Appliance Wattage and Electricity Cost Calculator
An ENERGY STAR certified top-freezer refrigerator uses about 41.4 watts on average over a full year, derived from a median 363 kWh per year; its compressor cycles, so its draw while running is different. At the U.S. average residential electricity price of 18.31 cents per kWh in July 2026, that annual use would cost about $66.47 if the price stayed constant. The calculator below shows $65.49 for the same refrigerator because it runs 41.4 W for 24 hours a day, 30 days a month, 12 months (357.7 kWh). Choose an appliance below or enter its wattage and your own rate.
Appliance wattage and electricity cost calculator
Choose an appliance or enter the wattage on its label. ENERGY STAR refrigerator averages include cycling; DOE values are typical samples while operating.
Appliance wattage chart
Wattage means power at an instant; energy use depends on how long the appliance runs. The refrigerator figures below are ENERGY STAR certified model medians converted from annual kWh to average watts over 8,760 hours, including compressor cycling. TV figures are ENERGY STAR certified on-mode medians. All other rows are DOE typical sample values while operating, not measured ranges or a promise for any product.
Approximate watts by appliance; source datasets and DOE sample list accessed October 5, 2026. ENERGY STAR datasets updated October 4, 2026.
| Appliance | Watts | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator, top freezer | 41.4 | ENERGY STAR average, derived |
| Refrigerator, bottom freezer | 63.5 | ENERGY STAR average, derived |
| Refrigerator, side by side | 73.1 | ENERGY STAR average, derived |
| Mini fridge, compact refrigerator | 28.1 | ENERGY STAR average, derived |
| TV under 32 inches | 24.1 | ENERGY STAR on-mode median |
| TV 32–42 inches | 63.1 | ENERGY STAR on-mode median |
| TV 43–54 inches | 85.0 | ENERGY STAR on-mode median |
| TV 55–64 inches | 118.6 | ENERGY STAR on-mode median |
| TV 65–74 inches | 140.7 | ENERGY STAR on-mode median |
| TV 75 inches and larger | 173.4 | ENERGY STAR on-mode median |
| Microwave oven | 1,500 | DOE typical sample |
| Space heater | 1,320 | DOE typical sample |
| Coffee maker | 1,000 | DOE typical sample |
| Clothes dryer | 2,790 | DOE typical sample |
| Clothes washer | 255 | DOE typical sample |
| Hair dryer | 710 | DOE typical sample |
| Ceiling fan | 35 | DOE typical sample |
| Desktop computer | 75 | DOE typical sample |
| Notebook computer | 25 | DOE typical sample |
| Toaster | 1,100 | DOE typical sample |
| Dishwasher | 330 | DOE typical sample |
The available source pack does not provide a comparable verified row for a standalone freezer, air conditioner, window AC, generic light bulb or electric stove, so those are omitted. A 225 W refrigerator appears in DOE’s sample list, but it describes operating power rather than the annual average shown for ENERGY STAR refrigerators. Use your appliance label or a plug-in meter when you need a product-specific estimate.
How to calculate electricity use and cost
Daily kWh = watts × hours used per day ÷ 1,000. Multiply daily kWh by the number of use days for monthly energy; multiply kWh by the electricity price in dollars per kWh for cost. The calculator uses 30 days per month by default and projects annual cost as 12 months at the selected number of use days. These formulas follow DOE Energy Saver guidance.
For example, DOE’s 1,320 W space-heater sample running for one hour uses 1.32 kWh. At California’s July 2026 residential average of 33.61 cents per kWh, that is 1.32 × $0.3361 = about $0.44 for the hour, or about $13.31 if repeated on 30 days. This is arithmetic from a sample wattage and an EIA state average, not a measured heater bill. July is a summer month; enter the rate on your own bill for a closer estimate.
Watts to amps
For a resistive load, amps = watts ÷ volts. At 120 V, 1,320 W is 11 amps; at 240 V, the same wattage is 5.5 amps. Real power for other AC loads depends on power factor, so this simple conversion is not an electrical design rating. See the Michigan State University power-factor technical note. If you are planning a new circuit or service, read our electrical panel upgrade guide.
Average household electricity use and state prices
The EIA’s 2024 annual residential data reports 863.3 kWh and a $142.26 average bill per month nationwide. Those are annual-data averages, distinct from the July 2026 prices used in this calculator.
Residential average electricity prices in July 2026, a summer month; EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A. Hawaii is highest and Louisiana lowest among the state rows in the supplied data.
| Place | July 2026 cents/kWh |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | 48.00 |
| California | 33.61 |
| United States average | 18.31 |
| Texas | 15.88 |
| Louisiana | 12.72 |
These are statewide residential averages for one month, not a forecast of your bill. A device’s electricity cost also depends on its run time. Our power connection guide addresses the separate cost of bringing service to a property.
What uses the most electricity at home?
Among the DOE sample wattages in this chart’s source, a clothes dryer is 2,790 W while operating, compared with 1,320 W for a space heater and 75 W for a desktop computer. That compares power draw, not a household’s total electricity use: a lower-watt device running longer can use more kWh. Enter your own hours to compare the appliances you actually use.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts does a refrigerator use per hour?
Watts already measure a rate of power, so “watts per hour” is not the unit for energy used. The ENERGY STAR certified top-freezer models in our dataset have a median 363 kWh per year, equivalent to 41.4 average watts across all hours, including compressor off-time. A refrigerator’s instantaneous draw while running can be higher; DOE lists 225 W as a typical sample operating value.
How many watts does a TV use?
Among ENERGY STAR certified models in the supplied dataset, median on-mode power rises from 24.1 W for TVs under 32 inches to 173.4 W for TVs 75 inches and larger. These are grouped model medians, so select the nearest size or enter your TV’s rated wattage.
How many watts does a microwave use?
DOE lists 1,500 W as a typical sample for a microwave oven. Ten minutes of use at that wattage is 1,500 × (10 ÷ 60) ÷ 1,000 = 0.25 kWh; actual models vary.
How do I convert amps to watts?
For a resistive load, multiply amps by volts: 15 A × 120 V = 1,800 W. For other AC loads, real power also depends on power factor. Use the equipment rating for circuit decisions.
How much electricity does an average house use per month?
EIA’s 2024 residential data shows 863.3 kWh per month on average in the United States, with a $142.26 average monthly bill. These are 2024 annual averages, not the July 2026 price snapshot in the calculator.
How much does it cost to run a space heater for 24 hours?
If DOE’s 1,320 W sample ran continuously for 24 hours, it would use 31.68 kWh. At the July 2026 U.S. average residential price of 18.31 cents per kWh, that is about $5.80. A thermostat or shorter run time changes the result.
Sources and method
- EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: July 2026 residential prices, released September 24, 2026.
- EIA 2024 residential monthly bill table: 2024 annual data, released October 7, 2025.
- ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators and certified televisions: datasets updated October 4, 2026; medians and refrigerator average-watt equivalents calculated from the supplied model data.
- DOE appliance calculator sample wattages: accessed October 5, 2026. Samples are not measured product ranges.
- DOE Energy Saver calculation guidance: archived copy of January 1, 2026. Michigan State University power and power-factor note: copyright 2009/2024.
See our methodology for how we label and check source data, and browse more tools in calculators.