Appliance running cost calculator
Work out what an appliance costs to run from its power, your routine and a UK or Australian electricity rate.
After you calculate
See your appliance running costs
Add your appliance power, usage routine and electricity price, then calculate to see your results.
Annual appliance cost
Shown after calculationMonthly average
Shown after calculationElectricity use
Cost by period
Full calculation
Uses your entered power and running pattern; standing charges are excluded.
Understand your estimate
How it works
Use the appliance's electrical input watts, running hours, days used per week and duty cycle. Choose a published electricity rate or enter the tax-inclusive price from your bill.
The result compares one appliance's energy and cost per switched-on hour, use day, week, average month and year.
A bill's kWh figure is energy used over time. Watts describe the power at one moment. Keep these separate when choosing your inputs. If the appliance has several modes, calculate each mode with its own power and hours, then add the results.
- Choose the power
Use your own watts or a preset for the exact named model.
- Set the routine
Enter hours per use day, days per week and the share of time at that power.
- Read the costs
Compare the energy and cost for each time period.
- Use a plug-in meter for average consumption when power changes with cycling or settings.
- Model presets apply only to the named model and setting.
- For measured average watts, enter 100% duty cycle so cycling is not counted twice.
A few good questions
Before youget started.
Understand this calculator, the figures to enter and the limits of your estimate.
Sources
- Energy price cap unit rates and standing chargesChecked on 9 October 2026
- MeacoFan 1056 manufacturer specificationsChecked on 12 October 2026
- Last checked
- 13 October 2026
- Rates as of
- 1 October 2026
EnergySums
Appliance running cost calculator
United Kingdom · How it works
- Guide updated
- 13 October 2026
- Rates as of
- 1 October 2026
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Guide updated | 13 October 2026 |
| Rates as of | 1 October 2026 |
How it works
Use the appliance's electrical input watts, running hours, days used per week and duty cycle. Choose a published electricity rate or enter the tax-inclusive price from your bill.
The result compares one appliance's energy and cost per switched-on hour, use day, week, average month and year.
A bill's kWh figure is energy used over time. Watts describe the power at one moment. Keep these separate when choosing your inputs. If the appliance has several modes, calculate each mode with its own power and hours, then add the results.
- Choose the power
Use your own watts or a preset for the exact named model.
- Set the routine
Enter hours per use day, days per week and the share of time at that power.
- Read the costs
Compare the energy and cost for each time period.
- Use a plug-in meter for average consumption when power changes with cycling or settings.
- Model presets apply only to the named model and setting.
- For measured average watts, enter 100% duty cycle so cycling is not counted twice.
Formula
Power is in watts; duty cycle is a percentage. The rate is in p/kWh.
Divide watts by 1000 to get kilowatts. Multiply by hours and the duty cycle as a fraction to get kWh. Energy use stays the same when you change only the price. A lower price reduces the cost of that energy.
The yearly cost helps compare changes in your routine. Change one input at a time, such as fewer hours or a different price. Keep the other inputs steady so you can see what caused the difference. The monthly result spreads the annual total evenly. It does not show a seasonal peak, a holiday or a change in how often you use the appliance.
- Energy / use day
- Power (W) ÷ 1,000 W/kW × hours/day × (duty percentage ÷ 100)= kWh/use day
- Energy / year
- Use-day kWh × use days/week × (365 days/year ÷ 7 days/week)= kWh/year
- Cost / year
- Annual kWh × electricity rate (p/kWh) ÷ 100 p/GBP= annual cost
- Monthly average
- Annual cost/year ÷ 12 months/year= monthly cost
| Calculation | Formula with saved values | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Energy / use day | Power (W) ÷ 1,000 W/kW × hours/day × (duty percentage ÷ 100) | kWh/use day |
| Energy / year | Use-day kWh × use days/week × (365 days/year ÷ 7 days/week) | kWh/year |
| Cost / year | Annual kWh × electricity rate (p/kWh) ÷ 100 p/GBP | annual cost |
| Monthly average | Annual cost/year ÷ 12 months/year | monthly cost |
- Weekly energy = use-day energy × days/week. Monthly energy = annual energy ÷ 12.
- Divide the rate by 100 to convert pence to pounds or cents to Australian dollars.
- Daily figures apply to days used. Standing and supply charges are excluded.
