Electricity Cost Calculator for Appliances
Below, we have created a simple electricity cost calculator to help you understand how much electricity an appliance costs you to run per day, month and year.
All you need to do is enter your appliance's wattage, how long it runs for on average in a day and your electricity unit rate.
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Calculate by wattage
The starting unit rate is Ofgem’s price-cap rate for GB average, Direct Debit, 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026 (Ofgem). Use the rate shown on your own tariff if you have it.
Calculate by appliance
A rated-power shortcut, not a measured UK average. Check your appliance label or manual where possible.
Don't know the wattage of your appliance?
No problem! We also have a simplified version above, where you can just select an appliance name along with how long it runs for and your electricity rate.
We will use the illustrative rated-power preset shown in the table below. It is a shortcut, not a measured UK average; your appliance label or manual is more accurate.
Illustrative power settings for household appliances
The table lists the illustrative rated-power settings used by the selector. Actual rated power and energy use vary by model and operating mode.
This will give you a good idea of what your appliance is costing you, but for better accuracy, you should find out the actual wattage of your appliance either online or on the appliance itself.
| Appliance | Illustrative rated power |
|---|---|
| Electric Shower | 9,000W |
| Immersion Heater | 3,000W |
| Kettle | 3,000W |
| Tumble Dryer | 2,500W |
| Electric Heater | 2,500W |
| Oven | 2,100W |
| Washing Machine | 2,100W |
| Hairdryer | 2,000W |
| Hob | 2,000W |
| Grill | 1,500W |
| Iron | 1,500W |
| Toaster | 1,000W |
| Microwave | 1,000W |
| Lawn Mower | 1,000W |
| Vacuum | 900W |
| Towel Rail | 450W |
| Electric Blanket | 150W |
| PC | 140W |
| Television | 120W |
| Games Console | 120W |
| Laptop | 50W |
| Router | 10W |
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the wattage of my appliance?
You can usually find the wattage on a label on the appliance itself, in the user manual, or by searching for the make and model online. If you cannot find the exact wattage, the selector offers an illustrative rated-power shortcut, but it is not a measured UK average.
How much does it cost to run a washing machine?
Use the kWh-per-cycle figure from the machine label or manual with your tariff unit rate where possible. A wattage rating is maximum or rated power, not necessarily the energy used continuously through a cycle, so multiplying it by the full programme time can overstate the cost.
Which household appliances use the most electricity?
Rated power alone cannot answer that. Electricity use depends on both the power actually drawn and how long the appliance draws it; thermostats, duty cycles and programme settings matter. Compare measured kWh over a representative period where possible.
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Written by
Rob Gibbs
Hi, I'm Rob, and I run Energy-Review.co.uk. I initially started this project in 2018 when I was looking to switch energy suppliers and found there wasn't a website that provided simple, data-backed reviews on all the suppliers available. Since then, I have spent a lot of time (too much, some may say!) looking at all publicly available data about each supplier and writing reviews using this information. These reviews are updated as regularly as possible, and any data is backed up by a source where necessary. I have also started writing guides on various energy-related topics, which hopefully you will find useful. If you find any issues, please use our contact form to let us know.