate electricity cost from watts?
Divide watts by 1,000 to obtain kilowatts. Multiply by operating hours to obtain kWh, then multiply by the electricity price per kWh.
How much does a 1,000-watt appliance cost per hour?
A 1,000-watt appliance operating continuously for one hour uses 1 kWh. At $0.20 per kWh, it costs approximately $0.20 for that hour.
Can I calculate monthly electricity expenses?
Yes. Enter daily operating hours, days used per month and your electricity tariff to estimate monthly energy consumption and cost.
Can I enter power in kilowatts instead of watts?
Yes. Select kilowatts from the power unit dropdown and enter the corresponding value.
Does the calculator include standby electricity?
Yes. You can enter standby watts and standby hours per use day. These values are included in the energy and cost estimates.
Can I calculate costs for multiple appliances?
Yes, if they are identical devices operating on the same schedule. For different appliances, calculate each separately and add the results.
Does it include taxes and utility service fees?
No. The estimate uses the entered flat electricity price and does not automatically include taxes, fixed fees or tiered tariffs.
Can I use this for an air conditioner?
Yes, but an air conditioner’s actual power consumption can vary with compressor cycling, temperature and operating mode. Measured average consumption may be more accurate than rated power.