Worked example
Illustrative power and routine, using the Great Britain average Direct Debit published rate for 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.
- Power
- 2000 W
- Use day
- 3 hours at 50% duty
- Routine
- 5 days/week
- Electricity rate
- 26.32 p/kWh
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power | 2000 W |
| Use day | 3 hours at 50% duty |
| Routine | 5 days/week |
| Electricity rate | 26.32 p/kWh |
- Energy / use day
- 2,000 W ÷ 1,000 W/kW × 3 hours × (50 ÷ 100)= 3 kWh
- Energy / year
- 3 kWh/use day × 5 use days/week × (365 days/year ÷ 7 days/week)= 782.143 kWh
- Cost / year
- 782.143 kWh × 26.32 p/kWh ÷ 100 p/GBP= £205.86
- Monthly average
- £205.86/year ÷ 12 months/year= £17.16
| Calculation | Formula with saved values | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Energy / use day | 2,000 W ÷ 1,000 W/kW × 3 hours × (50 ÷ 100) | 3 kWh |
| Energy / year | 3 kWh/use day × 5 use days/week × (365 days/year ÷ 7 days/week) | 782.143 kWh |
| Cost / year | 782.143 kWh × 26.32 p/kWh ÷ 100 p/GBP | £205.86 |
| Monthly average | £205.86/year ÷ 12 months/year | £17.16 |
- These power and routine inputs are an example, not household defaults.
- Intermediate values are rounded for readability; totals use full precision.
Assumptions and limits
Check that the entered hours describe days when the appliance is actually used. Days per week decide how often that routine repeats. Do not enter a weekly total in the daily hours box. That would count the same use more than once.
- Power and duty cycle stay constant during the entered hours; real settings and cycling can change consumption.
- The weekly routine repeats for 365 days at one fixed price. Annual totals are comparisons, not price forecasts.
- Excludes standby outside the entered hours, tariff fees, purchase costs and maintenance.
- For time-of-use tariffs, calculate each price period separately and add the costs.
- Use electrical input power, rather than heating or cooling output.
Country rules
The published UK price comes from the stored Ofgem table for your chosen region and payment method. It covers Great Britain and the period shown with the source. Published electricity defaults include 0% VAT for this period. Use your bill price if the table does not match your tariff. Standing charges are left out because this estimate shows the extra electricity cost of using an appliance.
- Published defaults are regulator benchmarks; your supplier's offer may differ.
- Custom rates should already include VAT or GST. Tax is not added again.
- A price cap or default offer does not limit total household spending.
When to ask a professional
Keep the label, power reading and bill behind your inputs. They help an adviser check why your estimate differs from measured use.
- Energy adviser: help with tariffs or unusually high consumption.
- Installer or electrician: advice on fixed wiring, circuit capacity or unsafe equipment.
- Follow the manufacturer's operating instructions. This cost estimate cannot establish appliance safety or suitability.
Questions and answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost to run a 2000W appliance? | At full power, 2000 W is 2 kW, so one hour uses 2 kWh. Multiply 2 by your electricity price per kWh. At 26.32 p/kWh, that is £0.53 per hour. Cycling and lower settings can reduce actual consumption. |
| How do I calculate kWh usage of an appliance? | Divide watts by 1000, multiply by hours, then multiply by duty cycle / 100. Use measured input power if available. Enter 100% if the watts already represent average consumption. |
| What is the most expensive electrical item to run? | High power and long running time together create high consumption. Compare your own measured watts, hours and routine rather than assuming one appliance category is always the most expensive. |
| How much does it cost to run a TV for 8 hours? | Enter the TV's operating watts and eight hours. Energy is watts / 1000 x 8 at a 100% duty cycle. TV size, brightness and settings affect its power, so use its own label or a meter. |
| How much electricity does a fan use? | Use the wattage at your chosen fan speed. The named MeacoFan example spans 8 to 24 W in the maker's specifications; it is not a rating for every fan. Enter your own model's power when it differs. |
Sources
| Source | Checked | Reference URL |
|---|---|---|
| Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges | 9 October 2026 | https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/get-energy-price-cap-standing-charges-and-unit-rates-region |
| MeacoFan 1056 manufacturer specifications | 12 October 2026 | https://www.meaco.com/products/meacofan-1056-air-circulator-with-storage-bag |