The Appliance Running Cost Calculator shows what any electrical appliance actually costs to run — per day, week, month and year — from its wattage, how long it runs, and your own price per kilowatt-hour.
The formula
Energy used is wattage times hours, converted to kilowatt-hours, then multiplied by your tariff:
cost = (watts ÷ 1000) × hours × price per kWh
A 2000-watt space heater run for 2 hours at a unit price of 0.25 uses
2000 ÷ 1000 × 2 = 4 kWh a day, costing 4 × 0.25 = 1.00 per day of use.
Why it uses your own tariff
Electricity prices vary enormously by country, supplier and time of year, so this tool never guesses a rate. Enter the exact unit price from your latest bill and every figure it returns reflects your real cost. The currency simply follows whatever number you type.
Spotting the expensive appliances
Running cost is dominated by two things: high wattage and long run time. High-wattage, long-run devices — heaters, tumble dryers, immersion heaters, old fridges — dominate a bill, while low-wattage electronics barely register even when left on. Try a few appliances to see which ones are worth switching off or replacing with a more efficient model.
Typical wattages to try
| Appliance | Rough power |
|---|---|
| LED TV | 60–120 W |
| Fridge-freezer | 100–250 W |
| Tumble dryer | 2000–3000 W |
| Electric kettle | 2200–3000 W |
| Space heater | 1500–2500 W |